Soybean farming's tech evolution

Sep 05, 2023

Soybean farming in Ohio is getting better with new technology. Big equipment makers are also becoming leaders in tech. John Deere has a dream to farm without people by 2030. But making this dream real has challenges like good internet and safety concerns.

The alternative fuel domain is witnessing a renaissance too, particularly in soy-based sources. The demand for soy biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel has skyrocketed. Renewable diesel, sharing similarities with its petroleum counterpart, is now sourced from soybean oil.

Forecasts suggest that renewable diesel production might soon soar to 6 billion gallons in the U.S., with soy emerging as the undeniable front-runner. Stringent low-carbon fuel norms further spur this growth trajectory.

The surge in cover crops, an embodiment of sustainable agriculture, is propelled by programs offering enticing incentives. Helping farmers switch to these crops combines caring for the environment with farming.

In terms of agronomy, the future appears promising with the introduction of innovative soybean varieties. New features that focus on where seeds go and fighting soybean pests are coming, which could make farming better and easier.

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.