Good morning.
Strap on your helmets, because Cheese Rolling is back.
Not for the faint of heart, this extreme sport in England is only for the most dairy-ing competitors…
Huge wheels of cheese traveling downhill at 70 mph. People racing after them, tumbling head over heels, with rugby players in position to "catch" out-of-control contestants. An edible trophy. What’s not to love?
The annual competition (in the English village of Brockworth) has been on hiatus for two years, but is returning this Sunday.
So, gouda luck to those racing. And (appropriately)... happy National Dairy Month to those stateside who will have to settle for watching on YouTube.
The News:
- Tractors Dump the Pump?
- Bird Flu Fatigue
- Sugar Shoes
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Carve out some time to untangle those old extension cords.
‘Cause you may need ‘em on the farm a bit more in the future.
The fuel of the future: Ag R&D in the electric vehicle (EV) realm isn’t a new phenomenon. But research intensity and the number of equipment manufacturers jumping aboard is certainly getting a jolt.
And with producers’ fuel bills starting to look a lot like those crazy fertilizer fees (#FarmerProbz), an "alternative" is looking better and better.
Enter the big boys: The so-called "pure players", or start-ups that focus solely on the EV market, are still key players in the upcoming electric revolution.
And although a little shy about sharing information, John Deere’s ownership in the battery tech industry and CNH Capital’s prototypes all point to one thing—the big manufacturers want in on the action.
Oh, and let’s not forget AGCO’s commitment to releasing a fully-electric Fendt by 2025.
With regulatory pressure and labor shortages driving investment, a high-voltage horizon is a near certainty.
Working out the kinks: Electric tractors roaming across fields may be the farm of the future, but according to Daryl Theis, Head of Sales and Marketing with CLAAS North America, it's going to be a "marathon" and infrastructure challenges will need to be addressed.
"Very few of these farmers have charging stations…on their farm," he says.
And with machines, especially during planting and harvest, needing to run perhaps 12-18 hours a day, "getting that charge and stopping to charge would be a pretty significant challenge and hurdle."
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→ Nutty market. Almond growers in California are predicting the state’s planted acreage of the crop will start declining, thanks to years-long drought, supply chain snags, lower prices, and "razor thin" margins.
→ Food system refresh. The Biden administration will funnel more than $2.1B towards strengthening the U.S. food supply system.
→ All caught up? It looked doubtful for a while, thanks to a historically slow start to the planting season, but corn and soybean planted acres have reached their averages for this time of year (although 4 states still lag behind).
→ One beefy beef facility. An investment group in South Dakota is in the R&D phase of what would be the largest beef packing facility in the world, at 1M square feet and processing 8K head/day—with groundbreaking expected in 2023.
→ Immune porcine. After having to cull 20% of its hog herd in 2021 because of the disease, Vietnam says it has developed a vaccine against African swine fever, with plans to produce and export it.
→ Actual good weather news. With the world wheat market in disarray after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Australia is set to offer up a near-record wheat supply (30-35M tonnes), after a long stretch of ideal growing conditions.
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The bird flu seems to have slowed its roll, but the aftermath is taking a toll.
How we got here: This year saw the worst highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the U.S. since 2015, with peak losses happening in March. But the virus has been on the decline since then, according to USDA data.
Measures introduced in some states included banning bird baths and feeders, poultry shows, and public sales. Both North Carolina and Illinois lifted measures this week, backed by the declining reported infections.
Farmers aren’t feeling free as a bird: Nearly 38M birds raised on farms have died from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since February. Farmers are feeling the impacts this virus continues to leave behind, although the data is starting to trend in their favor:
Commercial bird deaths, by the numbers:
- 1.49M in February
- 20.96M in March
- 14.73M in April
- 780K in May
Flock together: The decrease in birds being culled is a positive sign the outbreak is hitting a plateau, but farmers are trying to focus on getting through the crisis.
"It’s tough on both farmers and veterinarians who have spent their whole careers focused on producing healthy birds and high-quality food," said Ted Matthews, a psychologist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
A lighter birden: Data shows a decline in losses for May. And since HPAI is spread best in cold conditions, that trend should hopefully continue.
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You Could Shape the Next Era in Ag |
Today’s ag research drives tomorrow’s innovation and progress. Make sure you’re a part of it.
In an industry that includes so many different sectors, it can be difficult to make sure your voice is heard. That is, until Ag Access.
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So whether you’re a grower or retailer, a hobby farmer or specialty grower, an ag banker or a veterinarian—make sure your voice is part of the chorus helping drive the industry forward. Join our insight community today.
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Ag Waste Fuels Textile Race |
Tom Mannion / Modern Synthesis
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Ag has always had its own particular brand of fashion. Think turquoise and cowboy boots. Flared jeans and belt buckles. Pearl snaps and cowboy hats.
Oh, plus ag waste and raw textiles…
Or at least, that’s what comes to mind with biomaterials startup Modern Synthesis.
It’s raised $4.1M in seed funding to contribute to its microbial textile platform. If you’re wondering what that means… us too. It involves bacteria shapeshifting sugar from ag waste into a biodegradable substance for the fashion industry.
The goal? Boots (and other clothing) made for walking, crafted from a cellulose-based material with a lower carbon footprint. It’s not a copycat for existing materials, but rather a whole new material to replace animal- and petrochemical-based textiles.
Microbial magic: The startup uses a microbial weaving process that replicates traditional weaving the same way Gen Z’ers replicate 90s trends. After 10 to 14 days, a customizable biomaterial is produced, which can be shaped before a bacteria grows around it to create a final fabric material.
Not just a trend: Modern Synthesis isn’t just about the textiles.
"At the end of the day, we’re trying to build a circular manufacturing system with these microbes. That enables us to leverage agricultural waste and use the microbes as manufacturing units and transfer them into more viable materials," said Modern Synthesis CEO, Jen Keane.
Where this goes: The startup says it’s sending funds flying towards a pilot facility and an expanded team, both of which aim to increase capacity.
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If California's almond production creeps down, who else in the U.S. will pick up the slack?
True or False: California produces 100% of the United State's commercial supply of almonds.
Answer at the bottom of the email.
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Written & Edited by Kevin Cross, Sheridan Wimmer, Kelsey Faivre, Ashley Scoby, and Travis Martin
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