Wrap Ups and Launches for Q2

Portfolio Update

Wraps Ups and Launches for Q2

By Ben Craker, Portfolio Manager

As spring unfolds here in the northern hemisphere, fieldwork has begun and new plants are sprouting — a fitting metaphor for the renewal we’re seeing in AgGateway’s working groups. While a couple of teams wrapped up their initiatives in April, new meetups and working groups are preparing to launch soon.

Completed Working Groups:

  • WG24 Field Boundaries successfully completed its deliverables, posting the output on the ADAPT Standard GitHub board as issue #163. Implementation of these results is now underway.
  • WG29 Dealer Lookup finalized its deliverables, with reviews conducted during the Standards and Guidelines meeting last month. This working group is another example of quickly creating a digital resource in just a few meetings.

Working Group Updates:

  • WG23 Weather Data API discovered valuable resources from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), thanks to detective work by team members. The group is currently reviewing these resources to determine how best to leverage them.
  • WG25 Dairy Feed Data is expected to conclude its activities this month. The team has finalized documentation of use cases and is reviewing the list of data elements and definitions.
  • WG26 Data Ethics is in the final stages of reviewing its white paper, integrating additional references and summaries of relevant materials. This aligns perfectly with plans for an in-person feedback session during the Mid-Year Meeting.
  • WG27 Entity ID may appear quiet right now following a two-day in person meeting that drew 55 members to Charlotte, NC in February, but the work (and great progress) continues. Staff have been actively engaging in one-on-one calls since then to document processes and prepare a process diagram for broader review. A 1.5-day workshop is scheduled for Thursday, 12 June after the close of the Mid-Year Meeting.
  • WG28 Modus Plant Tissue is progressing well in compiling a detailed list of plant tissue analysis methods, complete with citations. The group’s work has led to a few adjustments in the soil and manure method lists as well.

New Work Ahead:

  • PICS-STAC Gap Check Working Group has issued a call for participation (sign up here). This project will review imagery metadata standards to ensure the agriculture industry’s needs are met, and to identify gaps requiring attention.
  • An upcoming Field Boundary Meetup will be open to all interested participants (contact me or Member.services@aggateway.org for the invite). The discussion will focus on the next priority for Field Boundary-related working groups, including topics like guidance lines, obstacles, field identifiers, and other data exchange needs. Mark your calendars for May 5 at 11:00 AM Eastern U.S. Time to contribute your perspective.
  • Be sure to explore the Mid-Year Meeting agenda, as usual it will be a busy few days with several new working groups set to kick off during the event.

As usual, if you have any questions on the activities of any of these working groups, an idea for a new group, or want to get engaged feel free to contact me (ben.craker@aggateway.org), or sign up for a working group here.