The American Soybean Association (ASA) and DuPont are seeking applicants for the 2016-17 ASA DuPont Young Leader Program, which works to identify and develop grower leaders who continue to shape the future of agriculture. “The ASA DuPont Young Leader Program has had a tremendous impact on the soybean industry and many of our current grower leaders at the national and … Read More
St. Louis Science Center Adds Ag Exhibit
The Saint Louis Science Center has announced that GROW, the center’s permanent new agriculture exhibit, will open to the public this month on June 18. The exhibit will highlight the journey of food from farm to fork through 40 interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and events. GROW is the first permanent agriculture exhibit of its size in the United States, and is … Read More
New Discovery A Boon for Plant Breeders
The idea of “dark matter” may send your mind to astronomy (or at least science fiction), but plant scientists have discovered what they’re terming “dark matter” in the maize genome. This new discovery is a tiny percentage of regulatory DNA, and accounts for approximately half of the variations in observable traits that occur in corn. Cornell University and Florida State … Read More
Book Review – Coolbean The Soybean
Ahhh…Spring is here and planting has begun and it’s a perfect time for kids to meet Coolbean. This week I read “Coolbean The Soybean,” by Shawn Conley, Ph.D. who is the state soybean specialist, aka agronomist, at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Who better to write a book about the life of a soybean from seed to seed. Coolbean … Read More
Legume Trees Found to be Sustainable Source of Nitrogen
Silvopastoral systems refer to the combination of putting crops and livestock in the same location for the benefit of both, and that is just what Jose Dubeux Jr. hopes to accomplish. Dubeux, an assistant professor of Agronomy at North Florida Research & Education Center, spent a lot of time on his grandparents’ farm in Brazil as a child. Now he’s … Read More
BASF Supports Students’ Space Farming Research
Three… Two… One… Launch! This summer three students from the Edith Stein School in Ravensburg, Germany will be sending their science project into space, thanks to the support of BASF. The V3PO project was designed by the students to see if plant cutting can build roots in zero gravity and how those roots might behave over time. Up till now, … Read More
35,000 Students Take Virtual Field Trip
This week students across the nation had to opportunity to visit a farm without ever getting on a school bus. The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and Discovery Education have put together an unique program that allowed more than 1,200 schools to take a virtual field trip. The event, titled “The Smart Farm: Where Technology and Innovation Meet” was hosted … Read More
MU Extension Updates ID Weed App
The University of Missouri has updated its free ID Weed app. The app works on iPhones, iPads and Android devices and Kevin Bradley of MU Extension says the new version is more user friendly. The app contains information on more than 430 weed species common to fields, pastures, lawns, gardens and aquatic areas in Missouri and the surrounding area. The … Read More
ASA Dupont Young Leaders Complete Training
The American Soybean Association (ASA) DuPont Young Leaders spent their time in New Orleans at the Commodity Classic completing their training in leadership, marketing, ag issues and discussion. Their efforts were honored at the ASA annual awards banquet. This event marks 32 classes that have gone through the program. “For many years, the ASA DuPont Young Leader program has filled the … Read More
Virtual FieldTrip Teaches Students About Modern Ag
As the generations become further removed from agriculture and farms become more technologically advanced the gap between the two is ever widening. The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and Discovery Education are working to bridge that gap with a program designed to give students a firsthand look at modern agriculture–Discovering FARMLAND. Now the two programs are offering a live education … Read More