Kristy Flynn

AgTech Ecosystem - looking forward to joining Renée Vassilos (Director of Agriculture Innovation for The Nature Conservancy), Charlie Andersen (CEO of Burro), Michael Roth (Director of Conservation and Innovation - PA Dept of Agriculture), and Fred Slezak of Lone Maple Farm tomorrow at the Ag and Robotics Summit in Pittsburgh. It's day 1 of the Summit, and we'll help kick things off on the opening night with the panel leading right into the reception. The topic will be Ag Robotics - what will drive it and what are some of the macro trends? Renee has the moderator chair. Charlie brings the perspective of a successful specialty crop AgTech automation startup that is starting to achieve scale - and he's been at the front on this journey as founder and CEO. Michael will bring the perspective of the PA Department of Ag and the role the state can play in facilitating innovation. Fred brings the most important role - the grower using the AgTech. I bring the specialty crop automation topic to the table, and for specialty crops it's all about getting more of the key labor task areas automated with economics that work for the grower. At the moment, things look good for weeding, thinning, spraying, planting, and harvest assist. On the not so good side - harvest will still be a while. On the emerging front, AI is accelerating a lot of development work for AgTech startups and the massive data sets the robots are capturing will help the acceleration even more once we figure out how to make it all interoperable. Thanks to Maialen CAZENAVE and Gwendoline Legrand, our FIRA USA partners at GOFAR (Global Organization for Agricultural Robotics), for helping to organize and promote the event. It will be a fun couple of days at the Robotics Factory! (Did I mention FIRA USA will be Oct 22-24 in Sacramento/Davis?) #agtech #robotics #carnegiemellon https://lnkd.in/gzGZEqzh

While farm balance sheets may currently look good on the surface, many small and medium sized farms continue to struggle. What will it take to help them thrive? One of InCommon Group's clients, The Carrot Project, is featured in this morning’s NYT article: “I think in some ways they’re in a worse position than before the pandemic,” said Benneth Phelps, executive director of the nonprofit Carrot Project, which advises small farmers in New England. “We see a lot of farmers making hard decisions right now about whether to stay in or get out, because they’ve run out of steam.” The article points out the merits of the IRA’s $20 billion in conservation funding aimed at helping farmers fight climate change and become more resilient. Additional funding from ARPA has been aimed at helping farmers, including $400 billion for the development of Regional Food Business Centers. But the sad reality is that the current draft farm bills from both the House and Senate largely maintain the status quo – bolstering big agriculture at the expense of small and medium sized operations. We need more market access for diversified and regenerative farmers, too. Our friend, Nebraska farmer Graham Christensen, was also quoted in the article: “We don’t have anywhere to go with those [high-value] products when we’re done,” Mr. Christensen said. “Those are the markets we want, and we don’t have a way to get there.” Massive reform is needed if we are to turn the curve on the declining number of farmers and the ever-increasing consolidation–and to improve consumer’s access to healthy, regenerative food.  We truly need a BIG movement to make the changes needed to ensure a resilient, deconsolidated, diversified, accessible, and abundant food system for all. https://lnkd.in/eBe9wap7.

ICYMI: This week with Jack Algiere, we’re delving into the common “root” between farming and systems change. Discover how to embrace complexity and flourish within a complex ecosystem. 🌱 🎧: https://lnkd.in/e5srz2Ug

One of our mobile market partners has been highlighted by the Modern Farmer publication! 🙌 Check out this article about how GoFarm Colorado is tackling two sides of the food system - by focusing on farmer development and access to healthy, affordable food. https://bit.ly/4cM5Eym #FoodAccess #FarmersTruck #MobileProduceMarket #MobileFarmersMarket

Curious about using Idahoan in your supermarket operations? Check out our new video featuring insights from Richard D. Hoelzel CDM, CFPP, FMP to learn all about what makes our Certified 100% Idaho® Potatoes an easy, versatile ingredient to meet your customers' needs! #IdahoanFoodservice #SupermarketFoodservice #FoodserviceIndustry

Small and medium independent farmers face a significant challenge in monetizing their farm animals due to disrupted access to meat processing. But what can be done to solve this issue? One solution is to shift towards a plant-forward style of eating, embracing cuisines from cultures such as the Mediterranean and Asian countries that use much smaller amounts of meat. Buying local meats as they become available and more affordable is also a great option. In addition, lobbying city councils, county commissioners, and state representatives to open up licenses for facilities processing meat is crucial. According to Investigate Midwest, the creation of meat processing plants can create jobs, empower farmers, and provide access to healthy meat, as demonstrated by indigenous tribes reversing years of consolidation in the cattle industry. Let's work together to support independent farmers and create a sustainable food system. #supportlocalfarms #sustainablefoodsystem #plantforward #meatprocessing

At Neiffer Ranch, we face the challenges of SB85, legislation initially aimed at regulating large-scale agribusinesses. Unfortunately, it does not account for the minimal environmental risks posed by smaller farms like ours. Our practices, such as direct manure application and composting, recycle nutrients efficiently, reducing pollution risks without the need for complex regulations designed for bigger operations. This situation highlights a critical need for legislative adjustments. The Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause suggests that laws should not apply unequally without justified reasons. Yet, SB85 seems to overlook the small-scale farming realities, imposing burdens that hinder our sustainability and growth. We call on everyone who values small-scale farming to support changes that recognize and enhance the role of family farms. As we engage with policymakers, we emphasize the need for regulations that ensure the survival and prosperity of small farms for future generations. Please join us in advocating for a future where small farms do not just survive but thrive. Your support is important as we push for amendments that truly reflect the spirit of sustainable farming. Sign our petition and help us spread the word: https://lnkd.in/g9dXCekw

Boosting Efficiency with the Cattler App Cattler aims to help cattle producers improve efficiency. The app covers tasks like feeding, health tracking, animal movement, finances, and more. It works with RFID tags or visual IDs. Key features include: * AutoSort - sorts cattle automatically based on weight as they move through chutes * Feeding - manage feed inventory, rations, and bunk readings * Health - track treatments and assign to animals * Layout - visualize pens and cattle locations * Costs - get real-time visibility into expenses and profit/loss Users say Cattler saves huge time on calculations and paperwork. The data integrates across modules, so changes sync automatically. Whether you have a small or large herd, it brings useful automation and data insights. The app supports operations from cow-calf through feedlot finish. And the CEO and co-founder, Ignacio Albornoz, welcomes producer feedback for constant improvement. If you're looking to modernize your cattle management, Cattler could be a helpful tool. The goal is to give ranchers an easy-to-use, one-stop shop. Read more about how it's already delivering efficiency gains for some producers. #cattler #cattlemanagement #ranchingtech #agtech

Unlocking new opportunities for struggling U.S. dairy farmers: repurposing meat from mature dairy cows into premium steaks. 🐄🥩 This shift towards pasture-raised beef presents a lucrative avenue for farmers and a sustainable option for consumers.  Learn more about this industry transformation.  #DairyFarming #Sustainability #FutureOfFood 

Maybe we'll finally receive some legitimate guidance and standardization on the USDA's coined term "climate smart." USDA just published a Request for Information (RFI) regarding climate smart agriculture practices, particularly around quantifying & verifying the emissions reduction percentages tied to the production of feedstock used for low CI biofuel. This RFI is a step in the right direction to provide farmers and stakeholders guidance on the developing opportunities surrounding the IRC 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit. #CarbonIntensity #ClimateSmart #Biofuels #Corn #45Z #regenerative #agriculture #farmers

What is the future of crop protection? Tune into the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast as host Vonnie Estes sits down with Ben Cicora, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing at Vestaron Crop Protection, to explore the game-changing innovations in agriculture. Learn more about peptide-based technologies, addressing pest issues and resistance problems while prioritizing safety and sustainability in the face of climate change. What are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities? https://lnkd.in/ePKrJpUp

Waterside Facilitates Record-breaking USDA Loan Closing for Vertical Harvest Waterside is thrilled to announce the successful closure of its latest loan endeavor for Vertical Harvest Farms. Leveraging its expertise in financial services, Waterside played a pivotal role in securing two significant USDA loans totaling $48,795,000 for Vertical Harvest, a groundbreaking achievement in project-based financing. The financing package comprised a $25 million Business and Industry loan and a $23.795 million Rural Energy for America loan, both backed by the USDA. Notably, this marks the USDA's largest project-based financing endeavor to date, reflecting the magnitude of this collaboration. The culmination of this financing arrangement underscores the dedication and perseverance of Vertical Harvest's management team and their partners, whose vision and commitment were instrumental throughout the process. Additionally, Waterside acknowledges the invaluable support and collaboration of our partner, Madison One CUSO, and in particular Alexios Georgousis whose expertise and assistance were indispensable. This landmark achievement not only reinforces Waterside's commitment to facilitating impactful financial solutions but also underscores our dedication to fostering innovation and sustainable development within communities. We look forward to witnessing the continued success and growth of Vertical Harvest. For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/g4EUwcpS. About Waterside: Waterside is a financial services firm specializing in innovative solutions tailored to meet our clients' diverse needs. Specializing in federally-backed loan guarantee programs, particularly under the USDA, we provide interim/bridge financing solutions to facilitate our clients' success. In addition to our expertise in USDA loan programs, Waterside also offers interim/bridge financing solutions tailored to borrowers navigating the USDA lending process. About Vertical Harvest Farms: Vertical Harvest Farms is a hydroponic, vertical farming company dedicated to sustainable farms, food and futures. In addition to our passion for local, healthy food grown sustainably, Vertical Harvest also operates on an inclusive employment model. Our farms are designed for accessibility and staffed via hiring practices developed for people with disabilities, and our mission is to energize local food economies by using food as a medium for meaningful change.

Great read, this is happening to many permanent crops. Especially in California. If you want to thrive in or survive markets like this think about: A) Looking to “niche down” and make your product much higher value-add (organic, specialty, niche marketplaces, etc) where prices and margins are higher B) Serving a niche or geographically isolated consumer market (the way we focus on TX wine grapes) 🍇 🍷 where margins are better due to local market conditions C) Getting your product closer to the consumer where margins get better (direct-to-consumer, direct-to-retailer, custom processing, etc)

📝How to strengthen #WIC in FY25: ✅keep WIC aligned with nutrition science ✅update WIC’s complex computer systems ✅increase funds for the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program! Let your reps know: buff.ly/3X3psbW

PCC Community Markets led a convening session in February to try to define “regenerative,” before this term goes the route of natural… The article on their site is well worth reading - it does a great job of describing the intent of their convening, and has some helpful links to learn more, like how to comment on the California definition process. Very glad PCC is diving in here, and hope other retailers are taking note! The connections between regenerative, organic, soil health, nutritional density, and halting and reversing climate change are too important to let big-ag and big-grocery steal this term before it ever really takes hold. #regenerative #regenerativeorganic #climatechange #soilhealth #nutritionaldensity https://https://lnkd.in/gt5JDnbR Thanks as always Ken Roseboro for keeping on top of the news!

We’ve heard many ways to describe our work at Elo, but one of the best is being called the "Willy Wonka of agriculture." This phrase was coined by Tim Hammerich, host of the Future of Agriculture podcast. In a recent episode, he interviews our CEO, Todd Rands, alongside Pairwise CEO Tom Adams. Tune in (at about the 7-minute mark) to discover how both companies are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in #agtech and #food. #Innovation #FutureofFood #MolecularFarming

One of the principal ingredients in many ground beef formulations is 90 percent lean beef trimmings (90s). The wholesale price of 90s reached a record level of $338.56/cwt. the last week of March and appears to still be moving higher. Nonfed beef (cull cows and bulls) is the source of 90s. Fed beef (fed steers and heifers) produce fatty trimmings, commonly reported as 50 percent lean trimmings. The current wholesale price of 50s is $102.84/cwt. A reference formulation of ground beef consists of a 5:1 ratio of 90s to 50s, that is, five pounds of 90s and one pound of 50 percent lean, producing an 83.3 percent lean ground beef product. This wholesale ground beef formulation is currently priced at $299.27/cwt., also a record level.

We know there needs to be hundreds of thousands of little food systems, like White Oak Pastures, to feed our communities. We know centralized, industrialized, and commoditized systems are not the answer. We hope you'll join us for an Introduction Immersion into Regenerative Agriculture (IIRA) so you can take some of these learned lessons back to feed your communities. Learn more about this event and the Center for Agricultural Resilience (CFAR) by visiting theCFAR.org #HealthySoil #Regenerative #SoilHealth #RegenerativeAgriculture #RegenerativeFarming #HolisticManagement #RadicallyTraditionalFarming #RegenerativeMovement #AnimalWelfare #RegenerativeGrazing #Pasture #PastureRaised

New article by Triple Pundit on potential of the Global Farm Loss Tool to bring growers and buyers together to reduce on-farm food loss and boost grower profitability: https://lnkd.in/eiKgqgj5