Across the U.S. Midwest lies an unseen network of cylindrical tiles that solved one of the biggest problems early settlers faced – drainage. In fact, a surprising swath of America’s most fertile farmland was once useless swampland, now transformed by drainage tile first introduced by European settlers back in the 1800s. At the time of …
In the past two decades, the world has mobilized around reducing and sequestering CO2, but CH4 remains critically under-addressed. In fact, many climate experts believe cutting methane is the single most impactful way to prevent planetary warming in our lifetime. “Methanotrophs” are a family of naturally occurring soil microbes that eat methane and transform it …
A recent report from the United Nations shows that an area almost a third larger than India has turned from humid conditions to permanently dry – or arid – in the past three decades. Excluding Antarctica, drylands now make up 40.6% of all land on Earth, a +3% increase compared to the earlier 30-year period. …
More Than 40% of Land on Earth is Now Permanently Dry Read More »
As we enter 2025, the agricultural sector is witnessing a transformative shift with the widespread adoption of “digital twin” technology. This innovative approach is reshaping how farmers manage their operations, optimize resource use, and boost productivity. For reference, a “digital twin” is defined as a virtual representation of a physical object, system, or process that …
“Digital Twins” Helping Revolutionizing Production Agriculture Read More »
I always like looking at farms and ranches that are for sale. As we start the new year, here’s a snapshot of the biggest ranches currently on the market throughout the US. They combine for over +2.2 million acres, and this collection of ranches and farmland represents the sprawling and monumental diversity of land for sale across the country. I’ve had …
Saudi Arabia is located smack in the middle of the Middle East and is covered mostly by arid desert, where summer temperatures average some 113 °F, and very little rainfall occurs. Needless to say, it’s not an environment where agriculture thrives so it was surprising to learn that the country is one of the world’s …
What You Might Not Know About Saudi Arabia’s Chicken Industry Read More »
Farmers that have integrated drones into their operations like the convenience and time-saving qualities of the technology for various tasks, such as scouting fields and checking in on livestock. However, an oft-touted use – aerial applications – is still struggling to gain widespread adoption. Many farmers complain of small payloads and short battery life that …
“Rotor’s” Autonomous Helicopters Spray Fields, Fight Fires Read More »
America’s egg shortage is no joke. Courtesy of the ongoing bird flu outbreak, grocery stores across the country are scrambling to keep shelves stocked, while prices are as high as they’ve ever been. The situation is, unfortunately, beyond anyone’s control and likely to get worse before it gets better, according to industry experts. Bird flu …
U.S. Egg Shortage May Get Worse Before Improving Read More »
Our good friend Dr. John Newton, the Executive Head of Terrain, recently published a great article on new-crop ARC and PLC coverage. In case you are wondering, Terrain is an exclusive team of agriculture, food, risk management, and macroeconomic experts who provide insights on economic factors, trends, and agricultural markets. Terrain is an offering of …
Corn Belt farmers already know that the region – the midwestern U.S. roughly covering western Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, eastern Nebraska, and eastern Kansas – has some of the most fertile soils on Earth. The amount of corn harvested in this region annually has increased by +400% since 1950. But perhaps there is more to …
VERY INTERESTING – U.S. Corn Belt Farmers Arguably “Improving Climate” Read More »
