Amid the raging national debate over drones infringing on privacy, some University of Minnesota professors are pushing for heavier use of the technology to advance agricultural research.

Immigration reform and water regulations are typically among the most important matters in American agriculture, but during a recent meeting in Washington, a new, more shadowy issue emerged: growing unease about how the largest seed companies are gathering a vast amount of data from sensors on tractors, combines and other farm equipment.

Aerial Precision Ag has been acquired by RoboFlight Systems Inc., a geo-referenced aerial data company that processes, analyzes, and manages multi-spectral aerial imagery data.

There are some strange things going on right now within the world of precision agriculture. No, I'm not talking about things like zombie controlled tractors or drones that buzz the barnyard at midnight.

If your only experience with growing food is in your garden, on a small scale, you can be forgiven for thinking that farming is a low-tech endeavor.

Farmers from across the nation gathered in Washington this month for what has become an annual trek to seek action on the most important matters in American agriculture, such as immigration reform and water regulations.

The Open Ag Data Alliance (OADA) launched its organization to develop protocols and create security and privacy working groups that collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure farmer peace of mind regarding the protection and use of their data across a broad range of business policies and practices.

Jacob Bolson works full time in agriculture and leverages that training and experience with Knutson Family Farms, which is operated by his in-laws near Hubbard, Iowa.

Current estimates are that the size of the precision agriculture market investments in the U.S. by producers and service providers using precision ag technology will be growing by at least 13 percent per year during the next five years to reach $3 billion to $3.5 billion.

December 9, 2013 — Dawn Equipment, a Sycamore, Ill.-based manufacturer of actively controlled planter attachments, has entered into an agreement with 640 Labs, a Chicago-based agriculture analytics company and manufacturer of the 640 Drive data acquisition device, to provide farmers access to ground hardness data and machine control features of Dawn hydraulic actuation products on an open platform.