CropLife Retail Week: Welcoming New Co-Host Amy Asmus

Join Eric Sfiligoj and Amy Asmus of Asmus Farm Supply for a deep dive into the biggest stories hitting the ag retail world this week. This includes new leadership at Nutrien, a dicamba update, and the fight over year-around E15.

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*Below is a partial and edited transcript:

Eric Sfiligoj
Hello, and welcome to another edition of CropLife Retail Week. I’m Eric Sfiligoj, Editor of CropLife and CropLife IRON, here with a special guest today, Amy Asmus from Asmus Farm Supply. Amy, welcome to the program.

Amy Asmus
Well, thank you, and thank you for having me.

Eric Sfiligoj
For viewers who may not know, we’re bringing Amy aboard as my new regular co-host on an every-other-week basis here on CropLife Retail Week. We’ll be talking industry news and what’s going on in the ag retail marketplace and agriculture in general.

Amy, before we came on camera, I mentioned that for the one or two viewers who might not be familiar with you, could you give us a little bio?

Amy Asmus
Thank you. I’m Amy Asmus. Harlan and I own and operate Asmus Farm Supply. We’re second generation, and we do have a third generation coming in.

My main role has mostly been external and industry relations. I’ve worked very closely with the Certified Crop Advisor program, extension programs, and the Agricultural Retailers Association, where I just wrapped up serving as board chair in December of last year.

I’m also often in Washington, D.C., working on industry issues, and I’ve served on one of the EPA’s advisory boards within the Office of Pesticide Programs.

I’m excited about this new chapter—having a platform to search for answers, share ideas, and share the passion I’ve always had for this industry. Sometimes my comments will be good, sometimes maybe not so good, but the passion is always there.

Eric Sfiligoj
Well, welcome aboard, and thank you for agreeing to be a regular co-host.

Let’s start with some news of the week. Earlier this week, Nutrien announced a fairly big leadership change. They’ve named Chris Reynolds as their new Head of Global Sales. Chris has been with the company for more than 20 years, with experience in domestic and international fertilizer sales, supply chain excellence, and leadership of the potash group.

I had a chance to speak with Chris one-on-one, and while a lot is still in flux, we talked about the importance of technology—especially artificial intelligence—moving forward. He emphasized that while technology will be critical, the human factor will still be essential for success in the marketplace.

Amy, what are your thoughts on this leadership change at Nutrien?

Amy Asmus
It’s a pretty exciting announcement for Nutrien. They’ve had the same operational and sales leadership for quite some time. Nutrien is also an excellent partner for us at Asmus Farm Supply—we do a lot with Nutrien Wholesale.

What we’re really watching for is how their roadmap moves from intention to reality. For third-party retailers who work closely with Nutrien, the question is whether this strategy focuses primarily on their vertically integrated retail system or also strengthens their wholesale relationships outside the Nutrien family.

Overall, it’s a great announcement, and we’re excited to see how it plays out.

Eric Sfiligoj
As Chris Reynolds moves forward with his plans, we’ll continue reporting as more details become available.

Let’s move on. It’s winter, and trade show season is in full swing. With the National Farm Machinery Show coming up and Commodity Classic later this month, one topic I keep hearing about is dicamba.

After losing registration in 2024, dicamba wasn’t used during the 2025 growing season. There are rumors about EPA reevaluations and possible reapproval. Amy, what are you hearing, and what could it mean for this year?

Amy Asmus
Knowing what the EPA will do always falls into the “don’t know what I don’t know” category. That said, the rumors we’ve heard suggest dicamba could be approved for over-the-top use in the 2026 spray season, but under much stricter conditions.

From a retailer perspective, if it’s not available now, it limits its reach. We’re already planning with growers, and once those plans are set, it’s hard to change them unless there’s a strong reason.

If dicamba does return, we expect tighter rules—temperature limits, required drift and volatility reduction agents, large downwind buffers, likely no aerial application, and possibly questions around drone use. There may also be application limits per acre.

Even then, additional litigation is possible, and states could impose further restrictions beyond the federal label. It will really depend on how the final label shakes out.

Eric Sfiligoj
And what about state cutoff dates?

Amy Asmus
Those will likely remain, and they vary widely by state. For retailers serving multiple states, it can be challenging when rules change across state lines, even when cropping systems are similar. We’ll have to see where everything lands.

Eric Sfiligoj
Hopefully we’ll hear more before Commodity Classic, and we’ll share updates as they come in.

Amy Asmus
While we’re talking about the EPA, I want to note that they’re currently seeking nominations for the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee. Nominations are due by March 2.

It’s a great opportunity to be involved and have a voice in environmental policy discussions. Anyone interested should check out the EPA webpage for more details.

Eric Sfiligoj
You’ve always encouraged people to get involved, and this is a great opportunity to do that.

Let’s switch gears and talk about E15, which has a big impact in Iowa and across agriculture. What’s the latest?

Amy Asmus
Congress has not enacted permanent nationwide year-round E15. Instead, they’ve created a temporary Rural Domestic Energy Council, essentially kicking the issue down the road.

E15 is a major benefit for growers and consumers. It could increase corn use for ethanol by roughly 2.4 billion bushels and save consumers anywhere from three to ten cents per gallon at the pump.

Several states—including Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin—have EPA approval for year-round E15 use through waivers. This remains a continuing battle, and it’s important to stay engaged and contact lawmakers.

Eric Sfiligoj
Senator Chuck Grassley has said Congress isn’t done with E15 yet, which is encouraging.

Eric Sfiligoj
As we wrap up, we have to acknowledge a big event coming up—Super Bowl Sunday. Food is a huge part of the day, and it’s estimated Americans will consume 1.48 billion chicken wings during the game. That’s about four to five wings per person nationwide.

Amy Asmus
And while that may not sound like row-crop news, those chickens need feed. If you don’t feed the chickens, you don’t get the wings. So yes—go row crops.

Eric Sfiligoj
Go row crops.

That brings us to the end of this edition of CropLife Retail Week. Amy, you wanted to share a message with our viewers.

Amy Asmus
Yes—this show is for our viewers. If there are topics you want us to cover, send Eric or me a note. Put “Topics to Touch On” in the subject line, and we’ll do our best to address them in future episodes. Get involved.

Eric Sfiligoj
Always get involved.

Thanks for joining us for this edition of CropLife Retail Week. If you have questions or feedback, please email us or leave a comment below. Be sure to subscribe, and we’ll see you next week.