Operations

  • Bonsai
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    Courtesy of Bonsai Robotics
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    Column

    Agtech Seedlings: Bonsai Robotics secures $15M to advance automated fruit harvesters

    Also in this week’s farm technology news: CH4 Global begins large-scale production of methane reduction feed additives and an indoor greens grower expands and rebrands.

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
  • A farmer with his back to the camera is seen standing in a field
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    Mary Salen via Getty Images
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    Farmland loans for regenerative agriculture: FBN and Walton family launch ‘first-of-its-kind’ lending program

    Amid a downturn in the farm economy and federal funding uncertainty, a new pilot offers additional incentives for producers to adopt sustainable practices. 

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
  • Guardian Agriculture's SC1 eVTOL sprays crops in California. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Courtesy of Guardian Agriculture
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Agriculture Dive

    Declining farm income and other production challenges have pushed farmers to rethink their operations and adopt new technology in a bid to diversify potential revenue streams. 

    By Agriculture Dive staff
  • President Donald Trump stands at a podium while speaking at the 2025 Republican Issues Conference in Doral, Florida, on Jan. 27, 2025.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    5 questions about Trump’s tariff plans

    Duties on Mexico and Canada could take effect this weekend. Here’s what to know.

    By Philip Neuffer • Jan. 31, 2025
  • A person stands in front of a glass door containing eggs at a grocery store
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Meat giant JBS breaks into the egg business

    A merger with South American producer Mantiqueira Brasil comes amid soaring U.S. egg prices.

    By • Jan. 30, 2025
  • turkey poultry bird
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    Nathan Howard via Getty Images
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    Cargill, Foster Farms to close turkey plants as demand wanes

    The closures, which will lead to layoffs of more than 1,600 people, come as bird flu ravages farms and consumer tastes change.

    By • Jan. 30, 2025
  • A close up of a baby duck is seen in the arms of a farmer
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    Matt Cardy via Getty Images
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    US detects rare bird flu strain H5N9 in poultry for first time

    The finding at a California duck farm is raising alarms among public health experts that bird flu could further mutate into “unpredictable new viruses.”

    By • Jan. 29, 2025
  • Russ Vought OMB Trump spending
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump freeze on federal grants and loans sparks confusion in agriculture

    The Office of Management and Budget said aid to farmers won’t be affected, but listed dozens of USDA programs to be reviewed for “Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies.”

    By Justin Bachman , • Updated Jan. 29, 2025
  • An egg display case is seen with a sign saying that supply shortages may impact product availability
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Egg prices could break more records in 2025

    The USDA is expecting consumer costs to rise another 20% this year as bird flu devastates commercial flocks.

    By • Jan. 28, 2025
  • Farmers are seen releasing a drone in a soybean field
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    evandrorigon via Getty Images
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    Investment in agtech startups plummeted in 2024

    Deal activity fell 25% during the year with a string of companies declaring bankruptcy, but Pitchbook analysts say a rebound could still happen.

    By • Jan. 27, 2025
  • A man takes a picutre of a boat during a snowstorm
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    Michael DeMocker via Getty Images
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    How a rare southern snowstorm could bring risks to farms

    Experts warn citrus and livestock farmers in states like Texas, Georgia and Alabama will need to take precautions to protect their operations.

    By • Jan. 23, 2025
  • Cartons of eggs in a refrigerated case in a supermarket
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    Courtesy of LaBonne's Markets
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    Why an independent grocer is holding the line on egg prices

    Connecticut supermarket chain LaBonne’s Markets sees the ongoing egg shortage as an opportunity to demonstrate to shoppers that it is focused on helping them afford groceries, CEO Bob LaBonne Jr. said.

    By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 23, 2025
  • The shadow of a young farmer is seen using a tablet in a corn field.
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    StockSeller_ukr via Getty Images
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    Agriculture Dive to stop publishing

    On Feb. 1, 2025, Agriculture Dive will stop publishing. We hope our daily coverage of the agriculture space was helpful to you.

    By Davide Savenije • Jan. 23, 2025
  • A fuel plant is seen
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    Courtesy of LanzaJet
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    USDA releases guidance on climate-smart crops in biofuels

    The interim rule gives insight into how farmers can access renewable fuel tax credits, though a Trump administration freeze on recent federal regulations is creating more uncertainty.

    By • Jan. 22, 2025
  • Packaged meat is displayed at a grocery store.
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    Drew Angerer / Staff via Getty Images
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    Perdue Farms to shutter Tennessee chicken plant

    The company is set to close the Monterey facility at the end of March, eliminating 433 jobs.

    By • Jan. 22, 2025
  • A Cargill meatpacking plant is pictured on April 17, 2020 in Fort Morgan, Colorado.
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    Matthew Stockman via Getty Images
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    Cargill reaches $32M settlement in turkey price-fixing lawsuit

    Tyson Foods previously agreed to pay $4.62 million in the case, which accuses meatpackers of colluding to drive up consumer prices.

    By • Jan. 21, 2025
  • A building with the Smithfield logo is seen
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    The image by Tony Webster is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Smithfield Foods eyes $10.7B valuation in IPO

    The company said it plans to raise up to $939.6 million through its shareholder offering. 

    By • Jan. 21, 2025
  • Two people in safety suits kneel in front of a machine with tubes
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    Courtesy of Windfall Bio
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    Column

    Agtech seedlings: Amazon-backed Windfall Bio hits commercial milestone for methane-eating microbes

    Also in this week's farm technology news: Syngenta to speed up biostimulant development with AI, and Pilgrim's Pride expands its renewable gas efforts at a South Carolina plant.

    By • Jan. 17, 2025
  • hormel chili
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    Courtesy of C.H. Guenther & Son
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    Hormel Foods CEO to retire

    The departure of James Snee, who took over the top post in 2016, is the third leader from a major food company to announce they are leaving since December.

    By Christopher Doering • Jan. 17, 2025
  • People working at a chicken factory.
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    andresr via Getty Images
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    US poultry, swine workers face increased health risks, studies show

    The USDA-backed research comes as meat producers push to increase factory line speeds in processing facilities, which critics say compounds the likelihood of injury.

    By • Jan. 15, 2025
  • A photograph of a brick building with a red sign and white letters that says Chipotle.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle invests to reduce methane emissions from cows

    The restaurant chain's venture fund is also backing efforts to produce plant-based meat from duckweed.

    By • Jan. 15, 2025
  • The outside of a factory is seen. A sign with "JBS" in red letters is plastered on the front.
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    Chet Strange via Getty Images
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    JBS will pay $4M to counter illegal child labor practices

    A DOL official praised the remedial steps proposed by the world’s largest meat processor as “creative and forward-thinking.”

    By Emilie Shumway • Jan. 15, 2025
  • CHS processes grains and oilseeds for customers.
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    Courtesy of CHS, Inc.
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    CHS leans into supply chain investments as profits tank

    The agribusiness giant, which saw net income fall by more than half in the first quarter, is announcing new products, shipping terminals and agronomy services to turn around market declines. 

    By • Jan. 14, 2025
  • The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Seafood company not on the hook for overtime in COVID lockdown case, court rules

    The case highlights the complexities involved with determining compensability under the Fair Labor Standards Act, particularly when workers are kept on campus.

    By Ryan Golden • Jan. 14, 2025
  • Corn is seen with an ethanol plant in the background.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    USDA invests $180M in biofuels and clean energy projects

    The Biden administration has doled out $3.3 billion to expand solar, wind and biofuels infrastructure across rural America.

    By • Jan. 13, 2025
  • A man in a tractor looks at a grain bin being filled with corn
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    US corn exports off to strong start

    First quarter sales reached the highest level in roughly six years thanks to plentiful supply, competitive pricing and an uncharacteristically weak harvest from main competitor Brazil.

    By • Jan. 13, 2025