Emma Lindberg is the National Farmers Union Senior Director of Education and Programming for Women. She talks with me today about an upcoming virtual and in-person conference to help women with decision making, leadership and agriculture industry development. She talkies about the value of networking and sharing experiences as a growing number of women are now running ag operations across the United States.
Agriculture leaders from across major food and ag associations today announced the formation of the Agriculture Trade Education Council (ATEC), a 501 c (3) non-profit that will be a resource for education on the value of agricultural trade policies, practices, and structures. The ATEC is chaired by ag leaders with decades of experience educating farmers, policymakers and businesses about how the international trading system works. The ATEC will facilitate education on trade policy on a variety of topics in an effort to grow support for and engagement in a rules-based trading system.
Agrology develops predictive agriculture technologies to help growers maximize profits with minimal input costs and environmental impact. Founded in 2019, Agrology’s predictive agriculture platform combines proprietary, affordable sensor arrays with machine learning to provide actionable insights and trends via a mobile application. Agrology is a Public Benefit Corporation committed to focusing on protecting the economic viability of our farmers and the sustainability of our planet.The company’s strategic partners include The National Science Foundation, UC Davis College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Agrology has offices in Alexandria, Virginia, and Sonoma, California, and can be found online at Agrology.ag.Tune into today’ show for a feature interview with Chief Executive Officer, Adam Koppel as he talks more about how he got started in the innovative ag industry and how he started Agrology.
EarthOptics is an agricultural technology company developing next-generation soil-sensing technologies that give growers revolutionary insights into the physical characteristics of their soil. EarthOptics beat out three finalists and more than 100 international agtech startup entries to win the AGCO Innovation Challenge Award during the 2021 World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit. Tune in today as Lars Dyrud, Founder talks more about how this company got started and the innovative ways they are working in the agriculture industry.
Since the 1970’s, The National Center for Appropropriate Technology has been engaging with and educating farmers and helping them be successful with their operations. Through resource gathering and sharing, connecting them to experts, conducting workshops and more, Margo Hale, Southwest Regional Director, Livestock Specialist in the Southeast Regional Office says that they work hard to find the appropriate technology for farmers across the country on a very individualized basis. Margo Hale, NCATNCAT is headquartered in Butte, Montana, but has field offices and representatives across the United States. In addition, they have specialists within the fields of agriculture. NCAT specialists work in the sustainable energy, farm energy, sustainable agriculture and information technology spaces. Hale also leads a “Armed to Farm'' program, where she has worked with over nine-hundred military veterans with hands-on and classroom learning opportunities for sustainable agriculture since launching in 2013. Farmer veterans learn how to run a successful business and market their products, how to access USDA resources, set business goals, and develop meaningful mentorships with seasoned farmers. Farmer veterans who complete a training series stay connected to their peers and often develop ties to other farmers, increasing their ability to succeed. These farmer veterans have access to individualized technical assistance and one-on-one consultations, in-person networking events and virtual learning opportunities through the National Center for Appropriate Technology. www.ncat.org
In today's show, we talk about emerging technology being used in agriculture as American farms increasingly rely on technology to manage the unpredictable aspects of crop and herd management. However, many farming tasks are still done manually, wasting valuable time and chipping away at profit levels. Enter exciting, new drone technology, which is helping to increase automation and take the guesswork out of farming operations through artificial intelligence, cloud connectivity and deep learning devices. With us today is Aquiline Drones Founder and Chairman Barry Alexander, to tell us how his company is revolutionizing the ag industry with advanced drone technology. Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=A-DIjTlN8Skwww.aquilinedrones.comhttp://www.aquilinedrones.com/
The American Society of Agriculture Consultants (ASAC) is a non-profit organization whose members represent a diverse range of disciplines in the agriculture industry. ASAC's membership is comprised primarily of experienced consultants boasting a wide array of expertise.Their business models range from sole proprietorships to leadership roles in larger, multi-consultant organizations covering a wide geographical area.Growing and\or building a successful consulting practice takes more than just expertise in a particular field.Members benefit from continuing education in a variety of topics related to agriculture as well as topics related to practice management.
Lee Ann Pearce is Manager of the Food and Agribusiness Industry Advisors team at Wells Fargo Bank and is my featured guest in today’s podcast. Our main focus will be sustainability in agriculture and how her team is working hard to be proactive in getting producers and ag industries to adopt sustainability practices because that is what consumers are wanting.Lee Ann joined Wells Fargo in 2016 after a 30-year career in Commercial Banking and the Farm Credit System. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Lee Ann worked as Regional Vice President and Manager of Capital Markets for Farm Credit West, and also led a Wine Specialty Lending Group with emphasis on the Central Coast of California.Lee Ann holds an undergraduate degree in Ag Business Management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with an emphasis in finance.Lee Ann lives with her family in Templeton, California on a small farm growing grapes used for premium wine production. She has served as Secretary of the Templeton Instrumental Music Boosters Association and as a member of the San Luis Obispo Farm Bureau Board of Directors.Lee Ann’s office is in Templeton, California and her geographic area of coverage extends to all regions of North America.
AgriSafe was formed in 2003 by rural nurses who believed that together they could improve the health and safety of farmers and ranchers. Today, AgriSafe builds the competency of health and safety professionals to deliver exceptional occupational agricultural health care. Charlotte Halvorson is one of the founding members and she talks to Lorrie Boyer today about mental health in agriculture and the fact that she is the curriculum developer for other nurses who need to further their education. She specializes in respiratory health, pesticide safety, hearing, personal protective equipment, and COVID 19 related training.https://www.agrisafe.org/
In today’s show, get a 101 on what is going on in the U.S. sugar industry with American Sugar Alliance Director of Economics and Policy Analysis, Dr. Rob Johannson. As a former USDA Chief Economist, Dr. Johannson starts off with an overview on what ASA is a clearinghouse for both cane and sugarbeet growers, as well as a voice for the industry. He offers an explanation of what is going on with the sugar supply chain, sugar imports, sugar subsidies in other countries, and U.S. production, the effects of the U.S. mega-drought on growers, and COVID effects on the industry. He also talks about the loss and recovery post-Hurricane Ida.Dr. Johannson makes for a great interview given his background and knowledge and how USDA works when it comes to USDA farmer programs, trade, and data. This interview is not only educational but relevant for both producers and the food business industry experts as he also talks about consumer trends that are evolving.https://sugaralliance.org/