Infusing Ag Tech Into the Future

Cindy Zimmerman

“Ag tech is the driver for all agriculture going forward,” declared VISION Conference keynote speaker Brian Lutz with Corteva Agriscience. However, when it comes to agricultural technology, there is a difference between solutions on the farm and the enabling technology that makes those solutions possible.

Lutz, who is VP of Agricultural Solutions for Corteva, explained the difference by comparing tractors to generative AI. “Tractors are solutions,” said Lutz. “They’re comprised of many different enabling capabilities but tractors solve a problem for farmers.”

“Generative AI, on the other hand, is an enabling capability, it’s a technology…we’re putting that into products and solutions,” Lutz explained.

In his presentation, Lutz also noted how enabling technology is rarely industry specific and that many of the tools now used were adopted from other industries.

Corteva is the title sponsor for VISION and Lutz says it’s events like these that will continue to accelerate ag tech development and adoption.

Listen to this interview with Lutz here:
2024 VISION interview with Brian Lutz, Corteva 5:01

2024 VISION Conference Photo Album

AgWired Precision, AI, Audio, Farm Machinery, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Precision Ag News 1/24

Carrie Muehling

  • The International Agri-Center is set to hold the 57th annual World Ag Expo, welcoming attendees and exhibitors from around the world for the “Best Farm Show on Dirt” February 13-15. World Ag Expo provides a platform for networking, education, and business in one of the most productive ag counties in the United States. In 2023, the show saw 108,233 attendees from 49 states and 56 countries. With more than 1,200 exhibitors and 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. Show officials note, 97 percent of exhibit spaces sold as of January 19 and domestic and international tickets sales trending at record levels.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is investing $207 million in renewable energy and domestic fertilizer projects to lower energy bills, generate new income, create jobs, and strengthen competition for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. Many of the projects are being funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis.
  • The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, now in its 10th year, provides opportunities for Farm Bureau members to showcase business innovations being developed for agriculture. Barn Owl Precision Agriculture is the winner of this year’s competition. The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, announced the winner from among four finalists at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention.
  • Case IH, a global leader in agriculture equipment, is recognized as a 2023 Good Design Award Winner for the Farmall 75C Electric and the Steiger 715 Quadtrac tractors. The award, presented by the Chicago Athenaeum, showcases global industrial innovation and cutting-edge graphical designs.
  • MyLand, a soil health company, announced that Kelsey Neppel has joined the company’s leadership team as Director of Ag Science to lead MyLand’s Agricultural Science research and development efforts.
  • Syngenta Crop Protection and crop health company Enko have announced the discovery of novel chemistry to control fungal disease in crops, using a platform that reduces the time required for R&D discovery. The new chemistry features a new mode of action designed to target diseases that can devastate cereal crops. This breakthrough was achieved by screening billions of chemical molecules within Enko’s DNA-encoded libraries, and then using artificial intelligence and machine learning models to identify potent, selective molecules.
  • Lindsay Corporation, a leading global manufacturer and distributor of irrigation and infrastructure equipment and technology, unveiled a new user interface for its FieldNET platform, part of a remote monitoring and control solution for any brand of center pivot irrigation, providing farmers with assistance from routine monitoring up to and including industry-leading, highly sophisticated agronomic recommendations for irrigation via FieldNET Advisor.
  • Agoro Carbon Alliance, a global leader in the agricultural carbon market, announced today that the company has hit a significant milestone: 2 million acres enrolled in sustainable agriculture practices across the U.S. These acres are conservatively estimated to sequester more than 7.5 million tons of carbon over the contract periods.
  • The 2024 Ag Innovation Forum will feature insight from leading figures in the technology/innovation space. The event will feature three keynote speakers focused on the big picture/vision of ag technology and innovation potential and how it is being realized. There will also be three panel discussions focused on key current issues – soil health, artificial intelligence, and livestock technology adoption.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Women in Ag Tech Meet Up at VISION

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The fledgling Women in Ag Tech (WiAT) organization held its second in-person meeting ever prior to the opening of the VISION Conference in Glendale, Arizona this week. While the group of women meeting was a bit smaller than the first meeting last year at Tech Hub LIVE, they are mighty, brilliant, and filled with enthusiasm to grow the ag tech industry.

    AgTech PR CEO Jennifer Goldston says the inspiration to start the group started just about a year ago. “We needed a way for us to come together to talk about technology, talk about how do we help each other to be more involved, and through career advancement, and how do we as women shape the future of technology in agriculture,” she said.

    Goldston is one of several ambassadors for WiAT and she relishes her role in the industry helping ag tech companies tell their story. “There’s a lot of really complex science and technology out there,” said Goldston. “We want to make sure we’re helping to bring clarity and transparency so that farmers can make informed decisions.”

    Learn more in this interview.
    Conference advisory board member and WiAT Ambassador Jennifer Goldston, CEO and Founder, AgTech PR
    2024 VISION interview with Jennifer Goldston, AgTech PR 5:55

    2024 VISION Conference Photo Album

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Public Relations, Technology

    VISION Keynote Offers Ag Tech Adoption Outlook

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The keynote speaker for this year’s VISION Conference kicked off the event by providing some insights to ag technology executives about the future of the industry.

    As an agricultural technology specialist with McKinsey & Company, Vasanth Ganesan is super excited about ag tech but recognizes some of the trends and challenges the industry is facing. “The adoption of technology has been much slower than expected or anticipated, so what more can we be doing,” said Ganesan. “How can we personalize products more for farmers, how can we build products that are easier to use, that have a very clear ROI?”

    Despite the challenges, Ganesan encourages the ag tech industry to continue moving forward. “There’s no better time to be building technology,” he said. “There is a huge problem to feed the planet in a more sustainable, equitable way. So we have the biggest problem and the best time to be solving it….it’s worth the fight.”

    Learn more in this interview.
    2024 VISION interview with Vasanth Ganesan, McKinsey & Co 7:50

    2024 VISION Conference Photo Album

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    Animal Ag News 1/23

    Carrie Muehling

  • The winner of the 2024 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year award is Skippy, owned by Georgia Farm Bureau members Donald and Laura Adams. AFBF, with support from Nestlé Purina PetCare, recognized Skippy, three regional runners-up and a People’s Choice Pup at its convention.
  • More than 450 people attended the annual Dairy Strong conference to explore the industry’s latest innovations, celebrate its collaborations and delve deep into sustainability. Conference attendees included farmers representing 280,000-plus cows along with industry experts and representatives from allied business sectors. They listened to keynote addresses, panel discussions and presentations on the latest technology and sustainability tactics. More than 40 vendors shared their products and services during the tradeshow. The event, themed “Growing Stronger Through Sustainability,” was held at the KI Convention Center.
  • According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, an often-overlooked benefit of the dairy industry’s adoption of genomics is the impact it is having on sustainability. By optimizing genetics within their herds, dairy producers have successfully bred new generations of cows to produce more milk, butterfat and protein with fewer resources.
  • The Dairy Business Association honored Tom Crave of Crave Brothers Farm with the association’s Advocate of the Year award for his role in shaping Wisconsin’s dairy community. The award was presented during DBA’s Dairy Strong conference at the KI Convention Center.
  • This year, the Dairy Business Association and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin collaborated to unveil a new honor for dairy men and women who prioritize building trusted relationships with their neighbors and the surrounding community. At DBA’s annual Dairy Strong conference, the groups announced Doug Grotegut as the inaugural recipient of the Community Builder Award.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the country, re-elected three dairy farmers to the board of directors during the co-op’s annual business meeting at the 2024 Dairy Strong conference.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) strongly supports the Death Tax Repeal Act, led by Reps. Randy Feenstra (IA) and Sanford Bishop (GA). The Senate companion bill is led by Sen. John Thune (SD). Repealing the federal estate tax, also known as the Death Tax, is a top priority for NCBA.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that the agency is pursuing a Remote Grading Pilot Program for beef. The pilot program will allow a USDA meat grader to assign grades from a remote location, increasing the grading options available to producers who sell into smaller, local processing facilities.
  • Megan Eckhardt of New Braunfels, Texas, and Jaime Luke of Stanberry, Missouri, have each been awarded a $15,000 W.D. Farr Scholarship by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF). The annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program recognizes outstanding graduate students for their academic achievements, leadership and commitment to the advancement of the beef industry.
  • Steph Carlson has joined the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) as assistant vice president (AVP) of state and national relations. In her role, she will serve as the primary NPPC point of contact for state pork organizations. Carlson will be based in Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Isadora Machado, a graduate research assistant at Iowa State University (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine, recently led a research project at ISU to quantify how much a PRRS outbreak impacts antibiotic use on a pig farm. The study found that injectable and water antimicrobial use in groups of nursery pigs increased 379 percent during the 15-week epidemic phase after the farm became PRRS-positive. The use of injectable antibiotics also increased 274 percent in older pigs, closer to market weight. While both groups showed a significant increase in antibiotic use following a PRRS outbreak, there is a greater impact on nursery and grower pigs because their immune systems are less developed than finisher pigs.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    DWFI Podcast 32 – The Melting Cryosphere

    Cindy Zimmerman

    This edition of the Daugherty Water for Food podcast features a discussion with Randall Ritzema, Tika Gurung, and Nick Brozović on the Melting Cryosphere and Food & Water Security.

    A 2023 report called Water, ice, society, and ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: An Outlook (HI-WISE), published by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), was an urgent call for how disappearing snow and ice in the Hindu Kush Himalayas will impact water resources for nearly two billion people.

    But the cryosphere exists elsewhere, too, as part of the globe’s hydrological system. Populations and ecosystems of The Andes, California and Nebraska, for example, all rely on a healthy cryosphere for water. With a changing climate, what are the implications to food and water security? How do we adapt?

    In this episode, DWFI Communications Specialist Arianna Elnes discusses the changing cryosphere with DWFI Research Program Scientist Randall Ritzema, who contributed to Chapter Three of the HI-WISE report; University of Nebraska-Lincoln Graduate Student of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Tika Gurung, who studies glaciers in the Himalayas; and DWFI Director of Policy Nick Brozović.

    Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute is co-hosting a webinar on the Water-Food Nexus in Mountain Systems on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024 at 3-4 P.M. UTC (9-10 A.M. CT). The link to register, and the recording after, is available at go.unl.edu/waterfoodnexus.

    For more on Water for Food’s work visit waterforfood.nebraska.edu

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    dwfi-podcast-episode-32.mp3 30:10

    The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska was founded with the mission to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources by conducting scientific and policy research, using the research results to inform policy makers, and sharing knowledge through education and communication.

    How to subscribe:

    Audio, climate, Food, Water, Water for Food

    Industry Ag News 1/19

    Carrie Muehling

  • Soybeans and their products—soybean meal and soybean oil—are the most traded agricultural commodity, accounting for nearly nine percent of the total value of global agricultural trade. A new report from USDA’s Economic Research Service, Soybean Production, Marketing Costs, and Export Competitiveness in Brazil and the United States describes the factors that affect production, marketing costs, and export competitiveness of the world’s leading soybean exporters—the United States and Brazil. This study compares the differences between farm-level production costs and returns for soybeans in the United States and Brazil in Marketing Year 2017/18–2021/22 for the most productive growing regions in each country.
  • Scientists at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) use innovative technology to study the lifecycle of potatoes (including development, production, and postharvest storage), ensuring a high-quality supply year-round for snack food processing facilities, restaurants, and grocery stores. Paul J. Collins, a research geneticist for the ARS Eastern potato breeding program based in Orono and Presque Isle, Maine, is working to develop new varieties for chip processing and table markets with improved agronomic attributes, disease resistance, climate resiliency, and quality traits. Successful varieties developed by this program include Atlantic, a variety that is widely grown across the U.S. for potato chips and is within the top ten most popular potato varieties grown in the nation.
  • The International Federation of Agricultural Journalism (IFAJ) and Alltech have opened nominations for the 2024 IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders program. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2024.
  • American Farmland Trust will be the Title Sponsor for the 2024 Solar Farm Summit, North America’s Agrivoltaics Expo, with a three-year commitment to collaborate in the development of an effective and catalytic annual event focused on solar projects that combine active farming with energy generation—a dual land use known as “agrivoltaics.”
  • Propagate and Rodale Institute announced a new strategic partnership to promote agroforestry. The goal of the partnership is to increase the adoption of agroforestry and tree crop systems in North America.
  • The latest report from the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer indicates that U.S. farmers’ inflation expectations have subsided while overall producer sentiment changed little. The December barometer recorded a reading of 114, just one point lower than in November. Both subindices of the barometer, the Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations, mirrored this slight decline, settling one point below their respective November figures at 112 and 115. Notably, farmers’ inflation expectations for the upcoming year were markedly lower than those reported a year ago for 2023.
  • After several months of development, Michael Hinton, America’s Premier Antique Tractor Enthusiast and Founder of Antique Tractor Preservation Day, announced the launch of a new website: TalkingTractors.com. The website was conceived with a profound objective to educate and create an online communication portal for recognizing our Nation’s deeply-rooted and proud Agricultural Heritage. It includes information and links to recent articles & interviews about Hinton’s passion for agriculture & vintage farm equipment; as well as features a comprehensive Antique Tractor Resource Directory.
  • The National Corn Growers Association said it is deeply disappointed in a decision released by the International Trade Commission, which upholds an earlier opinion that found material injury to U.S. fertilizer companies during a time of rising on-farm fertilizer prices that went on to reach record highs.
  • It is the height of the Florida strawberry harvesting season and the Florida Strawberry Growers Association says it has been an incredible year in terms of flavor and quality. UF/IFAS researchers have developed several new varieties in recent years such as Florida Pearl, released in 2020, which gets its name from its unusual, white exterior. Some consumers say it tastes like pineapple or apricot.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Preview of CattleCon 2024

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

    This week we’re going to get a preview of the new CattleCon. I love that name. It is new and perfect for the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. In fact, CattleCon is the official new name.

    CattleConTo learn all about what’s new and different with CattleCon I talked with Kristin Torres, Executive Director of Meetings and Events, NCBA.

    CattleCon is where the beef industry meets! We’re Onward to Orlando from January 31 to February 2, 2024. At CattleCon, you’ll discover a unique and comprehensive experience that brings together education, networking, business opportunities, advocacy, and fun for the whole family, all under one roof. Join us at CattleCon, the ultimate destination where the beef industry meets to learn, connect, grow, and enjoy. Registration for CattleCon24 is now open. Click here to register for the largest event in the cattle industry.

    Listen to the episode here:ZimmCast 724 - Preview of CattleCon (14:59)

    That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

    Ag Groups, Animal Health, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, Meat, NCBA, ZimmCast

    And It’s Titanium

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Apple Watch Ultra 2 iPhone 15 ProYep. It is titanium. As in, Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Watch Ultra 2. And I’ve got it baby.

    I would love to write a very detailed description of these devices but you can find a lot of them and frankly, I’m still learning their capabilities. It’s a major contrast to either of them in the past. But, really, the fact that they are using titanium doesn’t excite me. I’m more interested in what they can do to make me create and work better and faster. For example, the iPhone camera is a vital part of my work. They just keep getting better and so do the photos and video I shoot. The Watch has a more robust app list than in the past that interact with the iPhone and I like the large amount of apps dedicated to fitness and medical measurements. I’m still learning how to use both these devices. There are lots of options to consider.

    There are a couple upgrades that are very handy and that includes the “alway-on” home screen. And depending on how much I’m using these in a day, I can get close to 2 days of battery life and using the right chargers, I can charge them full very quickly.

    So, what has really changed is not so much the devices themselves but the operating systems. With the iPhone 15 Pro I’m currently on iOS 17.2.1. I’m getting used to it but it has made a lot of changes that I don’t like. A simple example is opening up Messages, tapping Edit and the drop down list now includes my profile when I mainly want to Select Messages so I can delete them. I’m constantly accidentally tapping my profile which I don’t want.

    On a related note, I have a MacBook Air, M2. I love it but I don’t love the latest OS there. I’m on Sonoma 14.2.1 and it still has some weird bugs in it. Just do a search and you’ll quickly see what I mean. And the updates just keep coming. Hopefully Apple can finally get the software back to being as dependable as it used to be.

    Technology

    Pivot Bio Presents Study on Boosting Microbial Nitrogen in Dairy

    Cindy Zimmerman

    A new study presented yesterday at the Dairy Business Association’s Dairy Strong event in Green Bay, Wisconsin, demonstrated that replacing up to 40 pounds per acre of synthetic nitrogen with Pivot Bio PROVEN® 40 significantly improved silage tonnage without sacrificing quality.

    The study, conducted in collaboration with over 30 dairy producers during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons showed that farmers who used PROVEN 40 and a reduced rate of nitrogen saw a 0.91 increase in tonnage per acre, representing a 4.2% advantage over the grower standard.

    Agricultural Innovation in Focus: Andy Heath of Pivot Bio Shares Groundbreaking Silage Data at the 2024 Dairy Strong Conference

    PROVEN 40 not only increased silage production but also boosted farmer profitability. Replacing synthetic nitrogen with up to 40 pounds of PROVEN 40 led to a 3.4% increase in milk production per acre. While production per acre increased, milk per ton remained consistent, demonstrating that production can increase while maintaining quality.

    “PROVEN 40 isn’t just about increasing production. It’s also a path to maximizing profit for farmers,” said Andy Heath, a Pivot Bio agronomist from Central Wisconsin. “For the second year in a row, our results show that Pivot Bio’s revolutionary microbial nitrogen is a step toward a more prosperous future in corn silage production, optimizing tonnage, maintaining quality, improving environmental outcomes and ultimately driving profitability.”

    The study found consistent advantages of PROVEN 40 in increasing silage yield across diverse weather conditions, soil types and corn silage management systems. Dairy producers who replaced up to 40 pounds of synthetic nitrogen per acre with PROVEN 40 increased tonnage per acre by 0.91, a 4.2% boost when adjusted to 65% moisture content.

    Check out the study here.

    Corn, Dairy, Feed