Agri-Tech Entrepreneurs eager for 2024 challenge clash

Sep 18, 2023

Imagine a world where agriculture seamlessly melds with technology. That's the goal of the 2024 Ag Innovation Challenge, which has just unveiled its top ten semi-finalists ready to shape that vision.

For a decade, this platform has been lighting the way for aspiring agri-preneurs. And this year, there's more on the table than ever. Semi-finalists are in for a treat, as they’ll hone their pitching skills with help from experts at Cornell University. They're also gearing up to meet potential backers at an upcoming convention, where networking opportunities abound. And let's not forget there's a cool $165,000 in award money waiting for the most innovative.

But the heart of the challenge goes beyond mere funds. It's a canvas for change-makers to paint their vision of a better, more sustainable agriculture future. These trailblazing ideas aim to provide solutions, not just for the farming community, but for a world that heavily relies on agriculture.

Behind this grand event stand giants of the industry. With the likes of Farm Credit leading the charge, and notable sponsors including Bayer, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services, and T-Mobile offering support, it's clear the future of farming is bright.

So, gear up to be dazzled by breakthrough ideas that could redefine the world of agriculture. The 2024 Ag Innovation Challenge is an event to watch.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.