Posted May 14, 2014
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has joined AgGateway, a nonprofit organization for
data and eBusiness in agriculture, according to a press release available here. AgProfessional also reported on the story here.
“Our farmers are continually seeking better tools to
increase profitability, and there are multiple exciting projects at AgGateway
designed to improve how farmers use data to meet that goal,” said AFBF director
of Public Policy Mary Kay Thatcher. “We
look forward to participating in and supporting the efforts that will make it
easier for farmers to use data, and in a secure and safe way.”
AgGateway Executive Vice President and COO Wendy Smith
said that AgGateway is focusing on issues to improve the ability of systems and
equipment to exchange data, data privacy, ownership, and security.
One project AgGateway is working on is the Standardized
Precision Ag Data Exchange (SPADE) Project, to address “the problem of moving
data from machine systems to farm management information systems (FMIS) and to
other FMIS so that the farmer and ag retailer can improve decision-making and
improve productivity.”
Agricultural data analysis and use has generated
increasing interest by producers and companies and concerns over privacy and compatibility
issues. The
American Soybean Association recently joined the Ag Data Working group in
an effort to resolve some of those issues.
For more information on biotechnology, please visit the
National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
