EnGeniousAg, a startup focused on advanced nitrogen sensing applications, has been acquired by CropX, a provider of farm management solutions. EnGeniousAg is a spinout from Iowa State University based on research funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Its founders are Iowa State University professors Michael Castellano, Liang Dong and Patrick Schnable, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor James […]
A letter of intent was signed Friday for Iowa-based PowerPollen to provide its pollen technology to VNR Seeds, based in Raipur, India. The agreement was signed during Gov. Kim Reynolds’ India trade mission. “With a mission to feed and fuel the world, PowerPollen is very excited to bring our Iowa-grown pollination technology to India to […]
Iowa State University is participating in an initiative to increase the number of veterinarians working in rural areas, according to a news release. Nine schools, including ISU, are taking part in the Veterinary Workforce Solutions Program from Farm Journal Foundation, backed by support from the Zoetis Foundation. The pilot program assists students with such issues […]
The Ag Startup Engine will hold its 2024 Ag Innovators Unconference in Des Moines on Oct. 3. The agenda includes keynotes from startup founder and adviser John Teeple and Than Hartsock, vice president of precision upgrades at John Deere. This year, Ag Startup Engine will award the Ag-tech Founder of the Year and Ag-tech Startup […]
Verbio’s biorefinery facility in Nevada, Iowa, has started commercial production of corn-based ethanol, Verbio North America announced recently. Verbio Nevada, which opened in 2021, can now operate as a full biorefinery with a total capacity to produce 60 million gallons of corn-based ethanol per year and 2.3 million mmBTU of renewable natural gas, according to a […]
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, also known as PRRS, has cost the U.S. pork industry an estimated $1.2 billion per year in lost production from 2016 to 2020, according to a new analysis from Iowa State University. The economic damage from the viral disease has increased 80%, or $536 million, from a decade earlier. A 2012 […]
Iowa City-based Rantizo, a provider of agricultural spray drone services, has received approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration for advanced drone operations. The approvals include allowing Rantizo service hub operators to swarm up to three drones over 55 pounds and fly at night without a visual observer. Flying without a visual observer and multiple drones at […]
America’s Cultivation Corridor, in collaboration with partners, is conducting a survey to gain a deeper understanding of current local, national and global perceptions regarding Iowa’s food and agriculture sector. The survey covers multiple aspects of the industry, including innovation, business opportunity, workforce and quality of life. Responses will remain confidential and be used solely for […]
The Liechtenstein Group, an international group of companies and investment platform owned by the Foundation Prince Liechtenstein, is making a lead investment in PowerPollen’s next funding round of $24.4 million. PowerPollen, based in Ames, has developed a pollination technology that collects and preserves pollen for up to four years. It can then be applied at the […]
Des Moines Independent Community School District recently unveiled a newly constructed barn for agriculture and horticulture students at Central Campus to gain experience in what it’s like to work in the agriculture industry. The new barn will be open for all students in the metro area who choose the Central Campus Ag program. According to […]