In a field known for seeking out the next new technology, barcoding has long been established as tool for retailers to reduce errors and streamline operations. The familiar technology is getting a new facelift, however, and the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) and AgGateway are working together to host a free, one-hour webinar on the topic. The first session will be April … Read More
Bearish Market Predicted for Row Crops
The news for row crop prices isn’t great, according to the Prospective Plantings Report, with corn and rice likely to continue their current trend through the end of 2016. “The report really highlights how challenging the market is right now for major crops,” said John Anderson, deputy chief economist of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “We currently have adequate supplies … Read More
The Andersons Sell Grain Plants in Iowa
The Andersons, Inc. has completed an agreement to sell eight grain facilities located in Iowa to MaxYield Cooperative. “We have referenced performance issues in our western grain assets during several recent investor calls. We anticipate this sale will improve our prospects and provide a pathway to profitability for this area of our business,” said CEO Pat Bowe. “We believe MaxYield … Read More
USDA Offers Certification Through GroupGAP
The USDA is now offering a new certification program designed to assist small and mid-sized producers and cooperatives meet food safety requirements. This new GroupGAP program will be handled through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). “We know that GAP certification can sometimes be cost-prohibitive for smaller farmers,” said AMS Administrator Elanor Starmer. “GroupGAP allows these farmers to demonstrate compliance with … Read More
Slow Internet Hinders Ag Production
For many, dealing with slow Internet and poor connections are a thing of the past. Not so for many living and working in rural America. In today’s world that lack of access to resources others take for granted can be a serious setback in the business world. “Internet connectivity is what I would consider an enabling technology,” said Terry Griffin, … Read More
New Traits Offer Better Resistance to Curly Top Virus
The USDA has developed a new breeding line for sugar beet germ plasm. The result could be a new variety of sugar crop that can stand up to the sugar beet curly top virus. The disease is cased by small insects known as “beet leafhoppers” transferring a virus that results in yellow, curled leaves. Outbreaks of the disease can reduce … Read More
$103 Million Going to Vital Watershed Projects
The USDA has announced an investment of $103 million for the recovery and rehabilitation of aging dams in the U.S. The program will cover problem areas in 19 states, with the hard-hit states of Texas, Mississippi and Utah receiving the most assistance for damage caused by 2015’s excessive rains and other natural disasters. “The Emergency Watershed Protection program is vital to … Read More
AgGateway’s PAIL Project Helps Achieve Smarter Water Use
Growers and scientists have access to more data than ever– often more data than can be used in their operation. Data management for irrigation systems has become critically important in agriculture’s pursuit of sustainability, leading to the creation of AgGateway‘s PAIL Projects (Precision Ag Irrigation Leadership). For the past four years the people behind this project have been developing open, … Read More
NCGA Returns with Sixth Season of Field Notes
The National Corn Growers Association has begun their sixth season of Field Notes. The program highlights a year in the life of American farm families from a variety of locations and operations. Each family has one important thing in common– a love for agriculture. The first grower to be showcased is Jim Raben, an Illinois row crop farmer. Although Raben … Read More
The Secret in the Soil
Agriculture’s efforts to better manage water have taken as step forward with the work of Daniel Hirmas, a professor at the University of Kansas. He and his team are using MLT scanners to predict water movement within the soil– a study which could lead to correct predictions of recharge rates of aquifers, predict how areas will react to climate change, … Read More