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
Weather is Tops for Determining Corn Yield
University of Illinois Professor of Plant Physiology Dr. Fred Below is always excited to point out to growers how seven factors work together for high yield corn – weather, nitrogen, hybrid, previous crop, plant population, tillage and growth regulators. Dr. Below talked about his seven wonders of corn yield research at both the Iowa and Illinois Pursuit of Maximum Yields … Read More
Questions Remain over LightSquared Spectrum Usage
Over the past year, the National Corn Growers Association has monitored issues surrounding the wireless broadband company LightSquared. While the Federal Communications Commission considers approval of LightSquared’s proposed terrestrial based broadband network, NCGA remains concerned about the effects it would have on precision farming. GPS technology has become an important tool for farmers as they improve their efficiency in seed, … Read More
Calibrating Corn Production in Potato Country
Idaho is synonymous with potatoes, but there is more corn in the ground there these days to support a growing dairy industry. USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have found that some Pacific Northwest farmers can increase corn yields by using strip tillage and banding fertilizer instead of conventional tilling. Strip tillage and banding involves excavating a single row for … Read More
Ag Leader INTEGRA Display Winner at Wyffels Corn Strategies
During the Wyffels Corn Strategies in Malcom, Iowa, this week, Ag Leader Technology held a drawing for an INTEGRA™ Display. Our young farmer in the photo did the name drawing. The winner is Jeff Peterson of Port Byron, IL. He’s flanked by Rick Hofer, Iowa Territory Manager (left) and Travis Goedken, Minnesota Territory Manager. That’s a nice prize to go … Read More
2011 Commodity Classic Shatters Records
The 2011 Commodity Classic is one for the record books. Attendance at the annual meeting of corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers shattered previous records. Total attendance was more than 4826, breaking the previous record at Nashville three years ago by almost 300. Total number of growers was over 1600, compared to the previous record of 1513 in 2009 in … Read More
Precision Farming Technology Takes On Nematodes
Effective control of Southern root knot nematode looks promising with the use of GPS-controlled, variable-rate applications of soil fumigants, according to University of Arizona researchers, as reported by Western Farm Press. Field trials conducted from 2006 to 2010 tabulated information gathered by global positioning systems and variable rate technology, including the electrical conductivity-based Veris 3100 and EM38 sensors for on-the-go … Read More
North American Wheat Algorithm for OptRx Released
Ag Leader Technology officially released the North American Wheat algorithm for OptRx during the Iowa Power Farming Show in Des Moines, Iowa this week. OptRx is a crop sensor used for mapping, data collection and real-time variable rate nitrogen application. To learn more about how OptRx worked, I spent some time with Mike Olson, North American Sales Manager for Ag … Read More
Ag Leader Releases Advanced Seed Monitoring
You think it would be hard to make a great thing better, but Ag Leader Technology has done just that. This week, during the Iowa Power Farming Show, they announced a new update to their SeedCommand system – Advanced Seed Monitoring. This new monitoring system was designed to help growers eliminate yield robbing planter problems by monitoring key factors including … Read More
Missouri Researchers Reduce Greenhouse Gases, Raise Yields
Researchers with the University of Missouri have found a way to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by agricultural operations, while increasing the yields of the crops. And precision agriculture equipment is playing a key role. Research agronomist at MU’s Greenley Research Center in northeast Missouri Kelly Nelson says that ag operations in the U.S. create 58 percent of … Read More