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. …
Report Projects Increased Challenges For Ag Retailers
A new report from CoBank has revealed that accounts receivable at farm supply co-ops and other ag retailers are growing, and so are the challenges they face. The report shows that retailers are adjusting to a tougher economic environment accompanying the down-phase of the current ag commodity cycle, as current headwinds are directly related to the sharp decline in commodity …
Culver’s Grows 19 “Thank You Farmers” Mazes
From food to fuel, there are more than 4,000 uses for corn across the world. This year Culver’s restaurants added one more use to the list: thanking farmers. The restaurant chain wouldn’t be what it is today without the hardworking farmers who grow the food that’s proudly served in its restaurants. That’s why Culver’s worked with farmers across the country …
#IFAJ2016 Tour – Part 9 – Bayer ForwardFarming
With only a few episodes left in my series from the 2016 IFAJ Congress Bayer Tours we’ll continue the focus on the Bayer ForwardFarming Initiative. In this episode we got a look at the the bigger picture in Germany which includes Damianshof Farm near Neuss. Walking us through the overview was Belinda Geisen-Druse. In Germany there are 22 farms that …
#IFAJ2016 Bayer Tour – Part 8 – ForwardFarming Initiative
Let’s turn to the Bayer ForwardFarming Initiative in this episode of my tour during the IFAJ Congress in Germany. We got our look at the concept on Damianshof Farm near Neuss. Our host was farm manager Bernd Olligs. His family has managed the farm for six generations and he inherited ownership from his mother. On Bernd’s farm they grow sugar …