Ben Pullen is the new director of the Institute for Agriculture at Buena Vista University. Named to the role in late 2024, Pullen brings experience in youth development, education and community engagement, according to a news release. BVU’s Institute for Agriculture aims to foster innovation and sustainability in the agricultural…
An Ames-based animal vaccine startup is on the path to getting U.S. Department of Agriculture conditional approval for a highly pathogenic avian influenza vaccine, its co-founder said recently. Joel Harris, the CEO and co-founder of Genvax Technologies, said in mid-March the company is hoping to do more animal studies in the…
Growth planned for Ames in 2025, Norem says Ramco Innovations will now be known as Ramco Powered by Sukup, as the company takes a step to align its branding with Sukup Manufacturing Co. Ramco CEO Hank Norem told the Business Record the West Des Moines-based automation distributor is adding the tagline to…
The Iowa Biotechnology Association named the recipient of the 2025 Biotech Leader Award and the winners of the Showcase Pitch Competition at its Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference held last week. Joel Harris, co-founder and CEO of animal health startup Genvax Technologies and executive director of the Ag Startup Engine, is the recipient…
America’s Cultivation Corridor has announced nine startups from the United Kingdom have joined the fifth cohort of its Cultivo Virtual Academy program. The fifth cohort launched on Feb. 18. The companies will participate in a six-week virtual program with sessions hosted by Iowa agricultural leaders that focus on U.S. market entry, regulatory…
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa State University have introduced updates to Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS), the state’s soil health and water quality framework. The goal of the INRS is to assess and reduce nutrients in surface water through…
The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has awarded 119 grants to schools across Iowa to bolster the integration of agriculture into classroom instruction and after-school programs. The foundation’s Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher Supplement Grants are designed to help teachers initiate new projects and/or expand upon existing programs that promote…
Johnston-based Growers Edge, which provides financial technologies for the agriculture industry, has acquired software company Aquaoso Technologies. Aquaoso Technologies operates under the Agcor brand, which provides mapping, data and analytics software for agricultural lenders, according to a news release. Agcor aims to improve the agricultural lending process by integrating loan, collateral, appraisal,…
John Deere announced Monday new autonomous machines and technology at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The new lineup of machines aims to serve customers in agriculture, construction and commercial landscaping with a combination of advanced computer vision, AI, and cameras, according to a news release. John Deere’s new…
Trade group plans to advocate for pharmaceutical, renewable fuel sectors The Iowa Biotechnology Association (IowaBio) has announced its 2025 legislative priorities. IowaBio is a nonprofit trade association with more than 100 members statewide that aims to unify Iowa’s bioscience industry, academic research institutions and economic development organizations. IowaBio’s priorities for the…