Precision Farming Dealer editors encounter a variety of articles, social media posts, podcasts and videos that offer a unique look at various aspects of our great agricultural industry. Here is our favorite content from the past week:

Best of the Web This Week is brought to you by Salford Group.

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As global leaders with the widest range of spinner spreaders and air boom applicators in the industry, Salford Group has got you covered. Backed by over 400 application-specific dealers, eight North American parts distribution centers and revered in-field application support, we’re the partners you need to make your business as productive as possible.

Why Ag Retail Margins Are Decreasing

North American ag retail margins have generally declined over the last decade. In this post from Upstream Ag Insights, Shane Thomas analyzes how customers’ access to information and services has exploded and how manufacturers have moved to form direct relationships with customers. “In ag, this direct relationship leaves a lessening reliance on the traditional channel and shifts control of messaging and influence of the farmer to the manufacturer.”

influence erosion cycle

 

Greeneye Technology CEO Shares Outlook for Agtech Investments

Investors are looking for precision agriculture companies helping farmers do more with less, according to the CEO of Greeneye Technology, the smart spraying company that received a minority investment from AGCO. In this Sectors Up Close segment from Reuters, CEO Nadav Bocher talks about the surge in investment in agtech following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. “Investors are definitely looking at that space and understand the need is growing. It’s one of those sectors that’s a must-have to sustain this society and this world.”

Precision Ag Researchers Realize They Should Actually Talk to Farmers

In what seems like a very academic problem, it took a research study for university students to realize they don’t understand the challenges of farming. Gloire Rubambiza, a computer science doctoral student at Cornell, authored a paper that provides recommendations for designing agtech solutions with potential on-farm problems in mind. Among his suggestions are providing farmers with a “cheat sheet” indicating how to troubleshoot problems identified during the development stage and involving farmers in the research process.

Gloire Rubambiza installs moisture sensors at the Cornell Orchards

California Startup Develops Technology to Talk to Plants

Agtech startup InnerPlant is developing a way to use sunlight and special cameras to let plants tell farmers what they need. The company is recoding plant DNA, allowing the plant to emit a signal that can be detected remotely. The signal indicates if the plant is stressed, nutrient deficient, fighting off insects and more. InnerPlant is currently testing its technology on corn, soybeans, wheat, tomatoes and other crops.

Farm Innovations: Launch Pad by Verge

Verge’s Launch Pad is the world’s first interactive software tool to help farmers of all sizes and equipment colors optimize their in-the-field path planning. The new technology creates a set of path plans custom to each farm, eliminating unnecessary trips across the field. Launch Pad integrates into modern day GPS systems with no extra hardware needed.

 

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Best of the Web This Week is brought to you by Salford Group.

At Salford Group, we have range - in our product lineup and when it comes time to apply. As global leaders with the widest range of spinner spreaders and air boom applicators in the industry, we’ve got you covered. Salford’s BBI and Valmar applicators are proven over millions of acres and range from simple, durable fleet spreaders to precision, variable rate machines engineered for high acreage, custom application. Backed by over 400 application-specific dealers, eight North American parts distribution centers and revered in-field application support, we’re the partners you need to make your business as productive as possible.

Salford Group


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