rural broadband

Florida Senate Backs Effort to Expand Broadband?

Dan Florida, High-Speed Internet/Broadband, Legislative, Regulation, Technology

The Florida Senate on Thursday (Mar. 3, 2022) unanimously passed a proposal that would create a framework to help expand broadband into underserved areas. Linked bills (SB 1800 and SB 1802), sponsored by Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, would establish a program to replace poles to help extend broadband. Sen. Loranne Ausley, a Tallahassee Democrat whose district includes sprawling rural areas, …

program

Program Working to Deliver State-of-the-Art Plant Science Technology

Dan Research, Technology, This Land of Ours, USDA-NRCS

The program working to deliver state-of-the art plant science technology to meet identified conservation needs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Brooksville Plant Materials Center is one of 25 Plant Material Centers, strategically located throughout the nation, that are working to deliver state-of-the-art plant science technology to meet identified conservation needs. Located just north of Brooksville, Florida …

broadband

Florida Lawmakers Talk Broadband and Immigration

Dan Florida, High-Speed Internet/Broadband, Labor and Immigration, Legislative, Regulation

Lawmakers Look to Boost Broadband in Rural Areas (NSF/TALLAHASSEE/January 24, 2022) — Florida lawmakers are looking to use at least $400 million in federal stimulus money to to help broadband providers expand services to mostly rural, underserved areas. But don’t expect to see the money reduce rates for customers. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on Monday unanimously supported measures …

driverless technology

Driverless Technology Rapidly Rolling Toward Reality

Dan Citrus, Field Crops, Nursery Crops, Research, Research, Specialty Crops, Technology

What would have been seen as science fiction a decade ago is quickly becoming reality. In December, autonomous trucking startup TuSimple completed a truck run on the open road without a human in the vehicle. The 80-mile trip on surface roads and highways in Arizona between a rail yard in Tucson and a distribution center in Phoenix was completed successfully. According to …

Deere Introduces First Fully Autonomous Tractor

Dan Technology

Deere and Company helped mechanize agriculture with the first commercially successful steel plow in 1837. They recently went in a different direction by unveiling another transformative machine: a fully autonomous john deere tractor. Wired says the new 8R tractor uses six pairs of cameras and advanced artificial intelligence to navigate its environment. It can find its way to a field …

data

How to Own Your Data and Profit From It

Dan Citrus, High-Speed Internet/Broadband, Technology

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, data derived from farms might be more valuable than the crops growers produce. That’s because farmers can make money from their information when companies use it for other purposes, says a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientist. The key for producers is to take ownership of their information. …

agriculture

Lasers May Be the Future of Weed Control

Dan Carbon Robotics, Technology

Carbon Robotics is working on what may be the future of weed control in agriculture. They’re building a rectangular vehicle a little smaller than a compact sedan, which rolls across farmland. While it’s moving, the vehicle shoots concentrated bursts of infrared light into the rows. Observers hear audible crackles and get the distinct smell of burning vegetation as weeds smolder …

bankers

USDA-NRCS Providing Technical and Financial Assistance

Dan Economy, Technology, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invites agricultural producers and private landowners to learn more about the various programs they offer. NRCS Chief Terry Cosby says through many of the programs they offer both technical and financial assistance. And NRCS accepts applications for its conservation programs year-round. To learn more, contact your local USDA Service Center, or go to the NRCS website.

CNH Industrial

CNH Industrial Announces agreement with Electric Tractor Company

Dan Economy, Technology

CNH Industrial announced last week an agreement with Monarch tractor, a U.S.-based company specializing in electric autonomous tractors. The license agreement foresees the launch of a scalable, modular electrification platform focusing on low horsepower tractors. The tractors will be developed across multiple product families in the coming years, using a process that continuously gathers farmers’ input to meet customer needs. …