Good morning.
Every year, meat animals shown at 4-H livestock shows are destined for market after their time in the ring.
However, a California 4-Her ran away with her pet goat after she found out its destiny upon concluding its time in the spotlight. Now, her family is suing the Shasta County Sheriff’s Department after authorities allegedly drove 500 miles to retrieve the goat from their farm.
The kid-napper story garnered national media attention, sparking conversations about the rights of 4-H members and the state of the American food industry.
Stories:
- Livestock Industry Tramples mRNA Vaccine Claims
- A New Normal for Ag
- CropX Soaks Up $30M
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Livestock Industry Tramples mRNA Vaccine Claims |
Ag groups are taking misinformation about mRNA vaccines used for livestock behind the barn.
Background: The mRNA vaccine, introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, teaches cells how to make copies of the spike protein. In recent months, rumors spread that mRNA vaccines are widely used throughout the livestock industry and even mandated. And even threaten the food supply chain.
Beefy rebuttal: Many livestock groups responded to the claims, saying that the vaccine type is not licensed for use in cattle.
Soundbite: "There are no current mRNA vaccines licensed for use in beef cattle in the United States," the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said in a statement.
Currently, RNA vaccines, similar to mRNA, are licensed for use in pigs. But traces of the injection are not found in food, Dr. Kevin Folta, professor and department chair of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida, said.
Some rumors spread over social media claimed that mRNA technology digested in animals would enter a human when consuming meat from a treated animal.
Fear among the public sparked lawmakers to introduce Missouri House Bill 1169. The bill would require producers to label meat from treated animals as treated with a "Potential Gene Therapy Product." However, Folta said the additional labeling is not necessary.
Palatable reassurance: Just like other livestock injections, treated animals must go through a withdrawal period before entering the supply chain.
Cattle producers want the public to know that beef is still for dinner. And it is still safe to eat.
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→ $46M for Ag Research: The USDA announced the large investment to promote climate-smart practices, including supporting producers with on-farm renewable energy, pest and weed management, and cover crops.
→ One last ride: The final ship of cattle has sailed from New Zealand before a ban on overseas transportation of live animals begins.
→ Relief at the pump: An analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association has proven that E15 gasoline saves drivers an average $0.25/gal at the pump.
→ Crafty investments: Investment platform Harvest Returns secured $30M in investments to help fund niche agribusinesses including regenerative livestock operations.
→ South Africa ramps up oilseed exports: South Africa is set to export a record 800K tonnes of soybeans and sunflower seeds, potentially limiting livestock feed expansion.
→ Diverging margins: Beef producers are seeing record feedlot margins amid surging cattle prices, while hog farmers are seeing more red ink after enjoying modest profits.
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FBN and Successful Farming
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Chat GPT is going mainstream on the farm.
Farmers Business Network (FBN) just launched an AI-powered agronomic advisor. It (he?) goes by the name Norm.
If the name seems familiar…. It’s probably reminding you of one Norman Borlaug, a.k.a. the father of the Green Revolution. Maybe Norm will be the father of AI agriculture?
Norm is crafted from OpenAI’s Chatbot GPT3.5. But, it uses weather insights, application rates, soil monitoring, university research, grower commentary, and proprietary FBN data.
Norm will answer all sorts of ag-related questions, from agronomic queries to animal health questions to product usage recommendations.
Practical AI-pplications: Norm can help recommend generic alternatives for chemicals and identify the right nozzle and rates for that chemical. It can help farmers create pest and disease mitigation plans and even provide guidance on the best seed varieties based on the customers’ specific location.
Soundbite: Kit Barron, head of data science at FBN, knows that farmers have to make diverse business decisions throughout the growing season. "It’s hard to be an expert in all of those areas. We envision a future where Norm can serve as a first-line advisor to our members across dozens of topics. The possibilities are truly limitless when it comes to leveraging AI and Norm to increase farmer profitability and return on investment."
Where this goes: right now, FBN is inviting members to experiment with Norm to refine its feedback. We’ll all have to keep an AI on this experiment to see where it goes.
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SPONSORED BY GRAIN MARKET INSIDER
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Your Commodity Market Guide
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There’s no crystal ball for the grain market. But we believe this is pretty close.
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But that price is only after a free 60-day trial — exclusively available to Magnetic Ag subscribers. Sign up here.
Disclaimer: Grain Market Insider is a service of Stewart-Peterson Inc., a publishing company. Futures and options trading involve significant risk of loss and may not be suitable for everyone.Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition.
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About half of the 154 bat species in North America are at serious risk of population decline in the next 15 years. While the changing climate has been cited as a threat to the population, what is another major threat to the bat populations?
- Airplanes
- Cats
- Helicopters
- Wind Turbines
Answer at the bottom of the email.
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CropX Technologies is soaking up $30M in its Series C funding round.
Every drop counts: CropX specializes in irrigation planning. With nearly 70% of the world’s freshwater used for food production, conserving water is important. CropX’s tool helps farmers save water, optimize their use of energy and fertilizers, all while bumping yields.
Good news for irrigation technology: Aliaxis SA led this funding round. Aliaxis SA is a leader in creative fluid management solutions – a perfect partner for CropX.
Soundbite: "CropX is the best in class for smarter irrigation systems in agriculture and we are thrilled to strengthen our partnership to allow farmers to save water while increasing crop efficiency and food production in a sustainable fashion." – Eric Olsen, Aliaxis CEO
Earlier this year, CropX acquired Tule Technologies, a precision-based irrigation company out of California. This latest funding round will help CropX continue its "acquisitions of companies with complementary technologies and market reach" and further develop its agronomic farm management system.
Founded in soil sensor technology, CropX began in 2013 in New Zealand. In 2017, it moved to Israel to pursue irrigation technology. Through multiple acquisitions beginning in 2019, CropX now has more than 100 employees between offices in Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United States.
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D. Wind Turbines. Turbines kill about 500K bats annually, while energy production puts 45 species at risk. Bats are critical insectivores and friends of agriculture.
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