North American Ag Spotlight: Agriculture & Farming News and Views

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak learns about how Fastline is evolving to serve the agriculture industry in a modern way, and about the important trends in the new and used equipment market. The President of Fastline Marketing Group Dean Barke shares his insight into where we're headed this growing season. 

With more than 40 years of experience, Fastline's commitment to the agricultural industry, it's customers, and farmers is unparalleled. With Fastline Print, Fastline.com, and Fastline Digital, they offer integrated marketing solutions for the evolving agricultural community. Simply put, no one else has their combination of audience and wide array of marketing tools. 

Learn more about Fastline at https://www.fastline.com

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Need help with your agriculture based company's marketing plan? Visit https://chrissywozniak.com

This episode is sponsored by Fastline - A LEADER IN FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Visit https://agr.fyi/fastline

Send us Fan Mail

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak sits down with Ben Burr, Executive Director of BlueRibbon Coalition to talk about property rights issues popping up all around the country. These issues are not only affecting farms, but also people who own rural property in remote areas, and those who enjoy recreational activities in the great outdoors. Ben explains the issues and gives advice on how to move forward. He stresses the importance of fighting the overreaching policy that is causing this.

Ben Burr has been with the organization for almost two years, is familiar with the organization’s current portfolio of work. He has been building relationships with the network of allies that have been integral to BRC’s success and he brings a depth of experience that serves BRC well. He has been engaged in public land policy since he was a teenager working for a helicopter logging operation. He grew up in Utah where he learned to enjoy all forms of outdoor recreation. He spent seven years working in the U.S. Senate as a digital media specialist. Prior to joining BRC, he was working as private public land consultant.

The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes responsible use of natural resources, a strong conservation ethic, and expanded recreation access for all public land users. It has been working to fulfill this mission since 1987, and it has successfully protected access to millions of acres of public land, thousands of miles of roads, and recreation opportunities for a wide range of recreation users. BRC is uniquely positioned to continue advancing the interests of its members through strategic legal work, aggressive engagement in administrative actions, effective education programs, and a strong commitment to the benefits that come to individuals and families from getting out and enjoying the great outdoors.

Learn more about Blue Ribbon Coalition at https://sharetrails.org

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Need help with your agriculture based company's marketing plan? Visit https://chrissywozniak.com

This episode is sponsored by AMS Galaxy - BRINGING PRECISION DAIRY EQUIPMENT TO THE AMERICAN FARMER. Spend more time doing what you love. Use technology to your advantage.
Visit https://agr.fyi/galaxy

Send us Fan Mail

Introducing FarmNewsDaily.com - your source for agriculture news!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

This week North American Ag Spotlight's Chrissy Wozniak speaks with American Farm Bureau Federation's Courtney Briggs. Courtney is American Farm Bureau’s Senior Director of Government Affairs, and she shares what's happening in Washington with the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) ruling and why it matters to every producer!

Courtney stated that, "the Trump administration drew a bright line to protect farmers property rights, but now the Biden Administration has repealed the NWPR and put forward their troubling version of the rule."

AFBF is challenging the new Waters of the United States rule. AFBF joined 17 other organizations representing agriculture, infrastructure and housing, as well as county and state Farm Bureaus in filing suit.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall stated “Farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting the resources we’re entrusted with. Clean water is important to all of us. Unfortunately, the new WOTUS rule once again gives the federal government sweeping authority over private lands. This isn’t what clean water regulations were intended to do. Farmers and ranchers should not have to hire a team of lawyers and consultants to determine how we can farm our land.

“The new rule is vague and creates uncertainty for America’s farmers, even if they’re miles from the nearest navigable water. We believe a judge will recognize these regulations exceed the scope of the Clean Water Act, and direct EPA to develop rules that enable farmers to protect natural resources while ensuring they can continue stocking America’s pantries.”

Read the lawsuit here

Learn more about the issue here

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Need help with your agriculture based company's marketing plan? Visit https://chrissywozniak.com

Send us Fan Mail

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak talks to Case IH's Kendal Quandahl about The Case IH Trident 5550 applicator with Raven Autonomy, the industry’s first driverless spreader.

Kendal is the Case IH Precision Technology marketing manager in North America, specializing in harvesting, hay & forage and specialty crops. In her seven years with Case IH, all has been dedicated to the precision space — spending five years training dealers and customers how to incorporate precision into their organization. Growing up on a family farm in Iowa and understanding the needs of farms comes naturally. Kendal is still an active member of the family farm and currently lives near St. Louis, Missouri.

The Case IH Trident 5550 applicator with Raven Autonomy, the industry’s first driverless spreader, gives you unmatched power and flexibility in the field. Whether you’re running a multi-machine operation, mapping a field for the first time, or managing operations remotely, the Case IH Trident 5550 applicator with Raven Autonomy gives you consistent spreading success. This unbeatable blend of proven iron and autonomous innovation bridges the gap between traditional iron and multipurpose driverless power platforms. Raven brings its iterative technology stack to a best-in-class combination applicator to make Level 4 supervised autonomy more accessible.

The best-in-class combination applicator can be run in both autonomous mode and manual mode. This allows an operator to start a mission by driving the Trident to a field, establish the boundaries with the intuitive Viper® 4+ display, then set up the autonomous mission and take care of other job duties while in the cab. Alternatively, the operator can exit the cab and tend to other duties.

This autonomous capability also allows you to facilitate a multi-machine operation with one operator. Get tasks done more efficiently by monitoring the autonomous Case IH Trident 5550 applicator with Raven Autonomy from the cab of another machine using Viper® 4+ and Slingshot® Job Sync.

The merging of iron and technology allows you to drive in sync with the autonomous Trident, monitoring the autonomous spreading mission from the cab of another machine — covering acres more efficiently.
Case IH is a global leader in agricultural equipment, committed to collaborating with its customers to develop the most powerful, productive, reliable equipment — designed to meet today’s agricultural challenges. With headquarters in the United States, Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors that operates in over 160 countries. Case IH provides agricultural equipment systems, flexible financial service offerings and parts and service support for professional farmers and commercial operators through a dedicated network of professional dealers and distributors. Productivity-enhancing products include tractors; combines and harvesters; hay and forage equipment; tillage tools; planting and seeding systems; sprayers and applicators; and site-specific farming tools. 

Learn more about the Case IH Trident 5550 applicator with Raven Autonomy at https://caseih.com

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Need help with your agriculture based company's marketing plan? Visit https://chrissywozniak.com

Send us Fan Mail

Introducing FarmNewsDaily.com - your source for agriculture news!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak visits with third generation farmer Jake Leguee for a discussion about farm innovation and why top down government strategies are not as effective as producers collaborating & innovating to solve their own problems.

Jake is from southeast Saskatchewan, Canada, where he farms with several family members, including his wife and 3 young sons. Jake is passionate about the agriculture industry and trying to share his farm's story to a broader audience to bridge the communication gap between farmers and consumers. He does this through his blog, A Year in the Life of a Farmer, along with speaking engagements and other opportunities to connect with people interested in where their food comes from.

Jake is highly involved in the agriculture industry, currently serving as a director of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and as chair of the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition. Jake participates in advisory boards for companies such as Bayer and OCP and is a member of the Global Farmer Network.

Leguee Farms is a third-generation grain, oilseed, and special crop producer from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada. We grow canola, durum, hard red spring wheat, lentils, peas, and flax. Our vision is to build a strong and enduring business for the fourth generation on our farm. We will do that by enhancing our soils, our families, our communities, and the agriculture industry. 

Here is a link to the charts and Jake's article that Chrissy mentions in the episode - https://thelifeofafarmer.com/2022/12/21/we-have-never-lived-longer-healthier-happier-lives/

Learn more about Jake at https://thelifeofafarmer.com

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Need help with your agriculture based company's marketing plan? Visit https://chrissywozniak.com

This episode is sponsored by AMS Galaxy - BRINGING PRECISION DAIRY EQUIPMENT TO THE AMERICAN FARMER. Spend more time doing what you love. Use technology to your advantage.
Visit https://agr.fyi/galaxy

Send us Fan Mail

Introducing FarmNewsDaily.com - your source for agriculture news!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

Listen to the podcast here - https://www.northamericanag.com/north-american-ag-spotlight - Dairy Barn Design with Cow Comfort in Mind.

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak talks to VES-Artex Midwest Sales Manager and Key Account Manager Joel Hornby about dairy barn design considerations, keeping cow comfort as the first priority. 

Joel Hornby has been serving Dairy Producers and VES-Artex affiliates for 3 years as Midwest Sales Manager and Key Account Manager.  Prior to this, he worked for a construction company building dairy facilities and installing equipment. 

With a combined 50+ years of experience serving the agricultural industry, VES and Artex merged in 2021. Today, VES-Artex is the premier global technology solutions provider for environmental systems in agricultural facilities around the world.

Based in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, the home of the organization’s new Global Headquarters and Innovation Center, VES-Artex also leverages operations throughout the US, Canada, Latin America, and the rest of the world.

VES-Artex is focused on animal well-being as the foundation for agricultural success while strengthening its capabilities to impact agricultural operational performance through connected technologies. This research-driven approach brings veterinarians, designers, product experts and dairies together to innovate intelligent barn systems that optimize animal well-being and drive sustainability for farms worldwide.

Learn more about VES-Artex at https://www.ves-artex.com/

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Need help with your agriculture based company's marketing plan? Visit https://chrissywozniak.com

Send us Fan Mail

Introducing FarmNewsDaily.com - your source for agriculture news!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services & Forestry Curt Blades at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers presents AEM's recent equipment report:

"COMBINE HARVESTERS, 4WD TRACTORS GROW DESPITE OVERALL LOSSES IN NOVEMBER"

Combine harvester sales remain positive, joined by 4WD units for both the U.S. and Canadian markets, while total tractors fell in both countries according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

Total U.S. ag equipment unit sales fell overall, though the largest units grew. U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 20.8 percent for the month of November compared to 2021, with the sub-40hp segment leading losses at 27.9 percent. U.S. self-propelled combine sales for the month grew 8.3 percent to 314 units sold, one of only two segments positive for the year (up 15.7% YTD). The other segment growing YTD, 100+hp units, grew 6.2 percent for the month (now up 13.3 percent YTD). Total farm tractor sales are down 14.5 percent year-to-date.

The full reports can be found in the Market Data section of the AEM website under Ag Tractor and Combine Reports.

U.S.:  https://www.aem.org/market-data/stati...

Canada:  https://www.aem.org/market-data/stati... 

AEM is the North America-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide. The equipment manufacturing industry in the United States supports 2.8 million jobs and contributes roughly $288 billion to the economy every year.

AEM Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services & Forestry Curt Blades joined the Association of Equipment Manufacturers in 2017, having worked in agriculture industry in marketing, business development, and leadership roles for the previous twenty years. As Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services & Forestry, Blades is responsible for the strategic direction of agriculture programs and services for AEM members.  In addition, he oversees the organizations Safety & Product Leadership group —including leading AEM’s sustainability efforts.  In these roles, he serves as primary liaison with ag-specific industry organizations, customer groups, and government agencies worldwide.

Learn more about AEM at https://aem.org

Send us Fan Mail

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight we feature the panel that North American Ag's Chrissy Wozniak moderated at the FIRA USA conference in October.

The topic "Robotics business models and the maintenance of computer based equipment" is an important one for the future of agriculture. Without a profitable business model, ag tech is useless. Hear this group discuss the challenges and opportunities in the ag-tech space.

The panel featured:

Ben Alfi - Co-Founder & CEO Blue White Robotics
Ben is a seasoned combat pilot working for more than ten years on Unmanned Systems in the IAF. In his 25 years in the IDF, Alfi served in various positions. He is an expert in testing, certifying, and operating autonomous systems for any application and an artist in bringing complicated ideas to reality. In 2017, after retiring from the IAF, Alfi founded Blue White Robotics, an innovative and leading autonomous system company. Blue White Robotics provides Robot as a Service - a complete solution for seamless and efficient adoption of autonomous technologies.

Bartley Walker -  President Pacific Ag Rentals
Bartley was born and raised in the Salinas area, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Ag Management and Marketing from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Bartley joined his father in a new business venture called Pacific Ag Rentals in 2001. From the initial start of 2 tractors, now the fleet has grown to over 3,500 pieces of equipment, serving growers across a million acres of farmland across the US and Mexico. In 2017 they refined the company’s focus on supporting new technologies that make a positive impact in ag, allowing smaller farmers to have access to the latest tech.

Matt Hart Lead Engineer Betteravia Farms
Matt Hart is the lead engineer for Betteravia Farms and its sister companies.  His primary objective has been developing and implementing innovative technologies and practices for all aspects of the farming operation.  Matt is a graduate of the Bio-Resource and Agricultural Engineering program at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo.  He has grown up around agriculture and has been working on agricultural equipment for the last eighteen years. 

Jennifer Edney President Edney Distributing Co., Inc.
Jennifer Edney is the President and Visionary of Edney Distributing Company. She’s been with the Company for nearly 15 years with prior experience in Retail and Financial Services.  Edney Distributing Company, Inc. is a wholesale distributor of high quality equipment focusing on agricultural, lawn and turf maintenance, forestry, and light industrial serving the upper Midwest region of the United States.

Steven Saunders CEO Robotics Plus
Steven has 35 years’ experience in the Horticultural sector and is the founder, owner of the Plus Group of companies, which specialize in horticulture management, orchard ownership, propriety fruit varieties, Steven is the co-founder of Newnham Park Innovation Centre in Tauranga New Zealand, an active Angel investor, a Director of many privately-owned companies and tech startups. He is also an Independent Director for Agrigate, a founding shareholder and Director of Rockit Global and Miro Limited. Steven is a founder, shareholder and Chairman of Robotics Plus, WNT Ventures and is a founding member of PlantTech Research Institute.

More information: https://agr.fyi/fira

Send us Fan Mail

Introducing FarmNewsDaily.com - your source for agriculture news!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak speaks with Alon Ascher of Bluewhite, about the cutting edge company that is revolutionizing modern agriculture.

Alon Ascher, serves as Bluewhite’s Chief Business Officer where he oversees innovation and business development of the company. As part of the leadership team at Bluewhite, Alon leverages his former autonomous and entrepreneurial experience to oversee all business operations, strategy, and leadership of the company. Serving in the Israeli Air Force for 12 years, Alon worked as a systems engineer for unmanned vehicles; a background he brings Bluewhite. His previous expertise includes deploying autonomous systems on a large scale, which has helped propel Bluewhite to being one of the most innovative companies in the autonomous space.

The Bluewhite mission is to build resilient farms by maximizing the grower’s productivity and reducing their operational cost. They equip existing fleets with autonomous technology, combined with an easy to use platform, and end-to-end service; supporting their journey to a more profitable and sustainable farm. Founded in 2017, with a vision to bring sustainable innovation to growers worldwide, Bluewhite is headquartered in Fresno, California with R&D taking place in Israel.

Learn more about Bluewhite at https://www.bluewhiterobotics.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Introducing FarmNewsDaily.com - your source for agriculture news!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak talks to Roseanne Crave of the 2nd Generation at Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese. She holds the position of Sales & Marketing Manager, and has a hand in many departments at Crave Brothers. She graduated in 2020 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with degrees in Life Sciences Communication and Environmental Studies and is a member of Les Dames Madison Chapter (a women's food and beverage professional organization).

Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese is located in Waterloo, WI. Having their own cheese factory and dairy farm where they produce award winning cheeses while producing renewable energy. They are a family company and produce Fresh Mozzarella, Mascarpone, Cheese Curds, and Farmers Rope String cheese which is available at certain grocery stores across the US and available for purchase on their online store. Their products have won top honors at local, national and international competitions.

Learn more at https://www.cravecheese.com/

Lasso helps the cattle sector decrease its emissions and farms receive the recognition and real dollars they deserve by doing so.

Our platform will play a key role in making cattle farming carbon neutral and financially sustainable, eliminating nearly 15% of total global warming potential.

Visit https://agr.fyi/lasso to learn more.

Send us Fan Mail

Introducing FarmNewsDaily.com - your source for agriculture news!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com