Agriculture

There is a curious observation among gardeners and farmers that plants seem to grow best after a thunderstorm. The moisture of course is beneficial but scientists also believe lightning sets off a chemical process in the air and the plants themselves that helps them flourish. Australian agtech startup “Rainstick” uses electricity to mimic this effect …

Australian Startup “Rainstick” Uses Electricity to Supercharge Plant Growth Read More »

Rabobank’s annual “Global Animal Protein Outlook” is forecasting slowing animal protein production growth in 2024, following four straight years of growth. According to the report, higher production costs and tighter supplies will also push animal protein prices up and constrain global consumption in 2024. “Slower production growth, given tight margins on elevated input costs, disease …

Rabobank Forecasts Slower Animal Protein Production Growth in 2024 Read More »

Tyson Foods in late November held the grand opening of one of its most automated poultry plants. The $300 million facility in Danville, Virginia, is expected to produce up to 4 million pounds of cooked products weekly. While the plant will employ around 400 people, it also features automated case packing lines, high-speed robotic case …

Tyson’s New Chicken Plant Provides a Preview of Food’s Automated Future Read More »

Northern US states are on alert as an out-of-control population of so-called “super pigs” begin to swell past the Canadian border. Recent aerial surveys have spotted them on the US side of the Canada-North Dakota border. At least one sighting has also been recorded within 18 miles of the Minnesota border. While many southern US …

Canadian “Super Pigs” Have Been Spotted in the US Read More »

A new type of company could be allowed to list on the New York Stock Exchange starting next year. Known as “natural asset companies,” the Securities and Exchange Commission is currently considering a proposal for the asset type submitted by the NYSE and Intrinsic Exchange Group, a private firm that developed the idea. The proposal …

Ag Stakeholders Concerned About Potential Impact of New “Natural Asset Companies” on Land Use  Read More »

NFTs, or “non-fungible tokens,” are probably best known for trendy digital collectibles like Bored Ape that are built on the Ethereum blockchain. These unique assets can be used to certify the provenance, authenticity, and ownership of a piece of digital media. They can also be used to represent real-world physical assets. A Wyoming company called …

“CattleProof” Uses NFTs to Identify and Track Cows Read More »

Soil is arguably one of the most important parts of our planet’s ecosystem and critical for human survival. Without it, there would be no farmers as there would literally be no ground to sow. In order to raise awareness about the significance of soil as a vital resource, the United Nations in 2013 designated December …

Appreciating the Ground Beneath Our Feet on World Soil Day Read More »

The US rural population is growing again after a decade of decline, according to USDA’s 2023 edition of “Rural America at a Glance,” with growth of approximately a quarter percent from 2020 to 2022. This year’s report also shows America’s rural population is experiencing declines in, with -9.7% fewer nonmetro counties in 2021 experiencing persistent …

Rural America at a Glance 2023 Edition: Population Growth Rebounds as Poverty Declines Read More »

What do you get when you cross a cow and a buffalo? Yes, the result is a hybrid animal known as a “beefalo,” sometimes called a “cattalo.” Beefalo is mostly prized for its lean meat, which has higher vitamin levels and more protein than conventional beef, while having nearly one-third less cholesterol and -79% less …

Could “Beefalo” Be the Healthy Meat of the Future? Read More »

Spreading rock dust on farms, a technique known as “enhanced rock weathering,” is one of the lesser-known carbon removal strategies. According to some estimates, the extremely simple technique could potentially lock up as much CO2 as planting a trillion trees. It might also boost crop yields, according to recent research. Enhanced rock weathering is based …

“Enhanced Rock Weathering” Can Sequester Carbon and Enhance Crop Yields Read More »