Thinking Globally // Elevate Magazine - April 2022

THINKING GLOBALLY

RAPID CITY COMPANY BRINGS INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY TO THE AG INDUSTRY

Dr. Patrick Zimmerman once said: “Agriculture’s future is so exciting, I wish I had just one more lifetime!” As people go about their everyday lives, it’s easy to take for granted the impact agriculture has, from the food that’s eaten to the clothes that are worn. But in order for an industry that has such a long history to also have an exciting future, it takes the dedication and passion of those like Pat to drive innovation and continue to feed the world.

As Director of the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Dr. Zimmerman founded C-Lock to initially provide a way to estimate the carbon sequestration from crop-based agriculture. “I believed if we could leverage the free-market system by taking cutting edge science and applying it with advanced technology, we could help animal agriculture become efficient, improve a producer’s bottom line and reduce our environmental footprint,” said Dr. Zimmerman.

Founded in 2005, C-Lock was a 4-person operation inside Clock Tower Plaza. Today, the actively growing team has expanded to nearly 50 employees, comprised of engineers, data analysts, welders, and assemblers. They create and ship all products from their 42,000 square-foot facility on Concourse Drive.

Through continued research over the years, in 2009 Dr. Zimmerman realized that they could go a step further. There was an opportunity to measure the methane emissions from cattle. If C-Lock could provide a tool that would accurately capture and validate the emissions data of an animal, then producers would be able to manage their animals even more efficiently and effectively.

“Agriculture has always been concerned with the future and making it better for the next generation,” explained Rebecca Bader, C-Lock marketing director. “The equipment that C-Lock engineers and manufactures provides tools that help secure our sustainable food supply.”

This led to the creation of GreenFeed, C-Lock’s main focus. The machine, which is set up as a freestanding stall or trailer depending on the client’s needs, allows the animal to walk up and receive a small amount of feed. The feed entices the animal to stay for 3 to 5 minutes which gives GreenFeed enough time to scan the animal’s RFID ear tag and collect gas samples omitted from the animal. The main design collects methane and carbon dioxide with additional sensors for oxygen and hydrogen for even more data. This data is then logged and processed by C-Lock data analysts who turn the data into useful, summarized reports for producers. The data can then be used in a variety of ways, such as figuring out the amount or type of feed that is ideal for a healthy herd.

GreenFeed was first sold internationally in 2012, and now is in 32 countries and gathers data from all over the world. Opportunities surrounding methane and precision agriculture continue to be a global concern. Late February 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will invest $1 billion in grants to finance projects using climate-smart technology.

With today’s internet speed and computer technology, Dr. Zimmerman anticipates the development of even more innovative forage intake predictions from pasture, methane measurements, illness identifications, and enhanced digestion efficiencies. C-Lock’s research and development team is always reaching for the next step.