WASHINGTON, D.C. – Four start-up companies offering agricultural innovations have advanced to compete for a top prize of $100,000 in the 2025 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, continues to elevate the importance of entrepreneurship in agriculture through the contest. 

“We’re pleased to recognize the final four teams in the Ag Innovation Challenge,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “This competition helps entrepreneurs grow their ideas into products that support farmers and ranchers in their mission to provide the food, fuel and fiber we all rely on.” 

This is the 11th year of the Ag Innovation Challenge, which was the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs launching agriculture- and food-related businesses. Farm Bureau is offering $145,000 in start-up funds throughout the course of the competition.

Ten semi-finalist teams participated in a virtual pitch round earlier this week with three judges representing various sectors of the agricultural supply chain. The four finalist teams advancing to the final round each received $10,000 and are listed below. 

The finalist teams will compete at the AFBF Convention on Sunday, Jan. 26, in front of a live audience of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives, competing for top titles and prizes:

  • Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Winner, total of $100,000
  • Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Runner-up, total of $25,000

"We're happy to have a company from Utah be recognized as a finalist in this competition," said ValJay Rigby, President of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. "And that this comes from one of our farm families from experiences they had on their farm is even better."

Halio was developed in collaboration with BYU and the Nielsen lab, with patented technology to create a bio-pesticide and soil amendment engineered to address high salinity in soils.

Farm Bureau recognizes and supports these rural businesses with generous funding provided by sponsors Farm Credit, Bayer, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services and T-Mobile. 

To learn more about the Challenge visit fb.org/challenge.