The Gravel Road - Issue 1

Welcome to the Gravel Road. Where we pay attention to the farmers, ranchers, and producers Big Ag likes to ignore. We think you're the best looking person in here...

Here's what we have this week:

• Artificial Intelligence meets beekeepers

• Sci-fi weeders

• Alternative product ideas

• Lamb marketing

GM INVESTS IN BEE START-UP

You may have heard that pollinators, such as honeybees, have been in decline in recent years. Much of this population pressure is caused by pesticide use and climate change. Yields of all crops, but especially fruit and nut bearing crops, are being negatively impacted. This is a global concern, since approximately 70% of all food grown requires pollination from bees.

Couple that with consumer demand for honey being at an all-time high in 2021, and....

This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI), Silicon Valley, General Mills, produce farmers, and beekeepers all meet up.

To help combat this growing problem, BeeHero (a tech startup) recently raised $42M from the likes of General Mills and ADM to fund their R&D.

BeeHero uses data analytics and AI to monitor growers' crop development and beekeeper's hive health and activity. Consumers are increasingly demanding retail food products from bee-friendly farms, so this technology will help food manufacturers source sustainable products to stock store shelves.

Here's more info to nerd out on bees.

ROBOT WEEDERS

Ever wanted a Roomba for your crops? Well, you're in luck.

This Autonomous Weeder uses lasers to weed your crops while you sleep.

Tech company Carbon Robotics is striving to provide solutions for producers' growing challenges of labor shortages and high-labor costs. They use Artificial Intelligence (AI) on their robots to work autonomously (set it and forget it) or as an assist for the more traditional pull-behind models.

Many specialty crops, as well as organic produce, is highly labor intensive due to the inability to use conventional, chemical based herbicides. Historically, human labor has been used to eliminate weeds, but labor is becoming increasingly difficult to find. These challenges is where Carbon Robotic's LaserWeeder idea came from.

The goal is to improve crop quality, provide safer working conditions for farmers, reduce overall costs, and create sustainable paths for regenerative and organic farming.

Watch it in action here.

The Gravel Road's discount version may not be as effective...

THIS WEEK'S EDITION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Every person living outside the city limits ought to have some diesel powered help. It's 2022, stop doing back-breaking manual labor on your property.

Get expert advice, world-class service, and the right equipment for your needs by talking with the team at Helget Equipment.

Your kids and chiropractor will thank you.

SEEDS

• Diversify what you bring to the next Farmer's Market with these ideas. Think about what you can sell that isn't seasonal and you can expect a more consistent income stream.

• Lamb is not a commodity traded on the CBOT, so as a producer you need to think creatively on how and when you market your lambs. Usually, the local sale barn is where you can expect to receive the least amount for your hard work, so put in some effort when planning for next year's lamb crop to boost your profits.

• Are you in charge of your local Farmer's Market? Or do you know who is? Help them create the ideal atmosphere, logo, bonus events, and marketing strategy to help increase foot traffic for yours and other vendors' booths.

MEME OF THE WEEK

That's a wrap, folks.

Share with your friends and let us know what topics you want to see covered in future editions.