From larger farm sizes to a decreasing number of farmers, to more rented acreage and higher operating loans, bankruptcies are exposing producers and financial institutions in agriculture to greater risk. Real, meaningful solutions require partnerships between agtech and the institutions that support agriculture so together they can come up with new and innovative insights that …

Listen In… Solving Modern-Day Agricultural Problems Using Predictive Modeling Read More »

Agriculture in America is often misunderstood and misrepresented, which some link to this country’s overall disconnect with how food is grown. The U.S. has been losing farms and farmers for decades as the population increasingly concentrates in metropolitan areas far removed from rural America. In order to help a new generation better understand modern-day agriculture, …

John Deere Video Game Brings Farming to a New Generation Read More »

I think there’s more risk to the upside than downside right now in the traditional energy space. I’ve been talking to people the past two weeks who have been pricing and locking in propane needs and other energies ahead of what might be higher prices. The thought process is multi-layered but in a dumbed-down elementary version, it …

Higher Crude Oil, Locking in Propane, and Few Random Thoughts Read More »

One of South America’s most important waterways, the Parana River, flows through one of the world’s most important agricultural regions. Starting in Brazil, the Parana stretches some 3,000 miles along the border of Paraguay and into Argentina, making it one of the longest lowland rivers on the planet. Currently, the river is flowing at less …

Decades-Low Water Levels on River Threaten South America Grain Exports Read More »

Food is clearly a global business! Crops flow from producing countries to those where they are used as ingredients in prepared products, restaurants, and home kitchens on a daily basis. As the world grows and people travel more easily new markets are being opened to agriculture producers of all sizes. But global trade isn’t easy, …

Machine Learning to Make Global Agriculture Trade Easier, Faster and More Profitable Read More »

Several Frank Lloyd Wright homes have hit the market recently, one of them here in my backyard. The Sondern-Adler house in Kansas City, Missouri, is currently on the market for a cool $1.65 million. In Oskaloosa, Iowa, the Carroll Alsop House is taking private bids. The Alsop home sale also includes Wright-designed furniture that is …

How a Poor Preacher’s Son Became One of the Most Important Architects in America Read More »

Since the first organic survey in 2008, the number of organic farms, the acres used for organic production, and the value of organic products sold has all increased, more than tripling by 2019. Last year’s full data is not yet out but I suspect it will be higher. There is some debate however as higher …

Organic” May Not Currently be Your Space… But it Continues to Grow! Read More »

Drought conditions are intense across North Dakota and South Dakota, which combined accounted for about 6% of 2020 soybean production last year. There are also some worrying drought conditions across parts Iowa and a large portion of Minnesota, which sit at number 2 and 3 respectively in the top soybean production state rankings. While soybeans …

How Drought Impacts Soybeans Throughout the Growing Season Read More »

The headline sounds like the setup for a horror movie, but unfortunately for the Australian agriculture industry, it is all too real. Hundreds of thousands of mice have infested eastern Australia causing millions of dollars worth of damage to crops, machinery, vehicles, and even homes. Video shot by a farmer in New South Wales (NSW) …

Australian Farmers Battling Mice Plague… “A single pair of mice can produce 500 offspring each season!” Read More »

Agriculture is full of massive uncertainty! Farm operations, food retailers, and manufacturers are being squeezed byoutdated business models and rapid changes in technology and major shits in consumer demand.  A company called “Growers Edge” is using sophisticated data science, as well as public and private data sets and deep learning algorithms to design warranty-backed crop …

Helping Farmers Reduce Risk, Build Better Plans, and Open Doors to Lending Read More »