If your primary vision of a family farmer is someone dressed in overalls and carrying a pitchfork, you are in for a stark awakening on March 21-22.
That’s when dozens of companies, organizations and farmers will showcase some of the latest innovations in equipment and farming practices — everything from a robotic milking system to a self-propelled sprayer that enables precise product placement, along with tractors, harvesters, balers and more on the National Mall. The “Celebration of Modern Agriculture” is hosted in collaboration with National Ag Day activities, along with the Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Summit.
“The key to sustainably providing food for the future is through science, technology and innovation,” says Nick Tindall, AEM senior director of regulatory affairs and ag policy, who has been coordinating the event. “This is a chance to dispel many of the myths surrounding modern-day agriculture.”
Today’s farm equipment usually involves sophisticated computers which analyze data to track locations on a field and precisely apply nutrients or herbicides at the exact location needed. The National Mall display will include not only big and small tractors, but innovations in combines, seed traits, aerial application, data management, in-field conservation practices, new biobased products and much more.
“Bringing the agriculture community together around National Ag Day to tell this important story could not happen at a more critical time, as USDA is in the process of developing its Climate-Smart Agriculture & Forestry Partnership Program and environmental sustainability continues to be hotly debated in Congress and the media,” said Tindall. “Highlighting how innovation enables sustainability will be vital to ensuring policies allow farmers and ranchers to produce and innovators to innovate.”
The Celebration of Modern Agriculture will take place outside USDA headquarters between the Smithsonian Museums and will feature America’s farmers, ranchers and agriculture innovators talking about cutting-edge of science and technology. There will be a short program to celebrate National Ag Day at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 22. For a full list of exhibitors and a map, click here.
“Ag on the Mall’ is a great opportunity to showcase how AGCO is helping farmers develop more productive, efficient, and sustainable practices to feed a rapidly growing world,” said Robert Crain, AGCO senior vice president of customer experience and AEM chair. “Visitors will see revolutionary products that have won awards for engineering excellence. And we’re very excited to demonstrate our Project Xaver Planting Robot concept, which represents the industry’s most cutting-edge autonomous technology as AGCO leans into the future of farming.”
Equipment and other technology exhibits will be provided by:
- AGCO
- Bridgestone
- Case IH
- CLAAS
- DeLaval
- GEA
- John Deere
- Kubota
- Kuhn
- Mahindra
- New Holland
- Topcon
Grower, ag products and science exhibits will be provided by:
- AgGateway
- Agricultural Retailers Association
- Alliance for Science
- American Farm Bureau Federation
- American Seed Trade Association
- American Soybean Association
- Clean Fuels Alliance America
- Corn Refiners Association
- CropLife America
- FFA
- Growth Energy
- National Ag Aviation Association
- National Corn Growers Association
- National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
- National Hemp Association
- National Wheat Growers Association
- North American Millers Association
- Plant Based Products Council
- The Fertilizer Institute
- United Soybean Board
- USA Rice Federation
For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com
