Stine Seed Farm Inc, an affiliate of Stine Seed Company, has invested $5 million in Smart Ag Inc., an Iowa technology firm that has revolutionized automation in agriculture with the development of a full stack software platform and aftermarket kit for driverless tractors. The Stine Seed investment In Smart Ag’s Series Seed Round comes just five short months after Smart …
Iowa Corn Growers Attend CUTC
Members of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Corn Promotion Board attended the 2018 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference in St. Louis to showcase a current research project on developing monoethylene glycol (MEG) from corn. MEG is used in products like antifreeze, plastic soda bottles and polyester clothes. It provides a renewable product and expands the market for corn. …
John Deere Updates 9R Family of Tractors
John Deere‘s 2019 lineup of large 9R, 9RT and 9RX tractors will feature technology updates and other enhancements. For the first time, John Deere is offering a 120-inch track spacing option on 9470RX, 9520RX, 9570RX and 9620RX Series Four Track Ag Tractors equipped with 30- and 36-inch tracks. “The extra wide stance of this machine is ideal for customers wanting …
Animal Ag Bites 6/18
The 2019 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) will have the largest trade show floor ever in the event’s history. IPPE has already surpassed 560,000 square feet of exhibit space and has secured more than 1,100 exhibitors with eight more months to go to the Expo. IPPE is the world’s largest annual feed, meat and poultry trade show of its …
Zimfo Bytes 6/15
With over 653,000 student members belonging to over 8,500 FFA chapters, FFA is the largest student-run organization in the United States. This year the Culver’s FFA Essay Contest focused on this idea by asking members to write about the 2017 National FFA Convention theme, “I can. We will.” FFA members were asked to share what the theme means to them …
Profitability Begins with Nutrition
Pork producers visiting the World Pork Expo each year are often looking for new innovations and technologies that can help them to be more profitable. “When they look at production, they want sows that have good litters, healthy litters,” said Lori Stevemer, species marketing manager with Hubbard Feeds. “They want pigs to get going in the nursery, to grow well, …
Analyzing Mycotoxin Levels in Swine Feed
The results of the 2017 harvest analysis with regard to mycotoxin levels show that the 2017 crop was similar to the 2016 crop, and levels were possibly a bit less than in 2015. Alltech‘s Dr. Max Hawkins said analysis is important as swine producers try to mitigate the risk of mycotoxin exposure in feed. “We need to get an idea …
Making Chemicals From Ethanol
Participants in the 2018 Corn Utilization & Technology Conference in St. Louis were largely interested in expanding the market for ethanol, and not necessarily in conventional ways. “We’re hoping to provide alternatives to the sale of ethanol into the fuels market,” said Ron Cascone, principal with Nexant, Inc. “The theme of what I’m doing here is to show that there …
New Processes Create Opportunities in Biochemical Industry
Companies like Dedert Corporation are watching technologies they’ve used in the petrochemical industry for years now being applied to the biochemical industry in exciting ways. The company provides thermal systems to the starch and ethanol industry, with a focus on drying solids and concentrating liquids. “For us, the most interesting thing is seeing what’s happening with in particular the bio-based …
Precision Ag Bytes 6/13
Lindsay Corporation and Farmers Edge have announced a partnership that will deliver an unmatched suite of ag tech and digital agronomy solutions for their customers. This collaboration between Lindsay Corporation and Farmers Edge provides farmers with a simple solution to easily access field-centric data and deep insights they need to make informed decisions and get the most out of every …