Iowa entrepreneurs finalists in AFBF farm competition

Two Iowa entrepreneurs are finalists in a business competition that encourages new technologies to help rural America, the country’s largest farm group said this week.

The American Farm Bureau Federation said AccuGrain from Rose Hill was picked for developing an X-ray technology that can measure storage levels of corn, soybeans and other commodities. AgriSync from Dallas Center was selected for creating an app for farmers that allows them to work more closely with an adviser to diagnose and fix farm problems more quickly.

“Rural entrepreneurs typically face unique challenges including limited options for support with resources such as startup funding, which we aim to address through the challenge,” said Bob Stallman, president of the federation.

The farm group selected four finalists, including the two from Iowa, who will each receive $15,000 and pitch their ideas to a team of judges at the farm bureau’s annual conference in Orlando in January. The finalists are eligible to win up to an additional $25,000 to help fund their fledgling businesses.