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Awards spotlight for Grain Weevil and AgZen

Awards spotlight for Grain Weevil and AgZen
Jan 02, 2025
By Jean-Paul McDonald
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Nebraska Ag expo honors Ag innovation leaders

Highlighting the spirit of innovation within the agricultural sector, the Nebraska Ag Expo's Innovation After Hours brought together over 150 representatives from startups, investment firms, and agricultural enterprises.

This gathering, facilitated by notable sponsors including Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association and Invest Nebraska, aimed to propel the industry forward through collaborative innovation and recognition of groundbreaking technologies.

In a highly anticipated Startup Showcase, six innovative companies vied for accolades and financial rewards, presenting technologies that promise to transform various aspects of agriculture.

Notably, Grain Weevil stood out and was awarded the Startup Showcase Winner title along with a $5000 prize, for their robot designed to improve grain bin safety and management—a critical area in agricultural operations.

Similarly, AgZen won the People’s Choice Award with a $1000 prize, thanks to their technology that enhances the precision of chemical applications in farming, potentially reducing waste and increasing crop yields.

The Nebraska Ag Expo, an annual event held at the Sandhills Global Event Center in Lincoln, NE, continues to be a cornerstone for agricultural advancement, supporting innovative solutions that tackle real-world agricultural challenges.

More information on this event can be accessed at nebraskaagexpo.com, offering insights into the future of agriculture and the next generation of ag technologies.

Photo Credit: nebraska-ag


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Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?


Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.