Iowa is the new home of a new startup business accelerator: Ag Tech Accelerator (The Accelerator). Four investors have provided funding for the initiative including DuPont Pioneer, Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company, John Deere and Peoples Company. Each company has committed to providing $100,000 for the first year. The Accelerator was announced by the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the …
Report Finds #Ag Can Help Combat Climate Change
Growers to provide feed, fiber and fuel and now according to a new report released during a press conference at the Farm Progress Show this week, farmers, or agriculture, can also help combat climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). ICF International conducted the research entitled, “Charting a Path to Carbon Neutral Agriculture: Mitigation Potential for Crop …
China Commits to $1.8 Billion Worth of U.S. Soy
During the 2016 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Indianapolis, buyers from China committed to buy nearly $1.8 billion worth of U.S. soy, totaling 146 million bushels of new crop U.S. soybeans. Several of these commitments were made official at a signing during the event, hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC). “China continues to be the No. 1 …
NCGA Shares Messages & Priorities at #FarmProgressShow
Several members and staff from the National Corn Growers Association spent time with media, farmers, industry partners and academics during the 2016 Farm Progress Show to share the organization’s key priorities and messages. The clear intent of our effort is to communicate the economic challenges farmers are facing and leverage NCGA’s position as a thought leader to raise awareness and …
Midwest Row Crop Collaborative Launched
During the Farm Progress Show this morning a new initiative was announced to add more support to on-farm conservation programs and practices: The Midwest Row Crop Collaborative. One of the Collaborative’s first actions is to raise $4 million dollars over five years to support Soil Health Partnership (SHP). The initiative was created to support, enhance and accelerate the use of …
The @NHAgriculture NHDrive Concept Autonomous Tractor
Want a glimpse into the future of farming? You get it at the New Holland exhibit at the Farm Progress Show. On display is a concept tractor that is autonomous. I spoke with Carlo Lambro, Global President for New Holland, about this driverless tractor. Actually, the owner has the option to drive it or remotely control it since the New …
Iowa Ag Water Alliance Announces Conservation Strategy
Two years ago several Iowa-based agricultural groups launched the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA). Today during the 2016 Farm Progress Show, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced the organization’s new Conservation Infrastructure Strategy to assist in the identification of economic development opportunities associated with achieving the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. The IAWA also announced the formation …
Disruptive Innovation Goes Beyond Silicon Valley
When many people hear the term disruptive innovation, they think of Silicon Valley start-ups in the 90s that changed the way we deliver information and communicate. But like many things born in California, disruptive innovation is just not limited to Silicon Valley and technology parks. Coined in 1995 by Clayton M. Christensen, disruptive innovation describes a process by which a …
AEM Launches Ag Infrastructure Challenge at #RuralSummit
The first annual Rural Infrastructure Summit kicked off this afternoon in Ames, Iowa with big news – the launch of the agriculture Infrastructure Vision 2050 (IV2050) Challenge. The news was delivered by Lief Magnusson, President, CLASS Global Sales Americas and Chair of the Association Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) who sponsored the summit with support from Agri-Pulse. IV2050 is a thought leadership …
2016 John Deere Product Reveal #JDReveal
John Deere is hosting agricultural media at their Des Moines Works facility in Ankeny, IA for a look at new products. Follow the #JDReveal hashtag to see their tweets. I’m going to be collecting interviews this afternoon after a plant tour and some class room time with product presenters. Welcoming us to the event today was Rosalind Fox, Factory Manager. …