The Global Autonomous Agricultural Vehicle Market size will expand at over 17% CAGR from 2024 to 2032, due to technological advancements and the rise of precision agriculture. Autonomous agricultural vehicles are equipped with advanced sensors, GPS, and AI to perform tasks, such as planting, harvesting, and soil analysis with high accuracy and efficiency. With ongoing developments, autonomous agricultural vehicles are providing greater support for sustainable farming practices to help farmers manage their fields more effectively and meet the increasing global food demand. For instance, in February 2024, FarmX introduced Perceptive Navigation for autonomous agricultural vehicles, displaying GPS-free navigation and a comprehensive farm… Read More »
Editor’s note: Senior Multi-Media Specialist Matt Hopkins has been compiling his list of the best mobile apps in agriculture since 2010. In the slideshow below you’ll find more than 30 apps worthy of downloading in 2025. Inclusion on the list is based on research and evaluation of new or recently updated farming apps available for Androids, iPhones, and iPads. The list also includes several older apps that may have been off your radar but still deserve your attention. In addition, Hopkins shares insight from industry experts on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting the development and use of agricultural apps. Start Slideshow… Read More »
How the economy is shaping ag equipment purchases Published on 1/16/2025 The analysis is provided by Matt Erickson, an economist for Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica). While nobody can predict what 2025 holds for agriculture, today’s economic trends and past cycles provide valuable insights for thinking about farm equipment purchases. AgDirect, one of the leading equipment financing programs in the nation, looks at some of the key factors shaping on-farm income and decisions. Equipment has gotten more expensive. Price matters when purchasing new farm equipment. Since 1990, the average price of a new tractor has outpaced the rate of… Read More »
Fiscal 24 has been the worst period of profitability for Iowa farmers in 10 years, causing further problems in the manufacturing sectors and creating a $1.5 billion market loss. Over the last several months, the Iowa agriculture economy has seen a tremendous downturn. Thousands of workers have been laid off at various manufacturing plants around the country. These layoffs are part of a chain reaction caused by a downtrend in the agriculture economy as a whole. Layoffs continue to happen in Waterloo, adding to the hundreds laid off in Dubuque and Davenport, among others. Cargill, an international ag food products manufacturer, has laid off… Read More »
Heavy rainfall last week eliminated the remaining pocket of drought in Iowa, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report. It’s the first time in nearly four years that none of the state is experiencing drought and marks a significant turnaround from September, when Iowa was drier than it had been in a decade. 83% of the state had drought at the start of the year, and more than a third of Iowa had “extreme” drought — the second-to-worst classification of the Drought Monitor. Since then, the state has had its sixth-wettest start to a year on record, according to… Read More »
A groundbreaking partnership between the John Deere Foundation, the University of Iowa (UI), and the Davenport Community School District (DCSD) will soon increase access to higher education for Iowa high school students. The John Deere Foundation will give $6.6 million over six years to create the John Deere Scholars Program, a program based on financial need that will help Davenport Community High School students get ready for college at Iowa. “We believe education is the foundation for success,” said Mara Downing, president of the John Deere Foundation. “By investing in our community, John Deere is also investing in opportunities for… Read More »
