WILMAR — Electric tractors, robotic feeding systems for beef and dairy herds, drones that spray pesticides on fields, machines that use infrared energy to dehydrate food waste and “upcycle” it for human food or process it into biodegradable alternatives to plastic.
The use of technology in agriculture was on full display Tuesday as Minnesota State University’s Minnesota West Technology Campus and the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission hosted their annual “Partners in Agriculture” conference on the Willmar campus.
Innovation and entrepreneurship will also be on display.
You can find both in west-central Minnesota. Samantha VanHeuveln of Kerkhoven shared how she and her husband, Clinton, grew their business, K & S Poultry and Meats.
Samantha VanHeuveln of K & S Poultry and Meats spoke at the 2024 Partners in Agriculture conference in Willmar on June 18, explaining how she and her husband, Clinton, have expanded their meat processing operation in Kerkhoven.
Tom Cherveny/West Central Tribune
What started as a small room where they slaughtered their own chickens has now grown into a licensed, government-inspected meat processing plant that processes not only chicken, but also beef and pork.
Erin Lucas talks about the businesses she co-owns and operates with partner Mateo McBee in St. Joseph, Minn., called Flour and Flower and The Krewe. The couple also now devote their time and energy to The Land in rural Spicer, according to a presentation at the 2024 Partners in Agriculture conference in Willmar on June 18.
Tom Cherveny/West Central Tribune
A desire for social justice motivated chef/partners Erin Lucas and Matteo McBee to co-found two businesses in St. Joseph: Lucas runs Flour & Flower in St. Joseph, making pies and pastries for takeout, while McBee, a Cajun chef with roots in New Orleans, serves up a wide range of cuisine at his St. Joseph restaurant, The Krewe.
Mateo McBee, owner and chef of Crew in St. Joseph, also helps run The Land in rural Spicer, who spoke at the Partners in Agriculture conference in Willmar on June 18.
Tom Cherveny/West Central Tribune
The pair are also currently focusing on “The Land” in rural Spicer. They spoke about farm-to-table dining and McBee’s interest in growing local produce. Plans also include diversifying the site’s popular apple orchard.
Technology plays a big role in the continued evolution of Hanson Silos of Lake Lillian. Founded in the 1920s to build iconic silos, the company is a leading manufacturer of precast concrete bunkers and storage silos.
Mike Hanson, fourth-generation owner of the company, told me about two recent innovations: the company makes automated feeding systems for livestock facilities and “bubbler” or aeration systems for liquid manure that accumulates under buildings. Aeration greatly increases the nutrient value of the manure and reduces odor problems.
Mike Hanson of Hanson Silos in Lake Lillian spoke about his company’s new product during a presentation at the Partners in Agriculture conference June 18, 2024 in Willmar.
Tom Cherveny/West Central Tribune
Environmental conservation and technology are driving forces at Minneapolis-based Net Zero, whose co-founder Sue Marshall said infrared technology allows it to “upcycle” food waste into new products that generate revenue.
She explained how the company’s system can be used to turn spent spirits and beer grain into edible products, including one example of how the grain can be used to make sugar cone-like cups that can be composted or consumed after use.
Net Zero co-founder Sue Marshall spoke Tuesday about her company’s technology, which uses infrared heat to remove moisture from food waste so it can be “upcycled” into ingredients for food, packaging and other products. She was speaking at the Partners in Agriculture conference in Willmar on June 18, 2024.
Tom Cherveny/West Central Tribune
Joseph Encinas of ABC Drone LLC in rural Rochester, Minnesota, demonstrated how his company’s drones can help farmers monitor fields and take over aerial spraying operations. The company’s largest drone can spray 50 acres per hour at two gallons per acre.
The biggest trends in technology on farms are sensors to collect more data for farmers and automation to reduce the need for labor, according to Kurt Yooss, an agriculture instructor at Ridgewater College.
While the conference highlighted new opportunities for agriculture today, it also provided information on some of the contemporary challenges facing agriculture.
Dustin Kotruba of Christianson CPAs and Consultants in Willmar spoke about the many tax issues farmers have to deal with. He warned that tax rates are on the rise. “It’s not likely that the rates will go down and become cheaper,” he said.
Nancy Miller, owner and human resources consultant at Vinna Human Resources in Willmar, outlined the new and expanded responsibilities of employers during a presentation at the Partners in Agriculture conference June 18, 2024 in Willmar.
Tom Cherveny/West Central Tribune
Meeting labor demands has also been a major issue for farmers. Nancy Miller of Vinna Human Resources in Willmar outlined changes and expansions in labor laws. There are few exceptions for farm workers, and the state’s new safe and sick leave, paid family leave and Women’s Economic Security Act have placed new responsibilities on employers.
She urged employers to be diligent in learning about and complying with the current requirements, which she warned would result in significant penalties and be retroactive.
