Simple Mills’ Post

🌐🥩 Fostering Unity in the Beef Supply Chain: A Game-Changer for All! 🤝🐄 👉 Black Box: Strengthening Bonds, Elevating Agriculture: Discover how Black Box is redefining collaboration in the beef industry. Join us in building a connected and thriving supply chain. Together, we elevate Australian agriculture! 🌾🤝 In the world of Australian beef, unity is our strength! 🇦🇺🥩 Black Box is more than just technology; it's a catalyst for building robust relationships across the entire beef supply chain. ✨ The Power of Connection: When farmers, feedlots, and processors come together, magic happens. Black Box facilitates seamless communication, connecting every link in the chain for a more transparent, efficient, and prosperous industry. 👥 Empowering Every Stakeholder: From cattle farmers to processors, Black Box ensures that everyone in the supply chain is on the same page. Right-time data, feedback, and collaboration tools strengthen relationships, leading to a healthier industry overall. 🚀 Why Strong Relationships Matter: 📊 Data-driven decisions are more accurate. 🔄 Workflows become streamlined and efficient. 🌱 Innovation and best practices are shared. 👫 A sense of community and support flourishes. Thanks for the mention @The Land. https://lnkd.in/gmcUCZ8Y #BlackBoxConnections #BeefSupplyChain #UnityInAgriculture #AustralianBeef

Awesome to see public-private partnerships like this coming to life with USDA’s commitment to catalyzing the market-based incentives for impact in agriculture. Ask anyone of the +140 projects in this initiative and they’ll tell you there’s plenty of room for improvements - we agree - but that is the point. From the now 4 projects we’re supporting both directly and indirectly through our services and infrastructure - across row crops, grazing and grassland, and agroforestry- we’re starting to see differentiation and value being created that we believe will be the gold standard for underwriting and rewarding impact in agriculture. There are three common characteristics we see: 1. Economics: Direct payments to farmers and land stewards both on an outcomes and pay for practice (there isn’t a one size fits all incentive) basis that at least meets or goes beyond the cost of adoption and abatement. 2. Science-backed: Rigorous data collection, quantification and verification practices that leads to high integrity environmental claims aligned with latest science and leading standards. 3. Uniqueness and guarantees of origin: buyers and investors want data-backed confidence to know they aren’t inappropriately double-claiming or double-counting the same acres and outcomes. We are here to support those that are interested in moving beyond paper attestations to generate value, mitigate risk and increase operational efficiencies when it comes to generating/trading/claiming environmental assets in ag.

With the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's #CattleCon25 right around the corner, I loved seeing the discussion Nicole Buckley Biggs, PhD had with Sarah Mikesell about the opportunities ranchers have with corporate sustainability, specifically carbon insetting programs. One of Nic's responses stood out to me—specifically her answer to the question of whether producers should view corporate sustainability programs as added revenue streams. She shared: "This is a way of diversifying income. Most ranchers are looking for ways to improve profitability. If you are doing things on your ranch to become more sustainable, such as improving genetics, culling practices, or weaning weights, it can mean that you will be paid more for the product that you are selling. It also means the next generation comes into a business with these different income sources and can build resiliency into the business." Thank you, Global Ag Media, for sharing this information with your audience. Full article here (and below) 👉 https://lnkd.in/geJMHDiY

We’re #DFAProud to have taken the stage in Minneapolis at Reuters' Transform Food & Agriculture event with Elanco to highlight how the dairy industry is advancing food sustainability through innovation and partnerships. Jackie Klippenstein, senior vice president and chief government and industry relations officer, joined Katie Cook, Elanco’s vice president of livestock sustainability and U.S. farm animal marketing, to discuss the latest initiatives and products that can help the dairy supply chain reduce, measure and monetize enteric methane emissions, as the dairy industry works toward becoming net neutral by 2050. "Science-based solutions, technologies, and voluntary efforts, like those initiated by several of our farmer-owners in partnership with Elanco, are essential," says Jackie. "By setting proactive sustainability targets, integrating innovative feed enhancements, and helping farmers measure and capture methane reductions, we can make meaningful progress toward reducing our Scope 3 emissions. This is an important story to tell—It's about an industry leaning into its ability to deliver emissions reductions while bringing value to DFA farmer-owners, who have long championed stewardship." Learn more about our farmer-owners' collective efforts >> https://bit.ly/3yX0q4f. #TransformFood

The regenerative livestock industry is expected to grow to $24.27 billion USD by 2033, growing at an estimated rate of 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Land to Market has been facilitating connections for the past five years in helping brands, buyers, and suppliers of livestock products directly supporting land regeneration, representing over $500 million USD of market value. If you are a retailer, brand, or meat buyer looking for sources of verified regenerative supply, don't miss this event! Land to Market is co-hosting an on-farm education event with Caney Fork Farms and Hickory Nut Gap Meats on March 20th. Come learn about land regeneration, meet brands and farmers currently transacting in the marketplace, and see for yourself how you can find value in the regenerative revolution. This event is ideal for retailers and meat buyers looking to source verified regenerative meat at scale. Register here ➡️ ➡️ ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gibfU5Ab. #LandtoMarket #Meat #RegenerativeAgriculture #Agriculture #Regenerative Caney Fork Farms Hickory Nut Gap Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed Verde Farms Anderson Custom MeatsNorth American Meat Institute Savory Institute

Regen ag and brands coming together to generate greater consumer interest in healthy meat. This conference educates the production side of the supply chain. How many, and what kind of "buyers" will be there. Will this attract the retail consumer? The demand by the consumer, through voting with their $$$, is where power rests. How do we make consumers aware the high price of conventional meat is only the tip of the iceberg? Most of the iceberg, the health consequences, are hidden from view. Should the health care industry be invited to participate? Your thoughts? #hiddencostsoffood #healthyfood #foodasmedicine

The immense suffering of dairy cows and their calves is a sad reality of the dairy industry, as well as the struggle and uncertainty facing dairy farmers. Voiceless supported Farm Transitions Australia's commission of a National Dairy Farmer Survey, which spotlighted farmers' challenges and their willingness to consider animal-free and more compassionate futures. ◾️ 36.1% of dairy farmers expressed a willingness to transition away from dairy farming altogether. ◾️ 85% express the urgent need for additional resources to make informed decisions about the future of their farms. ◾️ 37.4% expressed scepticism or uncertainty about the future sustainability of the dairy industry. ◾️ 19% are open to transitioning into horticultural or other business ventures. The overwhelming plea for support from farmers highlights the vital role that education, guidance, and resources play in shaping more compassionate and empathetic futures for dairy cows and dairy farmers. Voiceless is delighted to bolster Farm Transitions Australia's role in offering farmers this support and a resilient and pragmatic roadmap away from animal farming. 🐄🌱💚. To learn more and read the full report, go to: https://lnkd.in/gF3yr3M7.

Reimagining Dairy Farming: Introducing My Method of "Natural Dairy Farming" Excited to share a revolutionary approach to dairy farming that prioritizes both efficiency and animal well-being! This method allows cows and calves to remain together for extended periods, fostering a natural environment that benefits both. My research explores the practical implementation of cow-calf contact while ensuring herd health and milk production. Here's what excites me about this approach: Improved calf development and growth: Calves raised with their mothers exhibit stronger immune systems and better social skills. Reduced stress for cows: Natural mother-calf bonding leads to calmer cows, potentially improving health and milk production. Enhanced animal welfare: This method aligns with growing consumer demand for ethical and sustainable dairy practices. I believe cow-calf contact holds immense potential for the future of dairy farming. In the coming weeks, I'll be sharing my experiences and insights of this method. If you're interested in learning more about cow-calf contact and its potential to transform dairy farming, follow me for updates! #cowcalfcontact #animalwelfare #dairyscience #sustainableagriculture #sustainability #innovation #dairyfarming #dairyveterinarian

Introducing Continuous Improvement on a 10-Generation Farm On behalf of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, I recently had the privilege of working with David Newcombe, one of owners of Cornwallis Farms in Port Williams, Nova Scotia. This 10-generation family farm has recently started placing greater focus on their CI journey, and our work together targeted introducing continuous improvement (CI) tools into their operations. One of the key initiatives we undertook was creating a CTQ (Critical to Quality) tree. We identified that consistency in feed mix was critical to the health and quality of their livestock. However, the precise mixing formula and operation of the extruder was all in David’s head, which posed a risk to the farm’s operations. If David was unavailable, the farm would face significant challenges in maintaining feed quality. To address this, David developed Standard Work procedures for using the Extruder, a critical piece of equipment that cooks soybeans, a major component in their livestock feed mix. By documenting and standardizing this process, David ensured that anyone on the farm could replicate the feed mix accurately, and keep the machine operating as it should, maintaining the high standards necessary for their livestock’s diet. This initiative is just one example of Cornwallis Farm's CI journey. By implementing these practices, they can ensure consistency, improve efficiency, and maintain high-quality standards, even when key personnel are unavailable. It's rewarding for me to be part of their journey, and to see traditional farms like Cornwallis Farm embrace modern CI methodologies to sustain and improve their legacy. #ContinuousImprovement #LeanSixSigma #ProcessImprovement #StandardWork #CIJourney #NSFA

Tapestry Farms is relaunching our subscription produce, or Community Supported Agriculture, service this winter. We're asking our supporters to answer a quick survey to help us create the best possible options. I hope you will take a moment to think things through with us. What is Community Supported Agriculture? It is a partnership between a farm and a community of people who support the farm's operations. Members pay a fee to the farm, either in a lump sum or installments. In exchange, they receive a share of the farm's produce, usually a box of seasonal items like vegetables, fruit, eggs, and more. CSAs benefit both farmers and customers. For farmers, CSAs provide a steady income to support their operations and encouragement in their work. For customers, CSAs provide access to fresh, local produce grown sustainably by people they know. Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/gf5befp3