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Raven Precision Agriculture Technology to Power Autonomous Solutions

Company Press Release --

Partners With DOT™, a Leader in Autonomous Agriculture Platforms

Raven Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:RAVN) announced today it will be utilizing its precision agriculture technologies to power the autonomous farming solutions of the future. Already a proven leader in many precision ag markets, Raven develops solutions that will be a pivotal tool in the development of autonomous platforms.

“Raven has a strong history of pioneering precision ag advancements,” said Brian Meyer, Division Vice President and General Manager of Raven Applied Technology. “We believe the next generation of ag technology includes autonomous platforms, and we know that our products will be able to serve this market well.”

Raven’s first partnership will be with Dot Technology Corp. (DOT), a sister company to SeedMaster. Raven and DOT have entered into a joint agreement to develop technologies for the DOT Power Platform™, a mobile diesel-powered platform designed to handle a large variety of implements commonly used in agriculture. Powered by Raven steering, guidance, and propulsion technologies, DOT completes tasks autonomously and enables farmers to spend more of their time focusing on the overall operation of their farms.

“Raven’s world-renowned leadership in the fields of steering, guidance, propulsion and application controls perfectly compliment DOT’s field path planning, user control experience, machine safety, remote communications software development and facilitates ISOBUS compatible implements,” said Norbert Beaujot, President of DOT and SeedMaster.

In addition, Raven’s products such as Hawkeye®, the Raven Rate Control Module (RCM), AutoBoom® and Sidekick Pro™ Direct Injection will be compatible with the many implements supported by an autonomous solution.

“This opportunity is a perfect fit for Raven technology,” said Tim Heins, Product Manager of Raven Applied Technology. “We look forward to utilizing our existing strengths in steering, guidance and application controls to further advance precision ag technologies.”


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.