Tuesday October 10 Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 8, 2017, temperatures averaged near normal across western Nebraska, but four to eight degrees above normal in the east, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Significant rainfall of an inch or more was received across most of the State, while some northeastern counties received up to four inches. Substantial amounts of precipitation continued to limit harvest activities. There were 1.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 7 short, 68 adequate, and 23 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 16 short, 72 adequate, and 8 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 4 percent very poor, 8 poor, 24 fair, 46 good, and 18 excellent. Corn mature was 83 percent, behind 91 last year, and near 87 for the five-year average. Harvested was 13 percent, behind 22 last year and 29 average.

Soybean condition rated 4 percent very poor, 8 poor, 26 fair, 49 good, and 13 excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 96 percent, near 94 last year and 93 average. Harvested was 23 percent, behind 42 last year, and well behind 46 average.

Winter wheat planted was 77 percent, behind 94 last year and 87 average. Emerged was 57 percent, behind 75 last year, but equal to average.

Sorghum condition rated 3 percent very poor, 2 poor, 20 fair, 54 good, and 21 excellent. Sorghum mature was 81 percent, behind 94 last year, and near 82 average. Harvested was 19 percent, behind 32 last year, and near 20 average.

Alfalfa fourth cutting was 89 percent complete, ahead of 83 last year, and near 87 average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 13 poor, 45 fair, 34 good, and 5 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 4 short, 92 adequate, and 3 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Rain throughout most of the week prevented Iowa farmers from spending much time in their fields during the week ending October 8, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were only 2.6 days suitable for fieldwork, the lowest this season since the last week in May. Activities for the week included harvesting corn for grain and soybeans, hauling and drying grain, seeding cover crops, and applying manure.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 9 percent very short, 16 percent short, 59 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 16 percent very short, 23 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.

Eighty-seven percent of corn had reached maturity or beyond, one week behind last year and two days behind the 5-year average. Eight percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, over two weeks behind average. Moisture content of corn for grain being harvested averaged 22 percent. Corn condition remained at 60 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-two percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, one day ahead of last year and four days ahead of average. Twenty-six percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, nearly a week behind average. Percent of soybeans harvested varies widely throughout the state, ranging from 9 percent in south central to 47 percent in east central Iowa. Soybean condition rated 62 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition improved for the second week in a row to 25 percent good to excellent. Pastures have greened up and ponds are starting to fill. Livestock conditions were reported as good, but feedlots are muddy from the recent rains.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn and soybean harvest continued to slip further behind the average pace during the week ended Oct. 8, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report issued Tuesday. The report was delayed from its normal Monday release due to the Columbus Day holiday.

USDA estimated that 82% of corn was mature as Sunday, 5 points behind the five-year average. Harvest progressed to 22% complete, 15 percentage points behind the average pace of 37%. In last Monday's report, harvest was 9 points behind the average pace.

Soybean harvest progress also fell further behind normal. USDA estimated that 36% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 7 percentage points behind the five-year average of 43%. In last Monday's report, soybean harvest lagged the average pace by 4 points.

Meanwhile, USDA estimated winter wheat planting to be 48% complete as of Sunday, Oct. 8, 10 percentage points behind the average pace of 58%. Winter wheat emergence was estimated at 25%, 5 percentage points behind the average of 30%.

Sorghum was 35% harvested, behind the five-year average of 43%.  Cotton was 72% in the bolls opening stage and the crop was 25% harvested nationwide, ahead of the average of 19% harvested.



Nebraska Pork Producers Association Hosts Webinar October 17th at Noon on Farm-Level Crisis Plan

Nebraska Pork Producers Association is hosting a one-hour online webinar on Tuesday, October 17th, beginning at noon. The webinar will focus on the importance of farms having a crisis communication plan and how your crisis communication plan can be used for our upcoming December 6th Foot and Mouth Crisis Tabletop Drill in West Point, Nebraska.

Registration for the webinar can be accessed by visiting www.nepork.org/producer-education. Participants are encouraged to register for the webinar, several days in advance and will receive an email with the direct link for the webinar. There is no fee to participate in the webinar.

Cindy Cunningham, Assistant Vice President of Communications with National Pork Board will discuss the importance of farms having a crisis communication plan in place for their farm. The crisis communication plan helps the farm owners and employees know what steps to take within the first hours and days of a crisis occurring on their farm.

Nebraska Pork Producers Association will be hosting a webinar on the second Tuesday of every month from noon to one o’clock. The November webinar will cover information on environmental changes and regulations. For additional information on webinar topics and speakers go to www.nepork.org/producer-education.



SUMMIT WILL FOCUS ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH IN NEBRASKA

A Nov. 8 summit hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources will focus on building partnerships to spur growth in Nebraska. The summit will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S. 13th St., Lincoln. All are welcome.

The theme for the summit is "Growing Nebraska: Leveraging Partnerships, Programming and Research." Through a series of fast-paced presentations and interactive sessions, the summit will focus on creating a better quality of life, educating tomorrow's leaders, igniting a passion and feeding a growing world.

"This will not be a sit-on-your-hands-and-get-talked-at type of conference," said IANR Harlan Vice Chancellor Mike Boehm. "Nov. 8 will be a full day of provocative speakers, group engagement and participation. Our hope is that participants will join together to find sustainable solutions, while thinking globally and acting locally."

The summit is free, and lunch is included. Space is limited. To learn more and register, visit http://go.unl.edu/growingnebraska.



Local Omaha Groups, Businesses Call on Tyson Foods to Cut Pollution

Omaha will officially join the nation-wide campaign to hold America’s largest meat company accountable for the widespread water pollution affecting states from the Heartland to the Gulf of Mexico on October 11, 2017.

25 groups that represent Nebraska’s business, agricultural, and environmental communities will be releasing a letter calling on the CEO of Tyson Foods to fulfill his sustainability promises by adopting specific practices that would reduce water pollution and protect natural landscapes across the country.

This letter comes in response to a report released earlier this summer linking America’s largest meat companies to the largest Dead Zone on record in the Gulf of Mexico, in addition to a variety of other environmental and public health issues in the U.S.

Pollution from raising meat is contaminating drinking water across the Midwest, and flowing downstream along the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico where it causes a massive dead zone each year.

The bulk of this pollution comes from the vast quantities of animal feed produced to raise meat, and water pollution from many of these processes is “one of America’s most widespread, costly, and challenging environmental problems,” according to a report from the EPA.

As the largest meat producer in the U.S., Tyson has a unique opportunity to reduce the environmental consequences of meat and lead the industry toward a more sustainable future.





Grow by FarmHer is Hitting the Midwest

October 10th, 2017) The excitement of the “Grow by FarmHer” events continue into year three, covering more states in the Midwest. “Grow by FarmHer” is a series of events designed to inspire, educate and empower young women in agriculture, ages 16 to 22, to take an active role in leading the industry and pursue their passion for agriculture through their future careers as professionals and producers.  A dynamic lineup of speakers, and FarmHers, will travel to each event during the “Grow by FarmHer” road trip. The speakers include Cristen Clark, pig farmer and food blogger at ‘Food and Swine;’ dairy farmer, Carrie Mess, an advocate for agriculture through her blog ‘Dairy Carrie;’ and Natalina Sents, who just completed the 50 state ‘Why I Farm’ road trip, covering the stories of agriculture. The event will also host a ‘Women Leading the Way’ luncheon where attendees converse in small groups successful women in agriculture. New to Grow by FarmHer this year, the ‘Networking Hour’ will give attendees the opportunity to make connections and create lasting relationships.

“Our goal with the Grow series of events is to show young women hat they can do anything they set their mind to,” said Marji Guyler-Alainz, President and Founder of FarmHer. “Through FarmHer we live the motto, if you can see it, you can go be it, and that is exactly what the Grow series will show these women who will play a significant role in the future of agriculture. By bringing together successful women in the industry today with the next generation of leaders, we aim to help these young women ‘Grow’ as a FarmHer.”

Whether Grow participants are looking to expand their interests in agriculture, continue their education in the many diverse ag-related majors, or are wondering what their future career opportunities might be, this event is a great way to connect with mentors and the women who are leading in agriculture.

These events will take place at Iowa State University on Monday, November 6; the University of Minnesota on Tuesday, November 7; and the University of Wisconsin- Madison on Thursday, November 9. A limited number of tickets are now available for each event at a cost of $35 per individual and $30 per person in a group of four or more.

Registration is now open at GrowByFarmHer.com and will close October 15. For updates, follow @FarmHer1 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.



Growth Energy Announces More than 1,000 Fuel Stations Offering E15 in U.S.

Growth Energy announced that more than 1,000 fuel stations around the country are offering E15—a fuel with 15 percent ethanol—more than doubling the number of stations from the same time last year.

“This spectacular growth is a testament to the value E15 brings to fuel retailers and consumers,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Forward-thinking retailers have figured out that giving their customers more fuel choices is smart business and American drivers have figured out that E15 allows them to save money at the pump all while making a smarter choice for their engines and the environment.”

E15 is cleaner and cooler burning fuel that works well for cars model 2001 and newer and typically saves up to 10 cents per gallon. More and more retailers are responding to consumer demand for those fuel attributes by providing E15 as a choice at their pumps.

Leading retailers including Casey’s, Cenex, Family Express, Kum & Go, Kwik Trip, MAPCO, Minnoco, Murphy USA, Protec Fuel, QuikTrip, RaceTrac, Sheetz, and Thorntons all currently offer E15 at 1,039 locations across the U.S. Many of these are in major metropolitan areas including: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.



Secretary Perdue to Travel to Europe

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will make his first official visit to Europe October 12th-18th to participate in the G-7 Agriculture Ministers Meeting in Bergamo, Italy, deliver remarks at the World Food Day observance in Rome, and engage in policy dialogue with his counterparts in London and Madrid.

“The European Union consistently ranks among the United States’ top agricultural export markets, and it is the world’s largest importer of food and farm products,” Perdue said. “We value our close relationship with our European partners, but there is work to be done to address the numerous trade barriers U.S. exporters face in that market.”

Perdue will begin his trip October 12th in London, where he is scheduled to meet with Michael Gove, Britain’s Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, as well as with members of House of Commons’ Committee on Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.

October 14th-15th, Perdue will take part in the G-7 ministerial, which will focus on issues including rural development, risk management, disaster resiliency, and food security. The Secretary will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other G-7 nations to discuss trade matters important to U.S. agriculture.

Perdue will then travel to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, where he and the other G-7 agriculture ministers will join Pope Francis at the World Food Day observance on October 16th.

Perdue’s trip will conclude in Madrid, where he will meet with Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food, and Forestry Isabel Garcia Tejerina on October 17th.



Brazil Forecasts Near-Record Soybean, Corn Crops in 2017-2018 Growing Season

Brazilian farmers are expected to produce near-record harvests of soybeans and corn in the 2017-2018 growing season, official crop agency Conab said Tuesday.

The soybean crop will be in a range from 106 million metric tons to 108.3 million metric tons, the second-largest amount ever after the 114.1million metric tons grown in the 2016-2017 season. The area planted with soybeans will be about 2.7% greater in 2017-2018, but productivity is expected to decline after the excellent weather conditions in 2016-2017, Conab said.

Brazil's mild weathers permit its farmers to grow two crops per year, with many, but not all, choosing to plant soybeans first, then corn. The country's total corn harvest, combining production from both crops, will come in at between 92.2 million metric tons and 93.6 million metric tons in 2017-2018, after output of 97.8 million metric tons in 2016-2017, Conab said.



Pork Industry's Sustainable Expansion
Chris Hurt, Purdue University

The pork industry has been in expansion now for three years dating back to 2014 when the PED virus reduced pork supplies and sent hog prices to record highs. After an initial surge of breeding herd expansion of two to three percent three years ago, that expansion has been steady at between 1.2 and 1.5 percent for the past four quarters. States with the most robust expansion over the past three years as measured by the largest increases in breeding herd animals include: Missouri +50,000; South Dakota +40,000; Texas +35,000; Illinois +30,000; North Carolina +30,000 and Oklahoma +25,000.

The good news is that a breeding herd expansion of about one percent is sustainable. This means that pork supplies will grow at two percent a year, or maybe slightly higher. This is about the same rate that consumption is increasing. So with the current rate of expansion, hog prices would be expected to stay near levels that are reasonably close to total costs of production.

Pork supplies this fall are expected to be about three percent higher than year-previous levels. In the first three quarters of 2018, pork supplies are expected to be up about two percent.

Live hog prices are expected to average in the mid $40s in the final quarter of this year and then move upward to the higher $40s in the first quarter of 2018. Prices are expected to rerun to the mid-$50s in the second and third quarter next year and then be back around the mid $40s in the final quarter.

For calendar year 2017, prices are expected to average about $50 on a live weight measure. For 2018, current futures estimates are for hogs to be about $1 higher, near $51. Production is anticipated to rise by 2.4 percent in 2018 and that would generally mean slightly lower prices. However, strong pork demand and reduced packer margins may help bolster hog prices somewhat above those of 2017.

While hog prices may be somewhat higher in 2018 compared to 2017, feed costs may also be somewhat higher. Current estimates suggest that the U.S. farm price of corn for calendar year 2017 may average about $3.38 per bushel. That is the lowest calendar year price since 2006. My estimate for calendar year 2018 is currently higher at $3.60. The $3.60 estimates is based on current corn futures prices where there is a high level of futures carry. This simply means that the market is providing higher prices in the future to provide a sufficient financial incentive for market participants to store corn. The reason for the large futures carry is the surplus corn inventory. Large surpluses do not sound like a reason to think corn prices should be higher next year. The point is that while forward prices in futures markets suggest corn prices will be rising over the next two years, the ultimate price levels may not rise as much if surplus inventories continue.

Expected soybean meal prices based on current futures suggest that Decatur hi-protein meal will average about $325 a ton in calendar year 2018 compared to $315 in 2017. So, meal is also expected to be somewhat higher in 2018 on a calendar year base.

What do estimated returns look like for 2017 and 2018 for average costs farrow-to-finish production? Right now, returns in 2017 and 2018 are expected to be similar. For 2017, live hog prices are expected to be near $50 per live hundredweight with costs about $1 less. For 2018, costs are expected to rise about $1 per hundredweight with hog prices up about the same amount. The bottom line is that annual estimated average returns will be about $2 per head above all costs in both 2017 and again in 2018. Of course, many events in 2018 could change that near equilibrium situation.

The pork industry continues to expand the breeding herd to meet new packer capacity, but is doing so in an orderly way, at least so far. Pork consumption is growing as well with expansion in both the domestic and the export sectors. This means the industry can grow at a rate of two to three percent per year and not generate excess supplies that would depress prices below costs of production. This is consistent with the current one percent growth rate of the breeding herd.

While pork demand growth has supported the expansion of the recent steady breeding herd expansion, there are a couple of issue to remember. The first of these is that export sales have to continue growing. There are many things that can disrupt this growth and unfortunately, those include trade issues that could harm U.S. agriculture. Those start with NAFTA negotiations currently underway. As a reminder, Mexico and Canada have purchased 41 percent of our total pork exports so far this year. Concerns over trade with South Korea and China have also been in the news with those two countries representing an additional 19 percent of our pork exports so far this year.

With feed prices expected to stay moderate for the fourth year in a row in 2018, pork producers may be getting complacent as lower feed prices become the new norm. Producers can lock in these low prices for much of the coming 12 months. While world inventories of grains and oilseeds are abundant now, short yields in a major growing region can still have an upward impact on feed prices. Owning cash corn inventory and covering some meal feeding needs feels like a prudent strategy during this fall's harvest.



ASA Opens CEO Search Following Censky’s Departure
With today’s swearing-in of Steve Censky as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, the American Soybean Association officially opens the search for its next chief executive officer, ASA President Ron Moore said today.

“ASA has been a constant voice for soybean farmers, and as we approach our centennial, we will need a steady, assertive and visionary hand at the helm of our association. We have put a national search framework in place to search for the most qualified candidates from both inside and outside the industry, and we will begin reviewing materials from those candidates immediately,” said Moore.

ASA has retained Hedlin Ag Enterprises to receive resumes from interested candidates and lead the ASA Search Committee through the search and interview process. Those interested in the position can view a description and submit materials by clicking here.

Censky officially departs ASA today after 23 years, 21 of which he spent as head of the organization. Moore said that while bittersweet, the process of carrying the industry forward must continue without interruption.

“We can’t thank Steve enough for the legacy he leaves here at ASA. We are a more effective and representative advocate for soybean farmers because of him,” added Moore. “He leaves big and well-worn shoes to fill—this isn’t an easy job, but it’s a rewarding one. We look to the candidates for the CEO position to bring their innovation and experience and novel concepts for advancing the soybean industry to us.”



CWT Assists with 961,216 Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted five requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold), and Tillamook County Creamery Association that have contracts to sell 740,753 pounds (336 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese as well as 220,462 pounds (100 metric tons) of butter to customers in the Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from October 2017 through January 2018.

So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 55.558 million pounds of American-type cheeses, and 4.556 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) to 21 countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 615.303 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program in the long term helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively affects all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.



2017 NIAA Antibiotic Symposium to Feature Dr. Laura Kahn on Antibiotic Stewardship, Sustainability and Uncertainty

“When antibiotic resistance is viewed using the One Health concept, linking human, animal and environmental health, as a framework, the issue becomes more complicated than what we initially thought,” says Laura H. Kahn, MD, MPH, MPP, FACP, Research Scholar, Princeton University and one of the keynote speakers at the upcoming NIAA Antibiotics Symposium.

Antibiotic Stewardship: Collaborative Strategy for Animal Agriculture and Human Health is the theme for the 7th Antibiotic Symposium presented by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA), once again bringing together all sectors of the animal food production industry and partners in human medicine and public health. This year’s Symposium will be held October 31-November 2, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency Dulles, Herndon, VA.

Dr. Kahn is a Co-Founder of the One Health Initiative, author of “One Health and the Politics of Antimicrobial Resistance” and a Research Scholar for the Program on Science and Global Security, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

“There are completely unexpected findings that should make us all give pause to what we are doing,” says Dr. Kahn.

Antibiotics are important to human health because they are the foundation of modern medicine. Without the ability to treat bacterial infections, elective surgeries and other treatments would be too risky to be considered. Agriculture is the foundation of civilization itself, and modern animal agriculture is dependent on antibiotics.

“The environmental portion is also huge,” says Dr. Kahn. “Most of our antibiotics come from soil microbes and we don’t know what goes on in the soil. Most soil microbes cannot be grown in the laboratory. So instead, scientists extracted DNA directly from the soil to see what was going on. What they found was astonishing: antimicrobial resistance genes were everywhere and appear to be ancient. Also, we have discovered that our bodies have more microbial cells than human cells. We have been overusing antibiotics and have been changing the microbial ecosystems in our bodies and on the planet.”

Dr. Kahn recommends using new technologies to better understand the etiology and epidemiology of antimicrobial resistant microbes by using whole genome sequencing of these bacteria instead of simply tracking resistance genes. Trying to figure out how resistant bacteria are related to each other by only looking at their resistance genes, Dr. Kahn says, is like putting a bunch of red headed people together in a room and trying to figure out how they are related to each other based on their hair color. It simply cannot be done.

We need to look at the entire genome of the organism,” she says, “and when you do that, some very unexpected findings appear.” Before 2008, it was too difficult and too expensive to do whole genome sequencing. Now, some hospitals are starting to do whole genome sequencing surveillance to obtain a better picture of what’s going on.

Ultimately our dependence on antibiotics is a problematic strategy, according to Dr. Kahn, who feels antibiotics may have to “go by the wayside.”

“No one in medicine or agriculture wants to hear that,” she admits. “After all, what’s going to replace them?”

There are options. Dr. Kahn notes that bacteriophages, which are tiny viruses, are the natural foe of bacteria. They’ve likely been at war with each other since the dawn of microbial life on the planet. “There was interest in phages in the early 20th century,” says Dr. Kahn. “but phages are hard to isolate and difficult to use. Interest in them essentially vanished when antibiotics came on the scene because they were easier to use and effective.”

Bacteriophages (a.k.a. “phages”) require precise diagnostic capabilities that we don’t currently have, says Dr. Kahn. Their use would mean that the practice of medicine would have to change and agriculture would have to adapt, too.

“In the end, however, their use would be more sustainable,” she says.

Asked what the timeline for finding a solution to antibiotic resistance might be, Dr. Kahn cites a 2016 report from Great Britain that estimates that currently at least 700,000 people die each year from antimicrobial resistant complications and could increase in 30 years to 10,000,000 deaths annually around the world. Obviously, human and animal health need to find a solution before we get to that number.

For more information or to register for the 2017 NIAA Antibiotic Symposium, go to NIAA’s website, www.animalagriculture.org. Early bird registration discounts apply until October 13th.



Less Than 1 Week Left to Make Your Nominations for ASA Awards

Don't wait to recognize an outstanding soy grower for an award--there's less than one week left to get your nominations in. As part of a re-envisioned Recognition Awards Program, the American Soybean Association (ASA) has an exciting new line-up of award categories for 2018. ASA’s three new awards provide expanded opportunities to recognize state association volunteerism, more current top leadership achievements and those who have made long-term, significant contributions to the soybean industry. The Recognition Awards categories are:
-    ASA Outstanding State Volunteer Award–Recognizes the dedication and contributions of volunteers in any area of the state association operation.
-    ASA Distinguished Leadership Award –Distinguished and visionary leadership of ASA or a state soybean association is recognized with this award to either a soybean grower-leader or association staff leader with a least five-years of leadership service.
-    ASA Pinnacle Award–An industry-wide recognition of those individuals who have demonstrated the highest level of contribution and long-term leadership within the soybean family and industry.

For more information about each of the award categories see the 2018 ASA Recognition Awards flyer.

All nomination forms must be submitted online. The deadline for submission is Oct. 16, 2017 at midnight. For more information and to view the nomination forms, click here. Anyone may complete and submit a nomination form. No self-nominations will be accepted.

Recipients will receive their awards at the ASA Awards Banquet on Feb. 28, 2018 in Anaheim, Calif. at Commodity Classic. Winners will be notified in advance and provided with financial assistance to attend.



Farmers Edge and Planet Partner to Change Global Agriculture Using Daily Satellite Imagery and Real-Time Big Data Insights

Farmers Edge™, a global leader in decision agriculture, announced today a strategic partnership to bring Planet's best-in-class global monitoring data and platform capabilities to the Farmers Edge precision agriculture product suite. Planet is an integrated aerospace and data platform company that operates the world's largest fleet of earth imaging satellites, collecting the largest quantity of earth imagery. Farmers Edge is now a sole distributor for Planet in key agricultural regions, with the right to use and distribute high-resolution, high-frequency imagery from Planet's three flagship satellite constellations.

Through this multimillion-dollar, multi-year global distribution agreement, Farmers Edge and Planet are significantly expanding their existing partnership. The companies will deliver the vanguard of remote sensing driven and analytics-based agronomy services to growers worldwide. Farmers Edge customers will be among the first to take advantage of field-centric, consistent, and accurate insights from satellite imagery. While traditional imagery products provide only a partial, delayed, or inconsistent view of fields, this partnership equips Farmers Edge growers with comprehensive, high-quality field imagery more frequently updated than any other company in the industry.

"Until now, the challenge with satellite imagery was the data was simply not frequent enough to react to crop stress in a timely manner," said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. "At Farmers Edge, providing our customers with the most concise, comprehensive, and consistent data is at the core of what we do. We understand the need for more image frequency, that's why we are partnering with Planet. Daily imagery is a game-changer in the digital ag space."

The combination of Planet's unprecedented data set and Farmers Edge state-of-the-art image processing technology allows for early crop monitoring and gives growers the best opportunity to correct factors that could limit crop performance and compromise yield potential. Growers will now have a wealth of field-centric data updated throughout the growing season, including early monitoring of crop stand, detection of pest and weed pressure, drainage issues, hail damage, herbicide injuries, nutrient deficiencies, yield prediction and more.

"Farmers Edge is consistently at the cutting edge of innovation in agricultural technology, and we're proud to expand our partnership with them as we work to improve profitability, sustainability, and efficiency for the world's producers," said Will Marshall, CEO of Planet. "The challenges faced by the agriculture industry are complex in nature and global in scale, and we believe our data is uniquely positioned to solve agricultural challenges."

"Retailers, co-ops, equipment dealers, agronomists, and all other important advisors to the farmer can now partner with Farmers Edge and leverage this industry changing capability within their business," said Ron Osborne, Chief Strategy Officer of Farmers Edge. "We're pleased to be able to help so many in our industry manage risks, in near real-time. This is great for our customers, our partners, and agriculture."