Dale Bermester with Gateway FS in Red Bud, Illinois has been an FS Certified Crop Specialist (CCS) for nearly a quarter of a century and nothing makes him happier every day than helping farmers be more profitable. “It’s really an on-going process, especially with your customers that you’ve been doing business with for 25 years,” Dale says. “We’re in tune … Read More
Precision Farming Increases Sustainability
A grower sustainability panel took place during the recent Bayer CropScience 2012 Ag Issues Forum with the theme of “Hands in the Dirt: First-Hand Grower Experiences.” Panel member Nancy Kavazanjian, a farmer from Wisconsin who grows corn, soybeans and wheat, talked about what the word “sustainability” meant to her. “When a farmer hears the word sustainable they kind of cringe,” … Read More
Warm Winter May Widen War on Weeds
The weed resistance revolt is growing and conditions this year are ripe for a bigger battle than ever against those rebellious yield robbers. “It’s been a really weird winter and we just really don’t know what to expect,” says GROWMARK Weed Science Technical Manager Barry Nash, noting that the lack of any significant freeze may increase the weed pressure faster … Read More
Ag Day Activities in DC
The annual commemoration of the importance of agriculture is traditionally celebrated on the first day of spring to recognize the start of planting season, but the event in the nation’s capitol is held a little earlier in the month when Congress is in session so lawmakers can attend. This year the date was March 8 and the day in DC … Read More
2012 Conservation in Action Tour in Mississippi
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) has announced their 2012 Conservation in Action Tour and it’s going to be done “southern style” in the Mississippi Delta region. CTIC Executive Director Karen Scanlon says they will host the event on May 31 near Tunica, Miss., which will include educational field visits, technology demonstrations and opportunities to speak directly with growers about … Read More
Vilsack Announces CRP Initiative at Commodity Classic
Before heading back to Washington for a White House conservation conference last Friday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Nashville speaking to corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum farmers and announcing the opportunity for them to enroll a total of 1 million acres of land in a new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiative to preserve grasslands and wetlands. “By focusing 1 … Read More
Farm Bill Priorities Discussed at Commodity Classic
The biggest topic of discussion at the 2012 Commodity Classic last week was the farm bill – what should be in it and whether we will even see one this year. It was the main question that the presidents of the four farm organizations that participate in Classic answered during their time on stage during the general session with emcee … Read More
Applicator Training Promoted at Commodity Classic
During the 2012 Commodity Classic, BASF Crop Protection introduced the On Target Application Academy, a partnership with application technology specialist Dr. Bob Wolf, retired Professor Emeritus of Kansas State University, to help growers get the most out of their pesticides by using best application practices. Dr. Wolf says the program focuses on research and education of applicators to “maximize control … Read More
John Deere Final Tier 4/Stage IV Engine
During the 2012 Commodity Classic, John Deere unveiled its final stage Tier 4 solution, the John Deere Integrated Emissions Control System. The company held a press conference to make the announcement. You can listen to or download the audio from that press conference below. To give us an overview of the final solution we heard from Geoff Stigler, Manager, Worldwide … Read More
The Versatile Ag Leader VERSA
Just call it the “biggest bang for the buck in the precision ag industry.” It’s the Ag Leader Technology VERSA display, which has all of the most popular year-round precision tools – including guidance, auto-steering control, SeedCommand planting control, DirectCommand application control, yield monitoring and mapping – in one small package. “For growers who are just getting started in precision … Read More