Davidson Prize Awarded to Grain Weevil, Outrun Tillage

ASABE and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced the winners of the 2026 Davidson Prize during a special presentation at Commodity Classic, recognizing extraordinary innovations in agricultural engineering that are helping farmers improve productivity, safety and sustainability.

Named for J.B. Davidson, widely regarded as the father of modern agricultural engineering, the Davidson Prize celebrates cutting-edge solutions that deliver measurable impact for producers while advancing the future of agriculture.

This year’s Davidson Prize winners are:

Grain Weevil — an automated grain bin management system designed to enhance safety, maintain grain quality and reduce the need for workers to enter hazardous storage environments.

OutRun Tillage System — a next-generation tillage platform engineered to optimize soil preparation with greater precision, efficiency and adaptability to varying field conditions.

“The Davidson Prize highlights the powerful role engineering plays in shaping the future of agriculture,” said ASABE Executive Director Cedric Calhoun. “These winners reflect the thoughtful integration of research, design and real-world performance that defines excellence in agricultural and biological engineering. They are strong examples of how innovation can advance both productivity and sustainability.”

Each year, Davidson Prize honorees are selected by a panel of ASABE experts who evaluate entries for engineering innovation, measurable impact and industry advancement. Winners are selected from that year's AE50 award winners. The award underscores the collaboration between engineers, manufacturers, and producers to solve complex agricultural challenges.

AE50 award nominations open in August.

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U.S. Wood Pellet Exports Hit Record 10 Million Metric Tons

The United States set a new record in wood-pellet exports last year, exporting just over 10 million metric tons, valued at nearly $2 billion, to approximately 18 countries. The United Kingdom led all markets, followed by Japan and the Netherlands. To put the scale in perspective, domestic use of wood pellets runs under one million metric tons per year, making the export market the dominant driver of this growing industry.

ASABE has played a quiet but significant role in this success story. When ISO formed Technical Committee 238 on Solid Biofuels in 2007, ASABE stepped up to administer the U.S. participation in that work. Over the past two decades, TC 238 has developed and published nearly four dozen standards covering sampling, testing, and quality specifications for solid biofuels—standards that are now required for virtually every cargo shipment between U.S. sellers and overseas buyers.

The committee's work is expanding. In 2024, TC 238 broadened its scope to include pyrogenic biocarbon, a material with applications ranging from soil amendment (familiar to many ASABE members as biochar) to coal replacement in iron and steel production. Early signs suggest significant investment interest: in December 2025, Weyerhaeuser announced plans to scale biocarbon production to 1.5 million metric tons annually for the metals sector, and USDA and DOE funding has followed.

Watch for more on this topic in the May/June issue of Resource magazine, in which a feature article is planned.

Interested in getting involved? ASABE's technical committee ES-238 within the Energy Systems community welcomes new participants. Visit asabe.org/committees to learn more, or contact Scott Cedarquist or Britni Wall directly.

New from Resource Magazine

The March/April 2026 issue of Resource is here, showcasing the breadth of innovation and leadership across the agricultural and biological engineering community.

This issue features thought-provoking perspectives on why CBSI needs a sixth principle, including reports from both Agritechnica 2025 and the 7th PASAE Conference in Morocco, a look at AI in livestock production, and additional stories highlighting the people and ideas shaping our profession. Take a few minutes to explore the issue and see what your colleagues across ASABE are doing.

Submit AIM Papers by April 20 to Be Considered for ITSC Awards

• Be submitted to ASABE via the standard conference paper submission process
• Be associated with an abstract that has been approved for presentation (any format) during an ITSC-sponsored or -cosponsored session at that year's AIM.
• Use the most current annual meeting paper template. 

Silence Isn't Always Golden

Are you missing emails from Engage, ASABE's collaborative work platform? If you suspect that you are, take a moment to confirm that your notification preferences are set the way you want them.

Log in to Engage—directly or through asabe.org—and open your profile. Under My Account, scroll to Community Notifications. For most committees, select Real Time to ensure you can respond promptly to time-sensitive items like ballots. Depending on your needs, you may also choose daily delivery, or a daily or weekly digest.

While you're there, review Email Preferences, also under My Account. if you encounter an error message, please notify staff right away so we can get you reconnected.

Once you've confirmed your settings, you're all set. 

Weasler Engineering Celebrates 75 Years

Here's a shout-out to Weasler Engineering as it marks 75 years  of leadership in agricultural machinery innovation.

DYK . . . that Weasler’s legacy extends not only to the farm but also throughout the ag machinery industry? Through the leadership of Weasler employees like George Hanson and Roger Mayhew, the company has championed ASABE standards and contributed to the intensive work of standards development since the 1980s. That commitment continues into the future through ASABE's Weasler Fund, which provides ongoing financial support for ASABE standards.

Special Collections

May 1
Sustainable Groundwater in Agriculture

June 30
Regenerative Agriculture

Standards Activities

New Standards

• ANSI/ASABE S664 DEC2025 Direct to Consumption Specialty Crop Machine Hygienic Design Requirements

Revised Standards

• ANSI/ASAE S392 Cotton Module Builder and Transporter Standard
• ASABE/ISO 5675:2021 Agricultural Tractor and Machinery—General Purpose Quick Action Hydraulic Couplers

Approved Projects

• XISO 20383:2025 Tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry ― Speed Identification Sign (SIS)

Press Releases

• January 26, 2026, ASABE Publishes Revised Standard for Cotton Module Builder and Transporters (press release)