Defining the Ag Data Pipelines
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There are many ways to describe the data that is streaming off the farm today. This post explores five currently accepted categories of ag data and how they are being used.
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The Janzen Ag Tech Blog contains articles about the intersection of agriculture, technology, and law. All articles are original content, authored by attorney Todd Janzen. Subscribe by email at the bottom of this page to receive new posts after they are published.
Interview with Precision Ag about Ag Data Transparency
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While attending Commodity Classic, I did an interview with Matt Grassi at PrecisionAg.com about the Ag Data Transparency Evaluator. Here is an excerpt and link to the full interview.
Read MoreWhen Will Tesla's Electricity Come to the Farm?
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Tesla is revolutionizing the automotive industry. My new office is near a Tesla store so I frequently see the Tesla Model S driving by. For those not acquainted with Tesla, the company builds all-electric cars that have a range of over 250 miles per charge. No complicated hybrid drive. No gas required, ever. I keep wondering when Tesla will step into other markets and more importantly, will agriculture be one of them? This post explores whether the “all-electric” philosophy would work on the farm.
Read MoreThe Ag Data Transparency Evaluator
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The problems farmers have with embracing farm data programs are well documented, but I think it comes down to three things: trust, time, and complexity. Trust--many farmers don't know what happens to their data after they send it to an ag technology provider (ATP). Time--farmers are already busy. Who has time to read detailed privacy policies and data license agreements. Complexity--farm data contracts are different than normal farm contracts.
Read MoreDo Farmers Need Legislation to Protect Their Ag Data?
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Federal legislation often arrives in areas where state laws are so inconsistent that citizens or industries demand uniformity. We have seen this over and over in the history of the United States. For example, we are seeing inconsistent GMO labeling laws prompt a push for a national GMO labeling standard (Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act). GMO proponents would not normally want mandatory labeling, but a patchwork quilt state-regulatory system is much worse. Will the same issues arise with agricultural data?
Read MoreHow a 1940's Chicken Farmer Case Answered: Who Owns the Sky?
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Who owns the air above your farm? Although UAVs have caused many people to ask this question recently, the United States Supreme Court addressed this issue way back in 1946. This post tells the story of chicken farmer that sued the US government because military aircraft were "trespassing" on the airspace above his property.
Read MoreWhat Makes Ag Data "Ownership" Unique
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The concept of ag data “ownership” is not recognized by United States law. Farmers like to say “I own my ag data.” Ag technology companies like to say “the farmer owns their data.” And the industry representatives like to say “the farmer should own their data.” But the reality is that “ownership” is a legal principle that must be recognized by courts or a law, and that has not happened yet in the United States.
Read MoreJanzen Ag Law's Year in Reverse
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As 2015 comes to end, here is a look back at the top five stories from the Janzen Ag Law blog over the past year.
Read MoreThe Janzen Ag Law Blog 3.0
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Five years after I started the Janzen Ag Law Blog, I decided it was time to take a look back at what led to this point. This post looks at the evolution of the blog.
Read MorePrivacy and Security Principles for Farm Data
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It has been nearly a year since American Farm Bureau Federation led a consortium of interested ag technology providers (ATPs) and industry stakeholders in an effort to bring some standards to the growing ag data field. I thought it was worth taking another look at the result of these efforts, the Privacy and Security Principles for Farm Data.
Read MoreHouse Ag Committee Holds Hearings on Farm Data
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The US House Ag Committee recently held hearings on farm data issues, including privacy, security, use and control.
Read MoreFour Takeaways from the Ag Data Platforms Conference
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I recently attended the Precision Ag Data Platforms conference in Champaign, Illinois. Here are my reflections on the state of the ag data platforms industry.
Read MoreMy Top 10 Farm Data Posts
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This recaps ten of my most popular posts about the legal issues surrounding farm data.
Read MoreFAA Issues $1.9M Fine Against Drone Operator
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On October 6, 2015 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an enforcement letter to SkyPan International, Inc. assessing a $1.9 million dollar civil penalty for flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) without permission.
Read MoreDoes Your Lease Address Farm Data?
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I've drafted and reviewed dozens of farmland leases over the years, but I've yet to see a lease that addresses the issues associated with ownership and transfer of farm data. As farmers embrace new data storage and analytic tools, it’s time to modernize the traditional farm lease to address farm data.
Read MoreIs Farm Data a Trade Secret?
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Is a farmer's farm data their trade secret? Is is protected under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act?
Read MoreAg's Junk Data Problem
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The rise of farm data collection programs in the last year has been amazing to watch, but I keep wondering whether some ag technology providers are collecting data regardless of its usefulness.
Read MoreDoes Your Co-op Own Your Farm Data?
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Recently I was asked this question: When a farm cooperative (a “co-op”) does work for a farmer and in the process generates agronomic data, does the co-op own that data or does the farmer? Many in the ag industry like to say “the farmer owns the data,” but the co-op’s generation of farm data presents a more complicated problem.
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All articles on the Janzen Ag Tech Blog are Copyrighted as of the date published by Janzen Agricultural Law LLC. Reprint only with permission.
