Most people have never heard of it, but “RuBisCO” (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) is a crucial enzyme for photosynthesis. More than 90% of the inorganic carbon that is converted into biomass is fixed by the enzyme. It’s considered the most abundant protein on Earth, as well as one of the most critical because it’s so essential for …
National Potato Day is today, and many historians will agree that this week is the anniversary of the invention of the “potato chip”, which took place in 1853 at Moon’s Lake House on Saratoga Lake in New York, thanks to chef George Crum and a disgruntled customer.Interestingly, the story really begins in France with the …
Potato Chips Anniversary and the Great Potato Story Read More »
As we move deeper into August, the long-range forecast becomes more critical for planning the weeks ahead. In agriculture, timing is everything, and this update is all about how the evolving weather pattern will shape harvest progress. We just moved out of Phase 2 and are now back in Phase 1 of the LRC for …
Precision Ag startups were big winners in Q2 2025, with fundraising climbing nearly +72% over the previous quarter, according to data from PitchBook. It also marks the first time since 2017 that investors have favored precision ag startups over companies in the ag biotech space, signaling “a notable shift in investor priorities,” according to PitchBook’s …
Venture Capital Finds New Love for “Precision Ag” Read More »
When talking about global soybean production, the key focus tends to be on the U.S. and a few South American countries, specifically Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and, to a lesser degree, Uruguay. But over the past few years, Ukraine has quietly become a more significant player in the global soybean market. In fact, Ukraine’s soybean production …
Ukraine Emerging as a New Global Soybean Exporter Read More »
According to new data from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans receive over half their calories via “ultra-processed” foods (UPFs), though that share has declined slightly in recent years. Food in this category has been singled out by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda …
What You Need to Know About the “Ultra-Processed” Foods Debate Read More »
There’s a ton of debate right now about how the US soybean crop will play out. The USDA is currently forecasting a record yield of 52.5 bushels per acre, but many inside the trade think it could end up even higher, and we may challenge total record US production at +4.5 million bushels. Keep in …
How Soybeans Finally Became a Major Crop in America Read More »
Gary Lezak and his team at Weather 20/20 have done an amazing job this year! When everybody else in the industry was forecasting that the drought was going to spread and take a deeper bite, I was calling and checking with Gary, and he was assuring me that the drought was going to lose its …
I Wanted to Share… “Weather 20/20 Intelligence Report” Read More »
Developed by the Czech firm Roboton, the “Roboton Farmer” represents a milestone in agtech. This isn’t a prototype built in a lab or a concept video rendered in CGI. This is a field-tested, solar-powered, battery-charged robot-type device with the practical ambition to handle full seasons of work in row crops without constant supervision. And it’s …
“Robo Fleets” and Autonomous… Coming Sooner Than We Think Read More »
US cropland values for 2025 averaged $5,830 per acre, an increase of +$260 per acre from last year, according to the USDA’s latest “Land Values” report. This follows a +4.7% increase in cropland values in 2024 and a more than +8% gain in 2023. The average pasture value was $1,920/acre, up +$90 (+4.9%) from 2024, …
