Recently, I’ve seen a lot of autonomous vehicles, electric tractors, ag robots, and AI enhanced equipment at World Ag Expo, FIRA USA and Agritechnica. Out of all the new tech equipment, I believe the first large-scale adoption will come in precision spraying. Herbicide-resistant weeds have proliferated over the past years. There are also numerous negative reports on the environmental and health impacts of using farm chemicals, including a recent report that came out showing Midwest states having the largest increased rate of cancer. Also, Bayer has fought over 110,000 lawsuits and still has more than 50,000 to go on the… Read More »
As the CEO of INEDA, I believe that innovation is not merely a tool for progress; it’s the very essence of what connects us as individuals and communities. In the equipment realm, innovation is not just about adopting new technologies or techniques; it’s about re-imagining the way we interact with the land, the market, and each other. It’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and forging a path towards a more sustainable and prosperous future. At our Iowa and Nebraska Ag Expos, we are not just hosting events; we are cultivating a culture of innovation. We recognize that our… Read More »
With our initiative to bring new technology to both ag expos, Cindy and I traveled to Agritechnica to learn what the new trends are in agricultural equipment. Our expectations were to see much more robotics and autonomous equipment than in 2019, the last year the event was held due to Covid. We were surprised that the major manufacturers didn’t showcase this technology. One reason may be existing legislation and that European regulators have yet to approve autonomous tractors. There are standards for smaller field robots. Lemken who showed an autonomous tractor driven by their implement suggested 2030 before being in the… Read More »
As the United States enters the year 2024, the economic landscape appears to be a dynamic mix of opportunities and challenges. The nation, having weathered the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic and faced various economic uncertainties, is poised for growth in the coming year. This article delves into key aspects of the United States economic outlook for 2024, exploring factors that will shape the nation’s economic trajectory. Growth Prospects: The U.S. economy is anticipated to continue its recovery and exhibit steady growth in 2024. The combination of robust consumer spending, increased business investment, and government initiatives is expected to drive… Read More »
What is the economic outlook for 2024? UBS economists expect economic growth to slow sharply in the next few quarters, with a mild contraction worth half a percentage point in the middle of the year. After posting projected 2.6% growth in 2023 (as of December 2023), the UBS economics team sees GDP growth dropping to just 0.3% in 2024. Accordingly, they expect the unemployment rate to rise to nearly 5% by the end of the year. With that added disinflationary impulse, they expect monetary policy easing in 2024 to drive recovery in 2025, pushing GDP growth back up to roughly… Read More »
