What if you could just point your phone at a weed and the phone would tell you what you were looking at? At one time it was a huge breakthrough to be able to take a picture of a weed and send a text message to an agronomist. It still is in fact, but sometimes… Read More
For some, technology like autonomous tractors and unmanned aerial vehicles offer great interest; for others, the quick advancements in robotics and data are overwhelming and intimidating. Will we soon see job losses? Will human presence on farms be made obsolete? Not at all, says Christine Su, co-founder and CEO of PastureMap, a company that makes… Read More
Farmers invest a lot to produce a crop, from before the seed hits the ground through to the harvest. With all the investment and technology that goes into producing a crop, why stop short when the grain hits the bin? Some of the most successful farmers are using technology to ensure they have the information they… Read More
The wealth of information available to producers though digital ag platforms has created some on-farm data management issues. A survey earlier this year shows most producers are gathering agronomic data electronically, but many are not yet using that data for management purposes. Could that change, as companies try to make it easier to put data… Read More
FarmLead, North America’s Grain Marketplace, announced today the launch of the FarmLead Basis Negotiation feature on its leading trade platform. The new feature allows buyers and sellers to post and negotiate basis contracts in addition to the existing options of cash contracts. The announcement complements the company’s continued expansion across North America. The new feature… Read More
Just as people in smaller cities are getting the opportunity to experience the ride-sharing service Uber, the company is launching a new way to get a load of freight hauled. Uber Freight is launching in the United States, providing a way for drivers and customers to get hitched through an Uber-based service. According to the Uber blog: Uber… Read More
Dairy Quality Inc. and its mobile milk testing device was the big winner at Ontario’s 10th annual Premier’s Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. Premier Kathleen Wynne presented the Premier’s award – the province’s highest honour for outstanding contributions in innovation to the agri-food sector – to the Newmarket-based company. Its mobile testing device helps dairy farmers… Read More
Farmers and ranchers have always been interested in technology, especially if it enhances profitability. The rate of change of products and services coming to market is extremely fast. Silicon Valley and traditional agriculture businesses such as John Deere and Bayer are all trying to establish their footholds in the future of digital farming. At the… Read More
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs weed specialist Mike Cowbrough used to carry five or six scouting and management guides when he headed out to scout fields. Those days are gone. Now he just reaches into his pocket, pulls out his smart phone and opens his Pest Manager App. The Pest Manager app,… Read More
Trimble has announced it’s combining three of its farm software products into a single data management platform. Agri-Data Solutions will be consolidated with the Connected Farm and Farm Works Software programs to form Trimble Ag Software. The integration of Agri-Data with Connected Farm had been expected since Trimble bought Agri-Trend and its Agri-Data software in… Read More
A picture can be worth a thousand words — one of the reasons why those little yellow faces and symbols have become so popular in text messages and Instagram posts. The right expression or combination of icons can be perfect for conveying your emotion or what’s on your mind. However when it comes to farm-related… Read More
I’ve got two big things to announce today. First, we redesigned our website back in March (more at the end)…you probably noticed. I apologize for not writing about it sooner, but I’ve been working to get our new iOS (iPhone, iPad, etc) and Android apps launched (which is the second announcement). New App is Customized… Read More
It’s an app that’s been around since late 2014, but few people outside of the Edmonton area have likely heard of it. Called the Alberta Weed Spotter, the app gives the public help in identifying and reporting invasive and noxious weed species regulated under the province’s Weed Control Act. “Catching invasive species early on in their… Read More
Trying to remember the re-entry interval of a herbicide you just sprayed? Or wondering what personal protective equipment (PPE) to pack? Or maybe you just want to know if your insect repellant protects against black flies or ticks? Health Canada has an app for all of those things. It’s called Pesticide Labels, and allows users to quickly… Read More
Do you know which fields make you money and which ones don’t? At what point in the year do you sit down and determine what your breakeven costs are for a specific piece of land? The FieldValues app was designed to help farmers keep information about costs and break-even prices current throughout the growing season…. Read More