Programs loaded with cash for farmer incentives continue popping up, fueled by the Inflation Reduction Act. Are you having a hard time keeping up? Maybe you aren’t sure which programs might fit your farm.

Taranis, Westfield, Ind., introduced Taranis Conservation to streamline access to conservation funding for farmers who qualify. This AI-powered program combines detailed crop intelligence data with expert conservation planning. The goal is to make farmers aware of all programs stemming from the Inflation Reduction Act. Most of these programs are facilitated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Using information from Taranis Intelligence, Taranis Conservation is poised to help growers adopt practices like pest and nutrient management, no-till, cover crops and more, says Tom Buman, Taranis director of sustainability.

“Many farmers are unaware of the vast opportunities available through NRCS-facilitated programs,” Buman says. “Taranis Conservation simplifies the process, connecting growers with these resources and reducing the burden of implementation.” Visit taranis.com to learn more.

Find the C4 switch?

Soybeans, wheat and rice are classified as C3 crops, while corn and sorghum are C4 crops. The difference lies in how efficiently plants perform photosynthesis under dry, hot conditions. If it is hot and dry, C4 plants have the edge.

This isn’t news — agronomists have known it for a long time. However, a discovery made at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif., is news. Using cutting-edge, single-cell genomics technology to compare rice and sorghum cells, researchers discovered that the difference isn’t due to adding or subtracting a gene. Instead, it happens at the regulatory level, related to gene expression.

Joseph Swift, co-author of a study outlining results, published in Nature in November, says this discovery provides the blueprint for knowing how different plants use solar energy to survive in different environments.

“The ultimate goal is to try to switch C4 photosynthesis ‘on’ and, in turn, create more productive and resilient crops in the future,” he says. Visit salk.edu.

New agribiotech company coming

Elicit Plant is coming to the U.S. with hopes of launching a commercial product for corn in 2025. The global agribiotech company recently announced a $48 million Series B funding round to help fuel expansion into the U.S. Corn Belt. Founded in France in 2017, Elicit Plant bills itself as the first ag tech company to focus on solutions for climate change.

Elicit Plant successfully launched products in a jug to mitigate stress for corn, cereals, sunflowers and soybeans in the French, European and Brazilian markets. Bomafit Corn was registered in 10 Corn Belt states in 2024. Look for more news about this innovative startup soon. Meanwhile, visit elicit-plant.com.

Another ag startup

DigiFarmz brings successful agronomics and technology platforms to the U.S., with offices already established in Peoria, Ill., and Champaign, Ill. Its Champaign facility is in Research Park at the University of Illinois. Learn more at researchpark.illinois.edu or digifarmz.com. Select the English translation option.

The heart of the company’s effort is 20 years of agronomic studies in North and South America. Staff developed high-tech tools to use results from these studies to help advise growers. Flagship products include DigiFarmz Cropper and the recently introduced DigiFarmz Linkage.