AquaSpy Shares Ag Tech VISION

Cindy Zimmerman

AquaSpy is a small company with a big vision for the future of ag tech.

Kathleen Glass is Vice President of Marketing for AquaSpy, which is a soil moisture monitoring company based in California, and also one of the main sponsors of the VISION Conference and Women in Ag Tech (WiAT), as well as one of the founding members of the Global Ag Tech Alliance. Glass is personally involved in all of that and was active on panels, leading working groups, and behind the scenes preparations at the WiAT meeting and VISION Conference last week.

“This was a personal mission of mine,” said Glass during an interview at the conference. “I’m new to ag tech. I come from IoT and AI and telecom, so I’ve been a marketer in helping different industries adopt technologies.”

Glass said she enjoyed being able to lead the Ag Tech Adoption Strategic Solutions Teams Challenge, or Tiger Team, during the conference because she believes working together is the way to advance adoption. “I was very happy to see the diversity of representation of growers, investors, retailers, manufacturers, and ag tech here at VISION. That’s something we have to strive for is having all those constituents in the room.”

Listen to this interview from VISION:
2024 VISION interview with Kathleen Glass, AquaSpy 8:24

2024 VISION Conference Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Animal Ag News 1/29

Carrie Muehling

  • The Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis has collected and assessed almost 450 new-crop samples from across the U.S., and the results show regional variation in mycotoxin risk. Samples showed lower risk in the upper Midwest and higher risk in the East. A combination of drought and untimely rains led to much of the risk.
  • International Dairy Foods Association released the first ever State of Women in Dairy report to provide IDFA members and dairy industry with data-based metrics and recommendations to support gender equality across the entire supply chain.
  • Schreiber Foods Inc. was recognized with the first annual IDFA Workplace of the Year Award at IDFA’s Dairy Forum in Phoenix, Ariz. The award, co-sponsored by IDFA and Dairy Processing magazine, is given each year to an outstanding IDFA member company that has created policies to promote a positive workplace experience for employees.
  • Bateman’s Mosida Farms of Mosida, Utah was recognized as the 2024 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year at the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Forum. The award is presented each year by IDFA and Dairy Herd Management magazine. As detailed by Dairy Herd Management in its feature story on the award-winning farm, Mosida Farms is a labor of love for generations of the Bateman family, and today is owned and operated by the four families of Steve, Brad, Jason and the late Lance Bateman.
  • The United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) Board of Directors announces Melissa Gerharter has been named Chief Executive Officer (CEO). A registered dietitian, Gerharter joined UDIM eight years ago, serving on the sports nutrition marketing team and health and wellness team before becoming Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Interim CEO.
  • Innovative Solutions, a division of KENT Nutrition Group, introduces HUMISYN, a synergistic blend of organic acid sources that shows great promise in helping to reduce the effects of a common disease in poultry by improving overall gut health.
  • The International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA) announced the launch of a comprehensive set of educational training modules designed to complement its Key Welfare Indicator (KWI) Guides. Developed in collaboration with Fresno State’s Center for the Optimization of Poultry (COOP), these training modules aim to enhance industry knowledge and promote best practices in poultry welfare.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is providing multiple internship opportunities for students to learn about different aspects of the cattle industry. Internships are offered in NCBA’s offices in Denver, Colorado and Washington, D.C. New this year, NCBA is launching a Producer Education and Sustainability Internship focused on implementing the cattle industry’s sustainability goals, supporting the Beef Checkoff funded Beef Quality Assurance program, and providing educational resources to cattle producers to improve land management, animal health, and profitability. The internship will occur summer 2024.
  • The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association recognized Richard Thomas, Madison, Missouri, with its “Pioneer Award” at the 56th Annual Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show on January 20, 2024. The award is the highest honor given by the association and is comparable to a lifetime achievement award.
  • A collaborative study between animal agtech startup MyAnIML and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) successfully corroborated the technology’s predictive ability to proactively manage devastating disease outbreaks in cattle production.
  • Thousands of cattlemen and women will gather in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 for CattleCon24, the largest cattle industry event in the country. Registration is available online or on-site, so make plans to join the excitement in the Sunshine State.
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance is seeking applicants to join the rankings of Animal Ag Allies in 2024. The Animal Ag Allies program, launched in 2020, is a development program to empower farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, and industry professionals to be outspoken advocates for agriculture online and in person. The enrollment deadline for the next class is February 2. Apply here!
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Revolutionizing Ag Tech Adoption

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Increasing adoption of new technology was a recurring theme at the VISION Conference last week in Glendale, AZ. The first panel at the event delved into some of the strategies and success stories on proving ROI to farmers in ways that encourage ag tech adoption.

    Vonnie Estes, Vice President of Innovation for the International Fresh Produce Association, moderated the panel which included Chad Hertz, Hertz Farm Management; Tim Bucher, Agtonomy; and Ben Voss, Raven Industries.

    A specialty crop farmer in Northern California as well as an ag tech entrepreneur, Bucher says labor is a big concern for most farmers and important when determining ROI for ag tech. “When you think about automation and robotics, there’s still supervisors needed,” said Bucher. “So if you can scale from one operator to many pieces of equipment that are automated, that’s where ROI is a no-brainer.”

    Bucher’s company Agtonomy, just recently partnered with Bobcat to do that very thing. “We call it multi-vehicle,” he said. “If you can take this new Bobcat tractor and you can have one operator managing ten of them, now you’re talking about serious ROI impact.”

    Listen to this interview with Bucher from the VISION conference.
    2024 VISION interview with Tim Bucher, Agtonomy 5:59

    2024 VISION Conference Photo Album

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, robotics, Technology

    Industry Ag News 1/26

    Carrie Muehling

  • The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) announced March 19, 2024, will be National Agriculture Day with the theme of “Agriculture: Growing a Climate for Tomorrow.” Activities planned for March 19 feature a virtual Ag Day program, and in-person events in Washington DC. ACA will invite students to interact virtually with legislators and agency representatives, delivering the Ag Day message. A core leadership team of college students will participate in the DC events, along with representatives of national farm and commodity organizations, representatives of the food, fuel, and fiber communities.
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) announces a new member service to help effectively train more drivers to meet the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
  • More than 70 current and past state FFA officers started the new year by exploring Australia and the various types of agriculture the country offers. It was part of the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers, ILSSO, supported by FFA corporate donors Bungee and John Deere.
  • The United States hosted the 59th International Grains Council Session and 2024 Grains Forum in New Orleans, Louisiana this week. The IGC discusses current and prospective world grain market developments, and monitors changes in national grain policies and their market implications. IGC provides critical grain and oilseed market information and analysis to its members, promoting transparency and stability in international trade.
  • Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 105th Convention in Salt Lake City adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2024. Key topics ranged from artificial intelligence, to labor, to crop insurance. For the second year, delegates were polled at the beginning of the voting session regarding their farms and 99% of those who cast votes operate family farms and nearly two-thirds represent small to mid-size farms as defined by USDA. Delegates voted to create new policy to address the growth of artificial intelligence in agriculture. AI has the potential to enhance farming practices and conserve resources, but privacy rights must be respected.
  • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its 17th “Book of the Year” award to author Roxanne Troup for “My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me.” The award was presented at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 105th Convention. “My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me” follows Grandpa as he tenderly cares for each tree in his orchard, including his favorite – a pecan tree, planted for his granddaughter on the day she was born.
  • Global futurist and best-selling author Jack Uldrich will do a follow up to his October 26 webinar. This webinar will feature a moderated Q&A. Come armed with your questions! FREE for NAMA members, $50 for non-members. Register here.
  • Developing the next generation of talent remains a top priority for AgCareers.com, evidenced by the release of the second edition of the U.S. Classroom Implementation Guide. This essential resource for teachers, educators, advisors, and leaders helps students prepare for their future while they discover and explore careers in agriculture and food.
  • The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) has named Martina Graf, an agrologist and copywriter based in British Columbia, Canada, the organization’s new Global Manager. Graf will transition to her new role with the help of long-time Global Manager Hugh Maynard of Quebec, Canada, who is retiring.
  • The crop insurance industry is actively working to increase the diversity in its workforce to reflect the diversity of the farmers it serves, and National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) is proud to be part of this effort by supporting deserving students at the historically Black 1890 Land-Grant Institutions. For more than a decade, NCIS has helped qualified students at 1890 Land Grant Institutions complete their education and prepare them for careers in agriculture through two-year scholarships offered through the NCIS 1890 Scholarship Program.
  • To keep you up-to-date and in-the-know about crop insurance, National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) has launched “Keep America Growing,” a new monthly podcast hosted by NCIS President Tom Zacharias.
  • Ag Management Solutions (AMS) has secured several National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) regional awards on behalf of their clients. A full-service, Mankato-based group specializing in executive management, accounting, administrative services and marketing and communications expertise, AMS accepted four awards on behalf of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), two awards on behalf of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and one award on behalf of Minnesota Wheat.
  • E. Michael Castle II has been appointed chief operations and financial officer at Alltech. Castle has been with Alltech for 19 years, most recently serving as chief operating officer and CEO of the Alltech Feed Division. He has deep experience in the business globally, having also served as chief administrative and legal officer, among other roles.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is committed to the future of agriculture, and to support the next generation of leaders in agriculture, NCGA has partnered with BASF to offer scholarships to students enrolled in qualifying institutions. NCGA is proud to support three scholarship programs for three distinct audiences.
  • Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Commissioner Max Vekich and Michelle Schultz, with the Surface Transportation Board (STB), are confirmed to speak at Transportation Go! on March 14 in Toledo, Ohio. Hosted by the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA), Transportation Go! is the premier conference for soybean and grain transportation and trade issues in the Upper Midwest.
  • Merck Animal Health has named AdFarm, North American agricultural marketing leader, as the agency of record for its U.S. beef cattle division. AdFarm will provide strategy, branding, research and insights, creative, media and digital marketing services to support beef cattle biopharmaceutical, animal identification and technology solutions for Merck.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    VISION Conference Wraps With Optimism for Ag Tech

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The second day of the VISION Conference carried just as much energy as the first and attendees were just as engaged and eager to participate.

    Jennifer Goldston, president and founder of AgTech PR set the stage for the day by talking about messaging and comparing the issues of today with the issues being addressed in the industry and general media back in 2017 at the first VISION Conference.

    In the second day keynote address, Corteva’s Brian Lutz explored cross-industry synergies to enable ag tech evolution and talked about the difference between solutions on the farm and the enabling technology that makes those solutions possible.

    A panel on cross-industry insights into accelerating ag tech advancement and adoption featured an Amazon Web Services executive, a biotech attorney, and the director of Off-Road Autonomy for Trimble. Ram Devarajulu with Cambridge Consultants moderated the discussion between Ron Osborne, Cassie Edgar, and Meiko Martin.

    Harnessing Ag Tech for Sustainable Agriculture Transformation was the title of a panel moderated by Susan Groeneveld, sylvester.ai, and featuring two cutting edge ag tech CEOs Steve Sibulkin with BioLumic and Ben Cloud of Biodel AG.

    To wrap it all up, members of the Global Ag Tech Alliance presented their key insights and takeaways and urged everyone to be involved in the future of the industry by becoming members of the alliance, whether big or small.

    Meister Media Corporate Content Director Heather Tunstall says they were thrilled with the turnout at the VISION Conference this year and pleased that attendees were able to spend a lot of time networking with each other.

    “There were a lot of conversations happening and business collaborations going on, and that was amazing to see,” said Tunstall. “I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next few weeks and months to really know how successful it was.”

    In addition to the next Tech Hub LIVE event July 29-31 in Des Moines, Tunstall says Meister Media and the Global Ag Tech Initiative have a number of new projects coming up including a new podcast that will be launched next week.

    Learn more in this interview:
    2024 VISION interview with Heather Tunstall, Meister Media 5:33

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    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