Precision Ag Technology on full display

Jan 29, 2020

Farms.com Eastern Precision Agriculture Conference and Ag Tech Showcase Kicks off in London

Farmers across Ontario are headed to RBC Place in London today for the start of the 7^th annual Farms.com Precision Agriculture Conference & Ag Tech Showcase - a two-day event featuring expert speakers and tech demonstrations highlighting the immense value of precision technology on the farm. This year’s conference has an expanded dairy focus and will examine the multiple uses of precision ag tech in the dairy industry.

The conference begins with keynote presentations from Dr. Vern Osborne, Professor, Department of Animal Biosciences at University of Guelph, focusing on the future of the dairy industry, followed by a presentation on Real-time Molecular Diagnostics for Herbicide and Pesticide Resistance Testing by Professor Robert Edwards, Head of School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at Newcastle University in England.

Professor Edwards is representing AGRI-INNOVATIONS Limited, a U.K.-based company that focuses on bringing molecular diagnostics testing directly to the farm. The company has developed a small, portable testing device that can detect herbicide and pesticide resistance in weeds, pests, and pathogens. With results in minutes, the rapid-testing allows producers to have answers in real-time rather than days or weeks. This type of testing allows for quick decisions by producers as to which type of herbicide or pesticide will be the most effective in their crop protection strategies.

The conference will cover a range of topics, with over 20 presenters and many exhibitors, including Climate FieldView, GPS Ontario, Kearney Planters, and more.

Video: U.S.-China Trade “Truce” + U.S. Fed Cuts Rates Again

The market was hoping for a US-China trade deal, but we got a trade “truce” for now from the keenly awaited Trump-Xi meeting at the APEC Summit.
China commits to minimum purchase commitments of 12 MMT of U.S. soybeans during the “current season” and a minimum of 25 MMT annually through 2028.
U.S. Treasury Sec Bessent said other Asian countries have agreed to buy additional 19 MMT of US soybean.
Soybean futures trading above $11 now- they normally tend to rally to $12.
As expected, US Fed cuts interest rates by -0.25% again in October to 3.75%–4.00%. No further cuts promised for this year but trade looking out to the Dec FOMC.
The Bank of Canada cut interest rates to 2.25% but raised concern over trade war damage.
Soy meal futures, remarkably, have had 14 consecutive higher close sessions. A bull market in soybeans is a bull market in soy meal!
Cattle futures lower as funds unwind out of cattle for now due to Trump headlines and objective to lower beef prices.
All major stock indices climb to new record highs. It was Mag 7 reporting week, which had mixed results. But we now have the first $5 trillion company in Nvidia!