Farmers Business Network announced on Apr. 8 five free analytics tools available to its members aimed at improving planting agronomics. The tools include a soil temperature map, soil type maps, FBN Seed Finder, yield potential analysis, and Norm, an artificial intelligence agronomic advisor.
These resources are intended to help farmers make more informed decisions about crop selection and management by leveraging data collected from millions of acres contributed by the network’s membership. Farmers Business Network encompasses over 120,000 farmer members managing more than 185 million acres, according to the official website.
The soil temperature map provides updated information on average temperatures up to ten centimeters deep across the United States. Soil type maps utilize data from both Canadian and U.S. databases to match crop requirements with local conditions. The FBN Seed Finder offers access to performance data for over 4,000 seed varieties based on real-world results across various environments and practices.
Yield Potential uses precision planting files submitted by members and compares them with extensive network data to estimate how specific seeds might perform under ideal conditions on individual farms. Norm—the AI Agronomic Advisor—relies on machine learning algorithms trained with agricultural datasets from sources such as the USDA and industry publications; it answers questions related to planting timing, fertility calculations, trait selection, chemical management, equipment assistance and diagnostics.
Farmers Business Network is an agriculture technology entity that promotes transparency in farming by empowering family farmers through data sharing and access to competitive markets. It provides tools such as crop inputs, financial support—including nearly $3 billion in financing—and grain marketing resources according to the official website. The organization also supports sustainable practices as well as mental health resources for farming communities according to the official website.
In addition to digital services, Farmers Business Network utilizes fulfillment centers for direct-to-farm deliveries according to the official website and affiliates with entities like FBN Inputs LLC for product distribution and FBN CM LLC for grain advisory according to the official website. The organization aims “to make farming easier for you by democratizing data” while supporting long-term sustainability efforts within its growing member base.