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 …
Put Your #Selfie in the #FSBIGPIC
The #FSBIGPIC at the FS Star Energy exhibit is about the coolest thing I’ve seen here at Farm Progress Show. Here’s how it works: Just take a picture and send it out on Twitter or Instagram with the #FSBIGPIC hash tag and like magic it appears in a big mosaic. “When they come in and they find their photo, they …
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 …
US Soy Well Represented at Global Trade Event
The 4th annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Midwest Specialty Grains Conference and Trade Show hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the Midwest Shippers Association (MSA), took place in Indianapolis, IN and is the premiere global soy and grain trade event. Over 700 attendees gathered with 300 of them representing 55 countries around the world, focused …
#FarmProgressShow Features BASF Butterfly Garden
Attendees at this year’s Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa are being greeting at the front gate by the BASF Living Acres Butterfly Garden, a new plot just planted this year with some milkweed to provide habitat for Monarch butterflies. “What they are seeing is a fairly young planting of a diverse set of plants to help demonstrate how a …
Don Tourte Kicks Off 2016 #FarmProgressShow
Don Tourte, VP of Sales for the Farm Progress Show kicked off the 63rd annual event in the BASF Media Tent this morning. He gave media a bit of a show preview and noted that the exhibitors look as good as ever and highlighted how they have gone all out this year. “There are some really great things to see …
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 …