farmdoc dailyA few times a year, farmers have to do a dangerous task; go inside large grain bins to take care of their harvest. Last year, more than 30 of them were trapped inside silos in the U.S., according to Purdue University. Two recent grads from the University of Nebraska at Omaha have invented a grain robot that could help farmers improve their crops and never have to go inside a grain bin again. (Illinois Newsroom)
Agriculture giant Cargill Inc. will start selling methane-absorbing wearable devices for cows, putting its support behind an experimental technology that could help the industry cut greenhouse gas emissions. The mask-like accessory was developed by U.K. startup Zelp Ltd., which claims it can reduce methane emissions by more than half. (Bloomberg)
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer saw a significant decline in May, down 20 points to a reading of 158. This marks the lowest reading for the survey since September of 2020. Producers were less optimistic about both current conditions and the future of the agricultural economy. (Feedstuffs)
The U.S. economic recovery is unlike any in recent history, powered by consumers with trillions in extra savings, businesses eager to hire and enormous policy support. The speed of the rebound is also triggering turmoil. The shortages of goods, raw materials and labor that typically emerge toward the end of an expansion are cropping up much sooner. (Wall Street Journal)
With summer right around the corner, most weekends in Bloomington people will see streets blocked off. Instead of traffic, they’re filled with people eating, drinking, and shopping. (WMBD)
As the world begins to migrate away from the horrendous effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the surging costs to procure food around the globe are taking center-stage. From rising raw material inputs to soaring supply-chain expenditures, to penalties being imposed on food manufacturers by retailers; the rush to meet pent up consumer demand is leaving store shelves as bare as they were at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. (Forbes)
