As we look ahead to November, I’m excited to share that U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA) will bring a delegation of farmers and ag value chain leaders to COP30 in Belém, Brazil—the world’s largest climate conference. As an official observer organization of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), USFRA will participate in key discussions and showcase how agriculture is leading solutions for a sustainable future.
In this issue, you will read about how we are co-hosting two events at COP30, which are powerful opportunities to elevate the role of U.S. farmers and ranchers in shaping global climate solutions—and to emphasize that profitability, productivity, and sustainability go hand in hand.
That same message is reflected in our “Voices of Leadership” video featuring USFRA Board Member Terry Quam of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. Terry’s approach shows how livestock and grain work in harmony to build soil health and enhance productivity.
Terry’s story is a great reminder that the world can benefit from learning how innovation in U.S. agriculture starts on the farm, driven by farmers and ranchers.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kevin Burkum
CEO
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA), an official observer organization of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will join global leaders at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, this November with a delegation of U.S. farmers and ag value chain partners.
As an accredited UNFCCC observer, USFRA is authorized to send delegates and host side events in the “Blue Zone”—the official, UN-managed area where formal negotiations and accredited discussions take place.
USFRA will co-host two key events during COP30 that highlight the critical role of agriculture in addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges.
1. How Agriculture is Increasing Resilience, Mitigating Emissions and Improving Farm Productivity
📅 November 18, 2025 | 15:00–16:30 | COP30 Blue Zone (Belém, Brazil)
This official UNFCCC side event will spotlight how farmers, ranchers, and agricultural leaders are driving innovations that strengthen food systems, boost productivity, and reduce environmental impact. Panelists include:
Dr. Bruno Basso, Michigan State University
Michael Crinion, U.S. dairy farmer and Chair of USFRA
Diane Sibanda, farmer and President of the Botswana Farmers’ Association
Ana Carolina Zimmermann, Brazilian farmer and Chair of ALS Agro
Bob Lowe, Canadian rancher and President of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
Lloyd Day, Deputy Director General, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
Natasha Santos, VP & Head of Sustainability, Bayer Crop Science
Steve Wittbecker, Chief Sustainability Officer, CoBank
Jamaica Gayle, Senior Director of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs, Corn Refiners Association
Kevin Burkum, CEO of USFRA
USFRA is partnering with the Meat Institute, Animal Agriculture Alliance, Corn Refiners Association, and Solutions from the Land on the event.
2. Go Ag Go: Building Connections for Action on the Road to COP31
📅 November 19, 2025 | 19:00 | Casa Bayer – Belém, Brazil
Co-hosted by: Bayer, Clim-Eat, WBCSD, and U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action
Held at the conclusion of the first of two Food and Agriculture Days at COP30, Go Ag Go will gather key stakeholders to connect and collaboratively explore actionable next steps leading to COP31.
This roundtable will foster open dialogue and shared learning among farmers, business leaders, NGOs, and policymakers. Discussions will center on three pivotal themes:
Farmer Profitability as the Foundation for Sustainability
Infrastructure for Climate Resilience
Farmers as True Partners in Shaping Solutions
By participating in COP30, USFRA will elevate the leadership and innovation of U.S. farmers and ranchers on the global stage—showcasing how agriculture is a powerful force for resilience, economic vitality, and a more sustainable future for all.
USFRA’s board of directors is a group of leaders who not only guide the organization but also embody the spirit and innovation of American agriculture. They bring expertise, passion, and a collaborative spirit that drives USFRA forward.
In this video, Terry Quam, Cattlemen’s Beef Board and USFRA Board Member, shares his approach to regenerative agriculture on his family’s diversified livestock and grain operation in Lodi, Wisconsin.
The next webinar in USFRA’s series on advancing farmer profitability and resilience while reducing greenhouse gas emissions will explore the challenges and opportunities of closing the row crop yield gap. It will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. CT.
Speakers include Dr. Jerry Hatfield, formerly with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Dr. Romulo Lollato of Kansas State University, Patrick Giberson, farmer and member of the United Soybean Board and USFRA Board of Directors and Sean Arians, National Corn Growers Association.
USFRA launched the five-part webinar series in April, focusing on the key findings from USFRA’s peer-reviewed report, “Potential for U.S. Agriculture to Be Greenhouse Gas Negative,” which was published late last year.
If you’ve missed any of the four previous webinars, you’re able to view them online:
On Tuesday, Oct. 14, USFRA hosted a fireside chat at the Transform Food & Agriculture conference in Minneapolis. USFRA Chair Michael Crinion, a dairy farmer from South Dakota and board member of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, and Rochelle Krusemark, a soybean, corn, pig and beef cattle producer and board member of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, discussed how farmers and ranchers are navigating economic, environmental, and technological pressures to improve long-term resilience. The panel was moderated by USFRA CEO Kevin Burkum.
USFRA’s podcast, Farm+Food+Facts, draws thousands of listeners and is recognized as one of the top podcasts that explore sustainable food systems. This month’s episodes:
Get the inside scoop on E-15 with Doug Berven, vice president of corporate affairs of POET and a USFRA board member. Learn about the opportunities for infrastructure updates and technology advancements. Listen HERE.
In a Podcast Extra, Berven speaks to the current state of the agricultural economy. Listen HERE.
Don’t forget to subscribe and tune in to Farm+Food+Facts!
Nov. 10-21: United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30)
