Good morning.
We talk a lot about what it takes to be a farmer—but we never imagined wrangling snakes would make that list.
No fertilizer or seeds to speak of in today's story, because this ain't your average farmer—Ron Gollobin, the almost-rich cottonmouth venom farmer (you read that right).
This story involves a lot of hitchhiking, a pillowcase full of lizards, a teenager catching cottonmouth snakes with a jerry-rigged broomstick, the creation of "venom candy," and... a whole lot more that's just too strange to be fiction.
Reading the whole thing might take a bite out of your workday... but we promise it's worth it.
News:
P.S. The Magnetic team has 3 spots left for any agribusiness or AgTech company looking for email marketing help for the back half of 2022! Don’t sleep on the marketing tool that literally kicks up a 44x ROI. It’s worth a look! Get in touch.
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Chinese Spies: License to Mill |
China has invaded North Dakota.
(At least that’s how some folks see it.)
Foreign investment: Fufeng Group, a Chinese conglomerate that manufactures sugar substitutes and flavor enhancers, recently purchased 300+ acres of farmland near Grand Forks, ND for a cool $2.6M. There, it plans to build a $700M corn wet milling plant with a 25M bushel capacity.
Several community members, including the city’s mayor, are pretty stoked about the project, citing the 200+ direct jobs it will provide.
But not everyone’s fortune cookie is so… um… optimistic.
Northern Plains Showdown: As spring 2023 construction plans tentatively move forward, influential voices across the country are focused on the property’s neighbor.
The Grand Forks Air Force Base, home to some of the nation’s most sensitive drone technology, is only 12 miles from the proposed plant.
Although it’s not the USAF’s official position, a memo from Major Jeremy Fox cited concerns about passive surveillance that could be housed in the Chinese-controlled facility:
"This introduces a grave vulnerability… and is incredibly compromising to U.S. National Security."
(Cue the ominous music.)
PASS it: Reps in the U.S. House are drumming up support for the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act. Among other things, the bill would ban China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from buying U.S. ag companies, plus list ag and ag biotech as "critical infrastructure."
Where this goes: The jury’s still out on what the future will bring, but when agriculture, national security, and capitalism all merge in the Peace Garden State we can all agree on one thing—this is federalism at its "best."
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→ X-celerated analysis. Faster soil carbon readings could be possible thanks to X-Centric Sciences, based in San Diego, which is building a "point and shoot" characterization system for farmers.
→ More rapid testing (not that kind). Ireland-based Micron Agritech has raised €1.5M in funding for its animal testing kit, which detects parasites on cattle, sheep, or horses, and gives results within half an hour.
→ Hummus supplies not humming along. Another day, another shortage, and this time it’s chickpeas—with global supply potentially dipping 20% this year, expect hummus prices to jump even more than they already have (~7% since 2019).
→ EPA under pressure. Labor union reps and oil refiners are pushing the EPA to lower costs of the U.S. biofuel blending program, with policy changes potentially coming in 2023.
→ More trouble for meat. The biggest food distributor in the U.S., Sysco, has filed a lawsuit against the 4 largest meat processors—JBS, Tyson Foods, Cargill, and National Beef—for alleged price fixing.
→ ASF defense. The USDA has requested $500M to help manage the flow of swine products from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, in an effort to combat more spread of African swine fever.
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Micropep has a little extra pep in its step after closing an $8.9M extension of a Series A financing round led by Fall Line Capital.
A noble cause, Micropep is here for the future of agriculture by embracing the potential of micropeptides.
Micro, what? Micropeptides are short, natural peptide molecules that target and regulate plant genes and proteins. Micropep is using them to create the next wave of biological crop protection.
On the cutting edge, Micropep uses AI, computer science, plant biology, and peptide chemistry to choose and develop the very best micropeptide candidates. Their current focus is resistant pathogens and weeds.
Tell us more. Micropep’s method "makes it possible to precisely regulate a plant’s gene expression, without altering its DNA, by the exogenous application of micropeptides, a family of proteins naturally produced by plants to respond to stress and regulate their development."
This funding round boosts Micropep’s expansion into the U.S. and brings Micropep closer to the commercialization of its products.
Soundbite: "Micropep is building for them [farmers] a revolutionary toolbox of micropeptide-based solutions to first control resistant weeds and diseases. Our unique approach could open new frontiers in crop protection the same way RNA technology did with vaccines," said Micropep CEO and co-founder, Thomas Laurent.
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Corral Technologies is giving ranchers the ultimate tool: a virtual fencing system.
As a system of cattle wearables proven to be safe and effective, Corral helps ranchers cross-fence virtually any pasture, decreasing the number of rented acres and reducing fencing costs.
So, how does it work?
- Track your cows: Be confident that your cows are where they are supposed to be at any time.
- Cross-fence anywhere: Anyone with access to a phone, computer, or tablet can create new cross fences on any of their pastures, optimizing pasture utilization.
- Move remotely: Move your cows from anywhere using the streamlined software system, saving time for other tasks.
Plus, you can easily create grazing plans, track carrying capacities, and see pasture utilization in real-time.
It’s technology that adds to your bottom line in no time.
Estimate your savings and sign up for Corral Technologies’ waitlist today.
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Magnetic's Must-See Stuff |
21 job opportunities await. See them all on the Magnetic Ag Job Board.
Lee Brice is baaack. The country star will perform for the second straight year at the Farm Progress Show.
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We're constantly fascinated by USDA data and a recent report was no exception.
A deep dive into different commodities broke up the value of production by size of farm (large, small, midsize, or nonfamily).
Can you match the three commodities below with the masked column (A, B, or C) that reflects the percent of value of production by farm size?
Answer at the bottom of the email.
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Tickin' Time Bomb? A Lone Star Problem
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RolfAasa | Getty Images Signature
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Ever heard of Alpha-gal? No, it’s not the newest Marvel superhero. It’s the shorthand for alpha-galactose, a sugar compound found in red meat.
Little bug, big issue: Lone star ticks throughout the South and Midwest have been causing problems thanks to their ability to transfer this compound through their saliva. These ticks bite an animal such as a cow, then bite a human—which can cause alpha-gal syndrome, more commonly referred to as a red meat allergy.
One bug bite and no more ribeyes? Talk about a nightmare…
Steaks and sneezing: Each person has a different immune system, so the appearance of red meat allergies and their severity range widely across individuals who have been bitten by the lone star tick.
It can present as common symptoms such as swelling and sneezing, or progress all the way up to anaphylactic shock. Individuals should seek medical attention if they notice any of these symptoms.
Tackle the tick problem: Your best bet? Don’t get bitten. Defense is the best offense. Authorities recommend wearing repellents when outdoors, covering up with long pants and sleeves, and checking yourself for ticks immediately when you get home.
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Written & Edited by Kevin Cross, Amelia VanLandegen, Aaron Dunajeski, Ashley Scoby, and Travis Martin
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Magnetic Ag
P.O. Box 7292
Greenwood, IN 46142-6423
United States
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