DTN/Progressive Farmer Announces Editorial Changes: Hillyer To Retire, Dehlinger Named Editor

DTN, a global leader in operational decision-making for energy, agriculture, and weather-driven industries, announced that Progressive Farmer Editor-in-Chief Gregg Hillyer will retire in January 2026. Katie Dehlinger will succeed him, making her the eighth chief editor in the magazine’s 139-year history, and the first woman to hold the role.

Hillyer has led the magazine since 2007. His career with Progressive Farmer extends further back, including roles as senior editor for crops and executive editor.

Grey Montgomery, General Manager for Agriculture at DTN, said, “Gregg is a highly respected journalist, leader, and mentor in the agricultural journalism industry and within our company. He has shaped our products, our content, our expertise, and the way we treat each other and our customers. We will miss him.”

Gregg is a highly respected journalist, leader, and mentor in the agricultural journalism industry and within our company. He has shaped our products, our content, our expertise, and the way we treat each other and our customers. We will miss him.
– Grey Montgomery

Before joining Progressive Farmer, Hillyer served as editor of Soybean Digest for nearly 12 years. He was also managing editor of Farm Journal’s Hogs Today, field editor for Wallace’s Farmer, and worked in agricultural public relations.

Hillyer is a past president of the Ag Communicators Network (formerly the American Agricultural Editors’ Association). He has served on several key committees and was part of the inaugural group of ACN Fellows, recognized for their leadership and ongoing support of the organization.

In those roles, Hillyer helped strengthen ACN’s financial foundation and its professional improvement programs. In July 2025, he received the ACN Lifetime Achievement Award, the organization’s highest honor, recognizing his nearly 50-year career of editorial leadership, excellence in writing and photography, and support of agricultural journalism. He was also nominated as a Roundtable Fellow with the Farm Foundation, an agricultural think tank, and has served on its board of directors.

Beyond leading Progressive Farmer’s editorial team, Hillyer has been widely recognized for his own journalism. His awards include two Oscars in Agriculture, Story of the Year, ACN Master Writer and Writer of Merit, ACN Photographer of the Year Honorable Mention, first place in a national conservation writing competition, and a special citation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for his work on conservation compliance.

A native of southwest Iowa, Hillyer grew up on a dairy farm and earned a degree in agricultural journalism from Iowa State University. His rural roots and passion for writing launched a decades-long career that left a lasting mark on agricultural journalism.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with such a talented team of editors, copy editors, analysts, art directors, photographers, freelancers, support and sales/advertising staff,” Hillyer said of his years at Progressive Farmer. “They are the best in the business and share my passion to serve agriculture and the American farmer and rancher.”

In his note to the PF staff announcing his retirement, Hillyer said, “You have all made me a better editor and have enriched my life in so many ways. I wish you all the best in the years ahead. Continue to raise the editorial bar of excellence and never extinguish your zeal to give readers accurate and objective information to help them be more successful and profitable.”

Although Hillyer will step back from day-to-day leadership in January, he will continue working with DTN in a consulting role to help ensure Progressive Farmer’s high-impact content and industry leadership continue well into the future.

 

Dehlinger Named Next Progressive Farmer Editor

Dehlinger, currently Farm Business Editor at DTN, has 13 years with the company. The Illinois native began covering agriculture as a DTN intern in 2009 while studying Journalism at the University of Missouri. After graduating that year, she joined DTN full-time as a wire and copy editor.

She later advanced to reporter and Markets Editor before leaving DTN in 2016 to become an executive producer at RFD-TV, where she shaped coverage of farm business issues. Dehlinger returned to DTN in 2018 as Farm Business Editor.

Dehlinger has earned multiple awards for writing and production from agricultural and business journalism organizations. In 2020, she began leading the DTN Ag Summit Series, expanding the once-annual farmer meeting into a series of online workshops and webinars that draw participants from across the world. She also leads the annual DTN Digital Yield Tour, working with crop modelers to estimate corn and soybean yields and coordinating the reporting team to provide on-the-ground crop condition updates shared across the DTN digital platforms.

Katie’s background in farm business issues, her deep knowledge of commodity markets and the importance those play in a farmer’s success, and her strong commitment to journalism ethics give her the perfect foundation to lead Progressive Farmer.
– Gregg Hillyer

“Katie has grown from being a bright, enthusiastic intern to become one of the country’s best agribusiness journalists and an invaluable part of DTN,” said DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton, who first met Dehlinger at an internship conference at the University of Missouri and suggested she apply to DTN. “She has a great understanding of markets and people, and farmers know they can trust her reporting and work. Katie will bring her own unique style and insight to the position that will help carry on the long tradition of The Progressive Farmer and the agricultural industry. I can’t be more excited to see her take on this role.”

Like Hillyer, Dehlinger is an active member of the journalism community. She chairs the Agricultural Communicators Network Professional Improvement Foundation and serves on the board of the National Association of Agricultural Journalists.

Dehlinger becomes the eighth chief Editor in the magazine’s 139-year history, and the first female in that role.

“Katie’s background in farm business issues, her deep knowledge of commodity markets and the importance those play in a farmer’s success, and her strong commitment to journalism ethics give her the perfect foundation to lead Progressive Farmer,” Hillyer said. “It will be a joy to work with her on this transition, and I know Progressive Farmer readers will be in good hands as it moves into its 140th year.”

Read more about the award-winning agriculture content in Progressive Farmer.