The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is giving $3 million in grants to address critical issues affecting agriculturally-important plants and animals. This news release from the agency’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) says the science developed from these grants will provide timely assistance and have an immediate impact for the agriculture community. The awards were made under the … Read More
New Cuba Ag Exports Act Opens Trade Options
A new piece of legislation will open up trade possibilities for U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. H.R. 3687, the Cuba Agricultural Exports Act, was introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Mike Conaway, along with Representatives Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Ted Poe (R-TX). It repeals financing restrictions, allowing U.S. banks to offer credit in Cuba in connection with exports of U.S. … Read More
How Insurance, Conservation Can Work Together
Crop insurance provides an important risk management tool for farmers, especially in the short term. Conservation practices look to the long term to reduce farmers’ risks. Our friends at Farm Foundation will hold another one of their free forums on Thursday, Oct. 8, to examine how the relationship of crop insurance and conservation practices has evolved over the years, and … Read More
New Website for GROWMARK
GROWMARK has unveiled a new company website. Company officials say the old site had been around for the last five years, and it was time for a change. “[C]ombined with the adoption of responsive design technology, we believe users will have a better experience on the redesigned website.” [Cliff Dolbeare, GROWMARK’s corporate strategic development manager] said the new site will … Read More
Corn Growers, Monsanto Award Grant for Bt Corn Study
The National Corn Growers Association and the Monsanto Insect Management Knowledge Program are funding a study into Bt corn. This NCGA news release says Dr. Felicia Wu from Michigan State University received a grant for the proposal titled “An Agent Based Model of Insect Adaptation to Transgenic Insecticidal Corn.” NCGA believes farmers should have as many options as possible to … Read More
New Holland Looks to Take Manual Out of Data Transfer
For years, there’s been no problem with generating data with farm equipment. The issue came with the extra chore too many farmers had to perform at the end of the day and manually transfer information from a USB stick to their computer back in their home office. During the recent InfoAg Conference, Chuck caught up with Chris Carrier from New … Read More
John Deere Ops Center Like Grand Central for Data
Just like Grand Central Station serves as a hub for trains and people coming in and out of a city, the John Deere Operations Center serves as a hub for data coming in and out of a producer’s operation. “That’s where all of our data is feeding in, being processed in a way to be consumed and help [farmers] with … Read More
Farm Bureau Maps Show EPA Increasing Authority
New maps released by Farm Bureau shows the federal government is massively increasing its authority at the cost of American producers. This news release from the group says the Environmental Protection Agency will radically expand its jurisdiction over land use if its controversial Waters of the United States rule takes effect as expected Aug. 28. That expansion comes even as … Read More
Ads to Air Supporting Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act
New ads to support a bill that bars states from enacting mandatory GMO labeling laws will start airing in selected states. This article from Agri-Pulse says the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food (CFSAF) is releasing advertisements in Minnesota and Kansas to encourage support for the federal bill that would protect farmers and consumers alike. The television and radio ads, which … Read More
John Deere’s Tech Legacy Includes Modern Connectivity
For 178 years, John Deere has been working with customers to bring farmers the latest technological developments in production agriculture. So it’s no wonder that now extends into the precision agriculture realm and connectivity on the farm. “We started with the plow, we did it with tractors, and technology is an extension of that,” Corey Reed (pictured talking with the … Read More