Latest news with #soilhealth
Entrepreneur
6 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
DeHaat Acquires NEERX to Boost Real-Time Agri Intelligence
Through this acquisition, DeHaat will now offer farmers real-time insights into soil health and weather conditions, aimed at improving agricultural decision-making. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Agritech leader DeHaat has acquired Ahmedabad-based NEERX, a smart farming solutions company, for an undisclosed amount. This strategic move integrates NEERX's advanced real-time soil and weather monitoring technology into the DeHaat platform, significantly enhancing its precision agriculture offerings. Founded in 2019 by Harsh Agrawal and Nikita Tiwari, NEERX is known for its flagship product, SHOOL — an ISRO-validated soil sensor that delivers vital data on soil and crop conditions. The sensor system merges on-ground data with satellite imagery and cloud-based analytics to optimise irrigation, nutrient usage, and crop productivity. Through this acquisition, DeHaat will now offer farmers real-time insights into soil health and weather conditions, aimed at improving agricultural decision-making. The SHOOL sensors and NEERX's analytics platform will be deployed across DeHaat's network, providing actionable recommendations to smallholder farmers. NEERX's founders will join DeHaat to support the scaling of this technology. The move aligns with DeHaat's broader goal of integrating cutting-edge tech into Indian agriculture. Founded in 2012, DeHaat operates from Patna and Gurugram and serves over 12 states with a wide range of agricultural services — including quality input delivery, farm advisory, financial assistance, and market linkages. Its network spans more than 18,000 DeHaat Centres and includes partnerships with over 1,000 agribusinesses. The NEERX acquisition follows DeHaat's purchase of AgriCentral from Olam Agri earlier this year, as the company continues to expand its digital agriculture ecosystem. The latest partnership underscores DeHaat's commitment to data-driven, sensor-based solutions to empower Indian farmers.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ashland County SWCD offers cost share for cover crops - what farmers need to know
As agriculture continues to evolve and new ways of farming are being developed, cover crops have become more and more popular among farmers in Ohio. Studies are showing a little over 80% of no-till farmers in Ohio apply cover crops to fields. When it comes to cover crops, there is a lot of unknowns on how to handle them. Timing is everything. From the moment the seed is planted to the time the plant is terminated it is crucial to have a plan in place to properly manage them. With cover crops becoming more an more common, many questions arise. What should be planted? How should they be terminated? Or will they compete with our cash crops? Many types of cover crops can be used and it is important to plant them according to your needs. Legumes such as clover, alfalfa and winter pea are planted to provide nitrogen to the soil through nitrogen fixation. Other cover crops such as rye, wheat and oats can provide nitrogen as well as potassium and phosphorus to the soil. The thing to remember is cover crops are an investment in the health of the soil. No investment brings instant results or gratification, however, with some time and effort they can bring tremendous results. A healthy cover crop not only provides nutrients to the soil but also maintains soil structure. Additionally we can add that a full cover crop stand can greatly aid in preventing soil erosion. In the same way native grasses hold together a waterway or a tree root system holds together a river bank, cover crop root systems holds the soil together in a field during heavy winds or rain. The root systems greatly improves soil structure and the soils ability to wick away water during a wet season. It is critical to note the cover crops ability to wick away water also can be a disadvantage when experiencing a dry season. We want to make sure there is enough moisture left in the ground to be able to give cash crops a start. Having a plan in place to effectively terminate the cover crops is necessary to help prevent this situation. After the cover crops come up in the spring and it is time to plant the cash crops, it is important to establish a good method of terminating the cover crop. One method is to roller crimp it. By crimping the cover crop once the head fills out, it causes it to die because the stems become crimped and the vascular system is damaged, causing the flow of water up the stem to be disrupted. Roller crimper termination is most effective with cover crops that have straw like stems that hollow out when the head goes to seed. Wheat, barley and rye respond well to a roller crimper whereas clovers do not. Another way to terminate cover crops is to work them in with light tillage such as a discing, shallow plowing, chisel plowing or some form of vertical till. This provides excellent green manure for the soil. Termination by animal grazing is also a great method to take of cover crops. The final termination method involves a chemical burn down on the field to kill the cover crop. Some cover crops such as cereal rye and vetch may benefit from being burned down because of their invasive nature when not completely terminated at the proper time. In the end it is important to take the time to figure out what method of cover crop termination is going to be best for your fields. Our team at the Ashland Soil and Water Conservation is dedicated to helping local farmers thrive on their land. Cover crops are an expense that can be difficult to handle, especially with the rising seed costs and planting costs. This year the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy is offering a cover crop cost share program to help farmers in the watershed manage that cost. The program offers a $12 per acre cost share payment and an additional $10 per acre cost share available for cover crop acres terminated by animal grazing. There is a 175-acre limit for acres that can be approved for the cost share. Farms within the Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill Lake watersheds are automatically approved for cover crop cost share in order to prevent soil erosion into the lakes. In order to apply, all fields must have soil tests taken no earlier than fall. Producers must provide invoices of the seed purchased, and seed tags must be provided to ensure good germination and low weed seed content. If seed tags are not available, the seed will need to be tested by the Ohio Department of Agriculture for weed seed content. Additionally, cover crop plantings are required to follow NRCS standards in order to apply for the cost share. For more information on cover crops, or if you are interested in applying for cover crop cost share call Brennen Hart at Ashland Soil and Water Conservation at 419-289-4828 or come visit our office at 110 Cottage Street Ashland, Ohio 44805. If you are interested in other conservation practices visit Brennen Hart is a soil conservation specialist wit the Asholand County Soil and Water Conservation District. This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland farmers can get help with cover crops at Soil and Water office
Globe and Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Agricultural Micronutrients Market Trends, Growth Drivers, and Future Outlook (2023-2028)
"MarketsandMarkets™" Agricultural Micronutrients Market by Type (Zinc, Boron, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Copper), Mode of Application (Soil, Foliar and Fertigation), Form (Chelated and Non-Chelated Micronutrients), Crop Type and Region The global agricultural micronutrients market was valued at USD 4.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 6.9 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for improved crop efficiency across the agriculture sector. Government policies play a critical role in this market's expansion, as they help address soil nutrient deficiencies that can significantly affect crop yields. Initiatives such as soil testing programs, subsidies for micronutrient use, and farmer education efforts support balanced nutrient management and sustainable farming practices. By integrating micronutrient strategies into broader agricultural and economic policies, governments can enhance soil health, boost productivity, and strengthen food security—key factors for sustaining agriculture and feeding growing populations. Agricultural Micronutrients Market Growth Drivers: Several factors are driving the growth of the agricultural micronutrients market globally: Increasing Food Demand and Crop Productivity Needs: With the global population rising, the pressure to produce more food on limited arable land is immense. Micronutrients help optimize plant growth and maximize yields per hectare. Soil Degradation and Nutrient Deficiency: Intensive farming practices have led to soil nutrient depletion, making micronutrient supplementation essential to replenish the soil and maintain fertility. Rise in Precision Farming and Advanced Agriculture: Technological advancements such as soil testing, nutrient mapping, and precision application of micronutrients are enhancing efficiency and reducing wastage. Growing Awareness and Government Initiatives: Several governments are promoting micronutrient use through subsidies, training programs, and policies aimed at improving agricultural productivity and food security. By Crop Type: Fruits and Vegetables Lead the Agricultural Micronutrients Market The fruits and vegetables segment holds the largest share of the agricultural micronutrients market. This dominance is driven by their essential role in human nutrition and the rising demand for nutrient-dense produce. Micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and manganese are critical for processes like photosynthesis, hormone synthesis, and enzyme activation, directly influencing crop yield and quality. Improved micronutrient availability enhances both the nutritional value and shelf life of fruits and vegetables, reducing food waste and increasing access to healthier produce. Innovations in application techniques—like precision agriculture and foliar spraying—have further optimized nutrient delivery, boosting plant health and productivity. Download PDF Brochure: By Mode of Application: Foliar Spraying Dominates Foliar application is the leading method for delivering micronutrients, owing to its efficiency and precision. It allows nutrients to be absorbed directly through plant leaves, making it especially effective during key growth stages or when rapid correction of deficiencies is needed. This approach enhances nutrient uptake, improves crop health and yields, and minimizes environmental impact through reduced runoff. Its compatibility with other agricultural practices, such as pest and disease control, further strengthens its appeal. Ongoing advancements in foliar formulations continue to enhance nutrient effectiveness and crop outcomes. By Form: Chelated Micronutrients Take the Lead and Show Highest Growth Chelated micronutrients are both the largest and fastest-growing segment in the agricultural micronutrients market. Their chemical structure allows for superior nutrient stability and absorption, resulting in healthier crops and higher yields. Chelation prevents nutrient loss due to soil interactions, ensuring consistent availability to plants. These micronutrients also support plant resistance to pests and diseases, enhancing crop protection. Their eco-friendly nature—requiring lower application rates—aligns with sustainable farming goals. Versatile in use, chelated micronutrients can be applied through foliar sprays, soil treatments, or seed coatings. Continued R&D has led to more efficient formulations, reinforcing their vital role in modern agriculture. Request Sample Pages: Asia Pacific Dominates the Agricultural Micronutrients Market Share. The Asia Pacific region commands the largest share of the agricultural micronutrients market, driven by its rapidly growing population and increasing income levels. This demographic shift has boosted demand for meat and dairy products, fueling significant growth in the livestock sector. Consequently, the need for effective animal nutrition solutions has surged, propelling the demand for agricultural micronutrients. Furthermore, the region's diverse agricultural environment—with major livestock producers such as China and India—strengthens its market position. The widespread adoption of modern farming techniques and heightened awareness about animal health and nutrition have further accelerated micronutrient consumption. Additionally, a robust presence of feed manufacturers alongside a swiftly expanding aquaculture industry in countries like Indonesia and Vietnam adds to Asia Pacific's market leadership. The key players in the market include BASF SE (Germany), Nouryon (Netherlands), Nufarm (Australia), Yara International ASA (Norway), and Coromandel International Ltd. (India). Make an Inquiry: About MarketsandMarkets™ MarketsandMarkets™ has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets™ is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines – TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore™, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts.
Entrepreneur
20-05-2025
- Health
- Entrepreneur
The Architect of Enduring Change: Sadhguru
You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Sadhguru, an Indian guru and founder of the India-based non-profit spiritual organization Isha Foundation, remains undeterred even as much of the world often ignores his urgent warnings - whether concerning our planet's alarming soil degradation or humanity's impending mental health crisis. "Nobody wants to take up something which may take 15 to 20 years to produce real results," he says. "If you increase the GDP, everybody notices it tomorrow morning. But if you increase the soil organic content, plants are happier, animal creatures are happier, you yourself are healthier and better, but you don't notice it." Blending ancient mysticism with modern pragmatism, Sadhguru is guided by a vision that stretches far beyond election cycles or even his own lifetime. His global projects exemplify this dedication, particularly the Miracle of Mind app that offers a seven-minute guided meditation in multiple languages, along with an AI-powered feature that distills his teachings. "The problem right now is that, when something happens, people react in a certain way, but if they gave themselves more reaction time, more thinking before they react to something, a whole lot of things, including suicide and murder, would be down," Sadhguru explains. "Our effort through the Miracle of Mind app is to touch at least 3 billion people in the next 24 months. If 3 billion people close their eyes for seven minutes a day, we will definitely be making a real difference in the world. This is a generational responsibility." Highlighting the urgency, Sadhguru references multiple research studies predicting severe mental health issues, such as that 30-33% of the world's population would be mentally ill by 2050, or that one in three teenage girls in the US are clinically depressed, or that 42% of Europeans over 40 years of age are on some kind of psychiatric medication, or that about 17,600 children below 18 years of age committed suicide in India in 2023 alone. "Also, I was in conversa- tion with the Surgeon General of United States, and he says that one in two Americans is feeling lonely. Loneliness is the incubation period for mental illness. When you start feeling lonely, you're working on it. After some time, you'll graduate into a worse situation," he says. He adds, "Many responsible scientists say that in another 15 to 20 years' time, probably there will not be a single family without at least one person who is mentally ill. That's not a good prospect because after thousands of years of human struggles, we have come to a place where our survival is better organized than ever before, but we are mentally cracking up." Sadhguru and Tamara Pupic, Managing Editor, Entrepreneur Middle East. Source: BNC Publishing The Miracle of Mind app's successful launch, surpassing a million downloads within just 15 hours—quicker than even ChatGPT's initial milestone—demonstrates public eagerness for accessible solutions. Sadhguru emphasizes the key to addressing this crisis lies in understanding that "human experience originates internally." He adds, "Pain and pleasure arise from within us. Joy and misery originate from within us. Agony and ecstasy emerge from within us. In other words, the source of human experience lies within, not in external surroundings. External factors may stimulate us, but the root, the very seat of human experience, is internal. Given that the source of our experience is within, taking charge of it becomes one of our most critical responsibilities—especially at a time when we face a growing threat of widespread mental illness, which could lead to immense individual and societal suffering." Related: From Startups to Self-Care: Why Young Founders Must Prioritize Mental Health Other projects developed from a place of his genuine belief call for an urgent environmental action to address challenges of soil, water and climate change, such as land degradation, water scarcity, agricultural distress, and biodiversity loss. "Soil degradation is very directly connected to mental health, because our health, physical and mental, depends on the strength of the soil," Sadhguru explains. "The food that we eat and the bodies that we carry are all soil. When soil degradation happens, the first thing that happens is that our software starts cracking up. Soil degradation and mental and physical health and not separate issues. It's all about life." Through the Conscious Planet Movement's Save Soil campaign, Sadhguru seeks global mobilization— activating over 4.1 billion people to urge governments to legislate mandatory organic content (a minimum of 3%-6%) in agricultural soils. Although progress varies, Sadhguru remains resolute. "One thing is that the Save Soil movement has definitely changed the narrative on the planet, but is narrative everything? No," he says. "A few countries which are very progres- sive have taken on the soil policy very strongly. Others have made half-hearted changes. Some are committed to making changes. This is the way human beings act. A war comes, an election comes, something else happens, they put these kinds of things on the back burner." One thing is certain- Sadhguru will not give up. He keeps these topics in focus through his regular appearances at the UN and its various entities, the World Economic Forum, or speaking to the world's business community, including the likes of Microsoft, Google, or TED. His massive social media following is not to be underestimated either- 13 million on Instagram, 12.4 million on YouTube, or 10 million on Facebook. "We've crossed the danger mark," Sadhguru reiterates. "We've crossed the red line in many ways, yet we still behave as though everything is fine. Recent studies show that 78% of the world's soil has lost approximately 30% of its moisture, meaning we've destroyed trillions of microorganisms and millions of species. Many people focus solely on saving iconic animals like pandas or tigers—I'm not saying they're unimportant; they're extremely important—but microorganisms form the foundation of life itself. Even our own bodies consist of more than 60% microorganisms. By neglecting this vital layer of life, we're effectively dismantling the very foundations upon which we stand." In addition to looking to institutions or governments for social and environmental betterment, Sadhguru is turning his attention to an immensely powerful group of individuals - entrepreneurs and private sector executives. "In the next 30 to 50 years' time, it is the business leadership that will become the most significant leadership on the planet," he says. "There was a time when religious leadership was the most powerful leadership on the planet, then the military machines, then the democratically elected leaders, but prosperity and well-being to the people will come only from successful businesses. It is very important that we understand that the success of businesses is the success of a nation and success for the people of that nation." Through Isha Foundation, Sadhguru has already established a series of programs for leaders, including the Inner Engineering, a 7-steps online transformative program, and Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya, a 21-minute Yogic process, which both help build foundation of health, joy and exuberance. There is also Isha Insight: The DNA of Success program, a business leadership intensive that explores the science of scaling up one's business and self. But Sadhguru highlights that the foundation's Ecstasy of Enlightenment program serves as a doorway to higher states of conscious- ness that are particularly needed in the business realm. It starts with Sadhguru posing a compelling question- Would you rather live blissfully or miserably? He explains, "Human experience has a chemical basis to it. Bliss, ecstasy, agony, misery, anxiety, stress, or whatever you go through, have a chemical basis. You are not producing blissful chemistry because you have not even read the user's manual of this factory [the brain] to learn how it works, functions." The program derives from scientific research by Isha Foundation and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, that showed that doing simple 21-minute meditation practice for six to 12 weeks leads to brain-derived neurotroph- ic factor (BDNF) [a key molecule involved in plastic changes related to learning and memory] increasing by 70%. "I can teach you to be blissed out all the time," Sadhguru says. "If you're blissed out and your mind is very clear, because there are no anxieties, no stresses, then you conduct your life much more sensibly. Whatever you do in your life, it is a very conscious process. Once you are in a conscious process, you are a far more effective. This must happen to every business, every entrepreneur, because an entrepreneur is an adventurous person, wanting to walk into new terrain. If you are full of stress, new terrain is going to freak the hell out of you, because you are afraid of uncertainties. You will seek the familiar but no great progress will happen then." Ultimately, Sadhguru's vision for business leaders emphasizes shifting from personal ambition to broader, lasting goals. "I would say that in the next probably 15 to 25 years, there could be a significant change how business leaders function. It will not be about how much money they can personally accumulate, but about creating something larger than themselves. That's one of the most significant works for me right now," Sadhguru concludes. 'TREP TALK: Sadhguru's Advice for Entrepreneurs "Taking a break for your inner well-being is not a pause. It is empowerment. If you don't have time to eat your breakfast, lunch, or dinner, tomorrow your ability to work will go down. Similarly, if you don't have time to service the interiors of your life, tomorrow your activity will be much lower. The productivity of a human being depends on how he or she is feeling right now. How pleasant is your experience of life? There's substantial medical and scientific evidence to show that only when you're in pleasant states of experience, your body and brain function at their best. If you want to do well in your business or in your enterprise, your body and brain must function well. It's very important." Related: The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Young Entrepreneurs
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Canterbury dairy farm wins grant for injecting beneficial bacteria and fungi in soil
The farm's managing director Isaac Williams said the grant would cover about a third of the cost of the trial to improve soil health. Photo: SUPPLIED/A2 MILK A Selwyn District farm is defying convention. The 435-hectare Dewhirst Land with 1700 cows useS no synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, mostly diverse pasture species and now it is set to test the use of beneficial bacteria and fungi in the soil. The farm's bid to improve soil health was one of 12 projects in Southland and Canterbury to win up to $35,000 each from A2 Milk Company's Sustainability Fund for 2025. Managing director Isaac Williams said the grant would subsidise about a third of a $90,000 trial which was all about improving soil health. "We've got 40 hectares of paddocks that we'll be taking out and putting in a new pasture and that will be dairy mix from RespondBio," Williams said. "As they are drilling that seed they're also injecting direct pressure injection of living fungi and bacteria into the soil at the same time along with the seed. "They've had some really promising results from the North Island, but nothing in the South Island, so we're really keen to get an understanding of how that works on the Canterbury soils." Once the new planting was carried out around October, coming into spring, the one-year trial would use multi-species diverse paddocks as a control, comparing results with the paddocks injected with bacteria and fungi. The method was considered a way to improve soil health, enhance plant growth and reduce the environmental impact, but using the power of microorganisms to decompose organic matter. Now into the third season without synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, Williams said the farm had better than average pasture yields for Canterbury thanks to careful soil and herbage management with lots of testing along the way. He said testing throughout the year-long trial will be key to gathering evidence about its long-term benefits. "Through that year, after every grading round, we'll do a pasture cut, we'll do a herbage test, a plant sap test and then look at the dry matter yields and obviously plate metering as well. "So we'll start to get a really good feel, and then by the end of the year, we can figure out how much each paddock is giving us and the quality of the feed, and then starting to look at other things as well, like production and how the cows are doing off of it as well." Williams said the new trial will add to other research projects carried out at the farm with support from Synlait and AgResearch into pasture species and reducing fertiliser use. "The soil health, it's ultimately the foundation, the backbone of everything that we do," Williams said. A2 Milk Company chief sustainability officer Jaron McVicar said it was encouraging to see such a diverse range of applications, and the impact the fund was having on-farm. "We've had farmers awarded funding over multiple rounds, building on their projects year-on-year, as well as farmers applying for the first time," he said. "It's great that we can support positive environmental outcomes on-farm for those who are early in their sustainability journey and those who already have long-term plans in place to improve their farming practices." There were 12 farms supplying A2 Milk that were supported in New Zealand by the Fund and seven in Australia, equating to $575,000 in total for this year. Other projects included replacing diesel farm machinery with electric run by solar and building sheds to protect cattle.
