Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference Set for January

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, ASTA, seed

The American Seed Trade Association is getting ready for its 54th Annual Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference. Event officials say this is ASTA’s fastest growing event, offering unrivaled networking and educational opportunities for the global vegetable and flower seed industry. Don’t miss the General Session January 26 focusing on Breeding for the Consumer. Popular presenter David Clark, Professor at the … Read More

Ag Leader Offers ISOBUS Liquid Control Module

John DavisAg Leader, Agribusiness

A new way to precisely control liquid applications for farm fields has debuted. Ag Leader is expanding its ISOBUS offerings with a new Liquid Control Module that works with Ag Leader displays, as well as other brands of ISOBUS compatible displays. The module is configurable for the user’s choice of sprayer, liquid fertilizer, anhydrous and manure application with features and … Read More

Innovation at New Holland Recognized

John DavisAgribusiness, Award, New Holland

Our friends at New Holland are being honored for their engineering innovation. This company news release says New Holland won fourprestigious AE50 Awards for smart engineering innovations by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). “We’re proud to receive these awards recognizing industry-leading advances in technology,” says Abe Hughes, New Holland’s Vice President of North America. “In 2015, … Read More

New Holland, Leifmark Test Stover Baling Equipment

John DavisAgribusiness, Corn, Ethanol, New Holland

Baling corn stover is part of the next generation of cellulosic ethanol, and two major players in the green fuel and agribusiness markets are moving that process forward. Leifmark, LLC and New Holland Agriculture recently teamed up to test equipment and methods used to gather, bale, and store the corn stover left behind after the grain harvest in two Iowa … Read More

USDA: Pesticide Residues Don’t Pose Food Safety Concern

John DavisAgribusiness, Food, Pesticides, USDA

A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms that pesticide residues do not pose a threat to the safety of U.S. food. This USDA news release says the 2013 Pesticide Data Program (PDP) Annual Summary shows the overall pesticide chemical residues found on the foods tested are at levels below the tolerances established by the Environmental Protection Agency … Read More

US Rice Would Benefit From New Cuba Policy

John DavisAg Group, International, Rice

The announcement that the U.S. is normalizing relations with Cuba is seen as good for American agriculture, with rice producers perhaps seeing the biggest boost. The USA Rice Federation welcomed the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the countries and sees the new approach to banking to being the key. “The changes to banking are very important because they will significantly … Read More

Ag Leader Yield Monitoring System on AGCO Combines

John DavisAg Leader, Agribusiness

Ag Leader‘s precision technology will now be offered on North American AGCO combines. Ag Leader says the 2015 Gleaner S8 Series combines, Massey Ferguson 9505 Series and Challenger 500E combines will feature a factory-installed Ag Leader yield monitoring system, with Ag Leader Integra and Versa displays also available to be ordered separately. “Adding a yield monitoring system with Ag Leader … Read More

Corn Quality Good for the Record Crop

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, Corn

The U.S. corn crop got high marks for quality from the record harvest. The U.S. Grains Council says the corn crop was good, with 88 percent of samples rating at grade No. 2 or better. “This year’s report shows for the second year in a row that the United States has an abundant supply of high-quality corn available to export,” … Read More

Monsanto One Step Closer to Next-Gen Trait Launch

John DavisAgribusiness, Genetics, Monsanto

Monsanto is one step closer to getting regulatory approval for its next-generation trait technology used in its soybean and cotton varieties. This company news release says the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), concluding that Monsanto’s Roundup Ready® 2 Xtend™ soybeans and Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ cotton should be fully deregulated. “The final EIS moves … Read More

Researchers Look to Develop Sturdier Rice

John DavisRice, USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers are looking at genetic traits in weedy rice to develop a variety of the grain that flourishes in the face of climate change. This article from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service says the work hopes to develop sturdy, high-yield varieties of cultivated rice. [Lewis] Ziska, who is with ARS’s Crop Systems and Global Change Laboratory … Read More