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The population in rural America, aka “nonmetro” areas, continues to make gains, reversing a decade-long period of decline in the 2010s. According to a new analysis from the USDA’s Economic Research Service, the number of people living in nonmetro counties increased by +134,540 (+0.29%) between 2023 and 2024. The recent growth stems entirely from migration, …

Rural America’s Population Has Actually Grown a Bit Despite an Aging Population Read More »

Silicon Valley-based drone company “SiFly” emerged from stealth earlier this year with impressive claims about its capabilities. Compared to popular models from China drone maker “DJI,” SiFly claims its drones offer up to four times the flight endurance and ten times the operational range, enabling operations that require persistent coverage or long-distance travel without battery …

American-Made Drones from “SiFly” Look to Muscle Out China Read More »

The rapid rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy is triggering seismic shifts across the food and agriculture sectors, upending decades of consumption patterns and forcing producers to rethink everything from crop selection to product formulation. These appetite-suppressing drugs, originally developed for diabetes management, are now used by millions for weight loss, and their …

Shrinking Plates and Shifting Markets: Agriculture’s Response to the GLP-1 Boom Read More »

Researchers at the University of Kansas have introduced a new, web-based app that provides free satellite monitoring and analysis of vegetation and crop health. The innovative tool, called “Sentinel GreenReport Plus,” provides real-time data not only in Kansas but across the entire nation. The Sentinel GreenReport Plus integrates Google Earth Engine with imagery from the …

New, FREE Digital Tool Provides Satellite Data on Crop Health Read More »

Agtech startup “TerraBlaster” has developed a system that utilizes lasers to perform one of farmers’ least favorite tasks – soil sampling. The core technology uses “Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy” (LIBS), a method originally developed for NASA’s Mars missions to “blast” soil with laser pulses. By breaking molecules into ions and detecting their spectral “fingerprints,” the system …

“TerraBlaster” Laser Technology Tests Soil Nutrients in Real-Time Read More »

As summer takes hold, the atmosphere is revealing its hand, and once again, the Lezak Recurring Cycle is proving that weather is not random chaos, but a well-organized pattern we can decipher. Today, we’ll walk you through how the evolving summer pattern fits into the larger cycling pattern and what it means for your region …

Next Chapter of the LRC: Summer’s Pattern Is Unfolding Read More »

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) has released its first-ever State of the World’s Animal Health report, which assesses disease trends and the use of vaccines and antibiotics in animals. Not surprisingly, the report highlights the devastating impacts of avian influenza and the increasing number of outbreaks among mammals. High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), …

First Report on Global Animal Health Highlights Spread of Disease Impacting Food Security, Trade Read More »

John Deere recently acquired Minnesota-based “Sentera,” an aerial imaging company specializing in precision agriculture. Deere plans to integrate Sentera’s technology into its existing digital platform, the John Deere Operations Center. Sentera’s field-scouting platform allows farmers to gather high-resolution, multispectral images with its drone-mounted cameras. The data is then processed with Sentera’s “FieldAgent,” which uses AI …

John Deere Adds Aerial-Imaging Company “Sentera” to its Growing Digital Family Read More »

Six ancestral systems across the globe have been added to the list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The new systems include everything from pearl mussel farming in China to the utilization of volcanic fields in Spain. The additions bring the total number of systems awarded the GIAHS designation, maintained by the Food and …

Six New “Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems” Designated by FAO Read More »

Lawmakers in the Senate recently introduced a bill called the “Food Security and Farm Protection Act,” which sponsors say will protect family farms and reduce burdensome regulations that they argue increase costs and market consolidation. The bill particularly targets laws like California’s “Proposition 12,” which sets animal welfare standards. Not surprisingly, strong opposition to the …

What You Need to Know About the “Food Security and Farm Protection Act” Read More »