Crops

  • Two people in safety suits kneel in front of a machine with tubes
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    Courtesy of Windfall Bio
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    Column

    Agtech seedlings: Amazon-backed Windfall Bio hits commercial milestone for methane-eating microbes

    Also in this week's farm technology news: Syngenta to speed up biostimulant development with AI, and Pilgrim's Pride expands its renewable gas efforts at a South Carolina plant.

    By • Jan. 17, 2025
  • A photograph of a brick building with a red sign and white letters that says Chipotle.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle invests to reduce methane emissions from cows

    The restaurant chain's venture fund is also backing efforts to produce plant-based meat from duckweed.

    By • Jan. 15, 2025
  • Guardian Agriculture's SC1 eVTOL sprays crops in California. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Courtesy of Guardian Agriculture
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Agriculture Dive

    Declining farm income and other production challenges have pushed farmers to rethink their operations and adopt new technology in a bid to diversify potential revenue streams. 

    By Agriculture Dive staff
  • An excavator pushing a muddy pile onto agricultural land.
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    The image by Sustainable Sanitation Alliance is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    EPA warns PFAS in biosolid fertilizers could pose health risks

    The agency said farmers could be at risk due to the chemicals leaching into food and water in its draft risk assessment, now open for comment. 

    By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 15, 2025
  • CHS processes grains and oilseeds for customers.
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    Courtesy of CHS, Inc.
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    CHS leans into supply chain investments as profits tank

    The agribusiness giant, which saw net income fall by more than half in the first quarter, is announcing new products, shipping terminals and agronomy services to turn around market declines. 

    By • Jan. 14, 2025
  • A man in a tractor looks at a grain bin being filled with corn
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    US corn exports off to strong start

    First quarter sales reached the highest level in roughly six years thanks to plentiful supply, competitive pricing and an uncharacteristically weak harvest from main competitor Brazil.

    By • Jan. 13, 2025
  • Cows behind a fence graze on grass
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Adopt a class cow? How schools are helping students understand where food comes from.

    A variety of new resources are giving students hands-on opportunities that illustrate the role tech plays in agriculture.

    By Lauren Barack • Jan. 13, 2025
  • Wind turbines spin over a field of canola, also called rapeseed, at a wind park on May 10, 2023 near Pinnow, Germany.
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Column

    Agtech seedlings: Bayer, European refinery to scale US biofuel production

    Also in this week's farm technology news: Inari raised $144 million to bring gene-edited seeds to market and an Israel-based startup looks to develop its computer vision technology for horticulture.

    By • Jan. 10, 2025
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    Mediterranean via Getty Images
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    Louis Dreyfus buys BASF’s food and health ingredients business

    The food processor seeks to dominate the plant-based space while chemical producer BASF shifts its focus to other areas.

    By Chris Casey • Jan. 10, 2025
  • A farmer and his son walk toward a tractor with their backs to the camera.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Will $10B in economic payments offset farm income losses?

    Researchers are still projecting negative returns for grain producers even after assistance from Washington, highlighting the extent of the downturn in the agricultural industry.

    By • Jan. 9, 2025
  • Dockworkers hold picket signs as they strike in front of a port.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    East Coast port strike averted after tentative deal reached

    The agreement comes a week before a previous agreement was set to expire, allaying concerns of supply chain disruptions at major shipping hubs.

    By Alejandra Carranza • Jan. 9, 2025
  • Farm equipment sits in a field
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    5 agriculture trends to watch in 2025

    It could be a tumultuous year for farmers with experts predicting low commodity prices, extreme weather events and changes in food policy to reshape industry priorities.

    By , • Jan. 8, 2025
  • Aerial view of oranges being harvested in Florida
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Tropicana orange supplier Alico to exit citrus business

    The company concluded that "growing citrus is no longer economically viable for us in Florida," with disease and hurricanes reducing production by 73%.

    By • Jan. 8, 2025
  • A group of dockworkers gather outside an ocean terminal.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Shippers urge deal to avert East Coast port strike as deadline looms

    Worker contracts will expire again on Jan. 15, prompting fears of supply chain disruption acorss industries including agriculture.

    By Alejandra Carranza , Philip Neuffer • Jan. 8, 2025
  • cocoa farming
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Confection companies may pass higher cocoa costs on to consumers for Valentine’s Day

    The price increase comes after cocoa futures doubled in late 2024, putting pressure on food makers already paying more for the commodity.

    By Chris Casey • Jan. 7, 2025
  • Post Holdings, Bob Evans
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    Christopher Doering/Agriculture Dive
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    Post Holdings to buy potato company for undisclosed amount

    The purchase of Potato Products of Idaho complements the CPG company’s existing presence in spuds through foodservice and branded items such as Bob Evans sides and Simply Potatoes.

    By Christopher Doering • Jan. 6, 2025
  • Farm equipment is seen on a corn field
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    US wins trade dispute against Mexico over genetically modified corn ban

    A dispute panel found the prohibition on biotech corn was not grounded in science and undermined an important economic market for farmers in the United States.

    By • Jan. 6, 2025
  • A close up of a hand picking up a basket of strawberries in a farmers market display
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Column

    Agtech seedlings: Florida farmers team with startup Ohalo to breed a disease-resistant strawberry

    Also in this week's farm technology news: Deere highlights tech investments in U.S. manufacturing, and CNH announces leadership changes.

    By • Jan. 3, 2025
  • An oil tanker ship passes through the Panama Canal.
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    Retrieved from Canal de Panamá on December 18, 2024
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    Ocean carriers plan Panama Canal surcharges

    MSC and CMA CGM will implement fees for cargo traveling through the major waterway on certain trade lanes to offset increased costs.

    By Alejandra Carranza • Jan. 3, 2025
  • The Blue Plate
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    Permission granted by Mark Easter
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    Q&A

    Food’s guide to shrinking the climate crisis: Q&A with Mark Easter

    The researcher at Colorado State University examines the environmental impact of the U.S. food system, one crop at a time.

    By David Silverberg • Jan. 2, 2025
  • Oranges are seen hanging from a tree
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Inside the race to save Florida’s oranges

    The state’s citrus industry is expecting one of its lowest production levels on record after recent hurricanes. But promising new science to address a devastating tree disease is giving growers hope.

    By Leah Borts-Kuperman • Jan. 2, 2025
  • The dome of the U.S. Capitol is seen at night
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    Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
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    Farm bill extended in last minute funding deal: What to know

    The final agreement is set to provide farmers with $10 billion in one-time economic payments to offset income losses.

    By • Dec. 21, 2024
  • Towers of lettuce are seen in a white room
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    Courtesy of Plenty
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    Column

    Agtech seedlings: Plenty closes flagship indoor lettuce farm in California

    Also in this week's farm technology news: Growers Edge acquires fintech to help lenders better assess climate risks on farms, and Sound Agriculture raises $25 million for sustainable fertilizer solutions.

    By • Dec. 20, 2024
  • Dockworkers strike outside an ocean container port.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Will there be another East Coast port strike in January? Experts weigh in.

    Industry observers have differing views on the likelihood of a strike, which would add to the logistics hurdles shippers are already facing.

    By Alejandra Carranza • Dec. 20, 2024
  • A New World screwworm fly stands on a leaf.
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    Courtesy of The U.S. Department of Agriculture
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    USDA allocates $165M to protect livestock from New World screwworm

    The U.S. paused cattle imports from Mexico as the flesh-eating insect that has ravaged livestock in South America moves north.

    By • Dec. 19, 2024
  • U.S. Forest Service firefighters battle the Angeles Crest Station Fire.
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    Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
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    US Forest Service to launch national apprenticeship program

    The new initiative with Institute for Workplace Skills & Innovation America is intended to address workforce gaps and create career paths for diverse communities.

    By Carolyn Crist • Dec. 19, 2024