Bacteria Helps Honey Bee Larvae Thrive

John DavisAgribusiness, Bees, USDA

beelarvaeA new bacterium is giving honey bee larvae a better chance of surviving. This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) news release says agency scientists identified the new bacterium.

Molecular biologist Vanessa Corby-Harris and microbial ecologist Kirk E. Anderson at the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona, have named the new species Parasaccharibacter apium. The bee research center is part of the Agricultural Research Service, USDA’s chief intramural scientific research agency.

Honey bees have been under nearly constant and growing pressures from a whole host of stressors—diseases, poor nutrition, sublethal effects of pesticides and many others, especially for the last 30 years. It has been known that a number of different bacteria live within adult bees and in the hive, and scientists have been studying if and how these bacteria help deal with some of these stresses.

This is the first bacteria found to offer a benefit to bee larvae. In laboratory experiments, bee larvae fed P. apium had about an average of 30 percent better survival compared to those fed a sterile control.

The scientists have sequenced the genome of P. apium to dissect the functional properties that distinguish flower-living Acetobacteraceae from those that have coevolved with the honey bee hive. Pinpointing these ecological differences will be key to understanding the function of P. apium in honey bee hives.

Corn Growers Support WOTUS Re-do

Kelly MarshallAg Group, Corn, Government, NCGA, water

NCGA-Logo-3The National Corn Growers Association is urging Congress to support a bill to require the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the proposed Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule.  They are further requesting that the groups collaborate closely with states and other stakeholders in the process of developing a new rule.

In a letter to Congress, NCGA President Chip Bowling noted that farmers support the Clean Water Act’s goal of protecting water quality, but that they need more clarity and certainty about their responsibilities under the law.

“Farmers have a responsibility to protect our nation’s water supply. As an organization, NCGA has long advocated for federal policies that are clear, consistent, and fair to the farming community,” said Bowling.

“We believe it is necessary that the agencies re-propose the rule and allow for comment from those within the regulated community such as NCGA. By requiring EPA and the Corps to withdraw the proposed rule, H.R. 1732 appropriately initiates a process that will further protect our nation’s environmental assets, assure our ability to engage in robust economic activity, and earn broad support from state and local officials and the regulated community.”

Syngenta Rejects Monsanto Bid

Cindy ZimmermanAgribusiness, Monsanto, Syngenta

syngentaThe board of directors for Syngenta last week rejected a bid to by the company from Monsanto.

The proposal for $481 per share with approximately 45 percent in cash was considered by the Syngenta board to be undervalued. “Syngenta is the world leader in Crop Protection, the number three in Seeds and the first company to introduce integrated solutions for growers,” said Syngenta chairman Michel Demaré. “Monsanto’s proposal does not reflect the outstanding growth prospects of Syngenta’s integrated strategy and the significant future value potential of the company’s crop-focused innovation and market leading positions.”

monsanto1Monsanto released a statement regarding the offer saying the company “has long respected and followed Syngenta`s business and believes combining the two companies would deliver significant value to all stakeholders, including shareholders.”

Creating a new company from the combination of Syngenta`s strengths and leadership in crop protection chemicals and Monsanto`s leadership in seeds, traits and information technology would form an integrated global leader in agriculture with comprehensive and complementary product portfolios, and an Ag-focused organization with enhanced abilities to develop and accelerate innovative solutions for growers. Monsanto believes the combined company would be uniquely positioned to deliver a comprehensive suite of integrated solutions to farmers around the world and to accelerate technological innovation through precision agriculture and advanced research and development capabilities aimed at increasing the world`s food supply in a sustainable fashion.

Iowa Offers Water Quality Cost-Share

Kelly MarshallConservation, Cover Crops

iowa-ag-deptFunds will soon be available to help farmers in the state of Iowa to install nutrient reduction practices.  Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced a cost share plan for first-time users of cover crops at $25 per acer, $10 per acer for not-till or strip till, and $3 per acre for using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer.  Farmers who have previously planted cover crops may be eligible for $15 per acre, although farmers not already using these practices will receive priority.

“We continue to hear from farmers interested in doing even more to limit nutrient loss and better protect water quality and these funds will help them try new voluntary science-based conservation practices on their farm,” Northey said.

Farmers are eligible for cost share on up to 160 acres. The funds will be made available in July, but farmers can immediately start submitting applications through their local Soil and Water Conservation District office.

Farmers are also encouraged to visit their local Soil and Water Conservation District office to inquire about additional opportunities for cost share funding through other programs offered at their local SWCDs.

Corn Planting and Emergence Move Ahead

Cindy ZimmermanCorn, NCGA, Planting

corn-emergeAs of Sunday, 75 percent of the nation’s corn acres were planted, according to the latest USDA crop progress report, which is up 20 percent from the previous week, and 18% ahead of the five year average. Emergence is now also head of average at nearly 30% as of May 10.

“This planting season, farmers showed what is possible with technology and tenacity,” said National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling. “While the progress over the last two weeks has been impressive, it is important to keep in mind that early progress is not a concrete indicator of what we will find at harvest.”

Nearly all states made good progress last week, despite rainy weather in some areas, such as Iowa. “The entire state saw at least some precipitation over the past week and as result planting progress was slowed, especially when compared to the previous week,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. “Fortunately, we remain ahead of the five-year average with 83 percent of corn and 30 percent of soybeans planted.”

The state making the most progress last week was Minnesota, where farmers planted another 45 percent of the corn acres to reach 95 percent completion.

MSU Selected by FAA for National Center

Kelly MarshallGovernment, UAS

2008_horiz_mont_printMississippi State University has been selected by the FAA to lead the team operating the new National Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.  The flagship university will bring together partners in academics and industry for the purpose or research and development of UAS, as well has integration into national airspace.

assureLogoCongress has charged the FAA with developing rules regulating commercial unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and the new center will play a key role in that process. 

While research will take place at member universities throughout the U.S. and globally, the center’s work will be concentrated at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County to take advantage of airspace over the Gulf of Mexico, in the Mississippi Delta to conduct unmanned precision agriculture research, and around MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Lab in Starkville.

“Precision agriculture is data-driven and UAS technology adds another significant layer of data for researchers and ultimately crop consultants and producers to assess and utilize in a meaningful way,” said Robert Moorhead, the director of the Geosystems Research Institute.

Additionally, MSU and Hinds Community College announced a 2 Plus 2 academic partnership in precision agriculture last month. The program will provide students opportunities to learn about cutting-edge technology — including UAS — and prepare them for leadership roles in 21st Century agribusiness.

2014 Water for Food Report Released

Kelly MarshallConservation, Data, environment, Water Management

water_for_foodProceedings from the 2014 Water For Food Global Conference are now available for viewing.  This annual conference was hosted last October in Seattle, WA by the Water for Food Institute and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  The summary report provides a synopsis of the speakers and presentations relating to the theme: “Harnessing the Data Revolution: Ensuring Water and Food Security from Field to Global Scales.”

The Conference was the 6th of its kind and more than 250 farmers, scholars, practitioners and leaders attended to discuss the issues of using data to manage water on small and large farms around the world.  Discussions were held on how data is used by funding organizations to select and evaluate their programs, how those programs have led to the current practices in low-income countries, how the private sector is guided by data in their research and development decisions, how it measures the success of products, and how data can be used to benefit small-scale producers.  Also considered as part of the program was the use of climate data for decision-making, public health and the economic implications of water metering.

The Water for Food Institute was founded in 2010 as a response to the global problem of food security as it relates to water resources.  It is a part of the Robert B.Daugherty Institute at the University of Nebraska.

Company Receives Exemption to Fly Commercial UAVs

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, drone, UAV

fpv_logoA Tuscan-based company, FVP CATALOG, has received a rare exemption from the FAA to fly UAVs for commercial purposes.  The Section 333 exemption was granted to only 247 people in the country.  FVP CATALOG owner Bruce Pogosaew spent six months in the complicated process and received it in part because of his willingness to venture into agriculture inspections if farmers begin requesting the service.

“What we’re going to do is start out doing small product videos and stuff,” Pogosaew said. “If people start asking we’re going to venture into agricultural inspections.”

Although current federal laws regarding UAVs are few in number, the only sanctioned use of drones is for recreational purposes, making Pogosaew’s business model unique.  Getting the exemption at all was a surprise to Pogosaew, who believed he might only ever jump through hoops.  Proving his company would somehow use the exemption to benefit the public was part of that.  In addition to possible agriculture-related work, FVP plans to use the drones to assist with search and rescue.  

InterDrone – International Drone Conference

Chuck Zimmermandrone, UAV

International Drone ConferenceNow this looks like a place for an AgNerd! InterDrone – The International Drone Conference and Expo. It takes place in Las Vegas, September 9-11. Maybe I’ll see you there? That is, if I can go!

Right now there is a call for speakers. If you would like to make a presentation at this conference, let them know. There is a whole track on precision agriculture. This looks like the place to be if you want to learn more about this growing technology.

FarmLogs Unveils Yield Threat Alerts

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Data, Scouting

farmlogs-alertFarmLogs has released a program designed to help growers identify the exact location of crop issues.  The field satellite system alerts farmers to potential problems without layers of mapping that need interpretation, but rather pinpoints a precise location in a field.

“Today we are breaking ground by launching our most valuable feature ever. FarmLogs users now have access to high-resolution in-season maps that guide them to exact locations of problems in their fields,” said Jesse Vollmar, CEO and co-founder of FarmLogs. “We are completely changing the game for farmers by sending alerts anytime their fields are at risk of losing yield.”

Imagine a small area in a corn field that is under stress or beginning to develop a pest issue not yet detectable to the human eye – FarmLogs will show farmers this exact location on an easy-to-read map and the FarmLogs mobile app will guide them to the precise location indicated by the alert via GPS saving farmers hours of scouting and preventing yield loss.