The California Strawberry Commission is getting more than $1 million in state and federal grants to research healthy soils. This commission news release says the research will focus on evaluation of experimental soil borne disease management systems using biologically active soil treatments. “These recent grant awards will allow us to continue working with the top researchers in the world to … Read More
New CAV Training Video Geared for Highway Driving
Custom Application Vehicles (CAVs) purpose-built design makes them perfectly suited for floating on fields or driving over standing crops. But CAVs’ high center of gravity, liquid payloads and unique tires can be a liability when driving on roads and highways. Safety on the Road, a 32-minute training video, addresses safe operation of CAVs. This program can help train applicators on … Read More
Purdue Acquires Protea’s LAESI Technology
Protea Biosciences Group, Inc. announced that Purdue University has acquired Protea’s LAESI® DP-1000 Instrument System for direct molecular analysis. The system will be used in Purdue’s College of Agriculture, the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, for the molecular imaging of herbicide active ingredients and other related compounds to optimize herbicide applications and improve weed management. Protea’s LAESI system is … Read More
Conservation Districts Win RCPP Funding
More than 200 conservation districts from across the nation will implement innovative, solutions-oriented natural resource conservation through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects announced earlier today by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) Tom Vilsack. “It’s no surprise that conservation districts are one of the most highly represented entities among the winning proposals,” said National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) … Read More
ScoutPro is AFBF Entrepreneur of the Year
The lead for Iowa-based ScoutPro has been honored as the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Entrepreneur of the Year. This news release from AFBF says Michael Koenig was picked from four finalists and receives $30,000 in prize money to implement his business idea, which is software to assist farmers with crop maintenance, while Paul Greive represented Pasturebird, LLC, which won the … Read More
The Fertilizer Institute Names 2015 4R Advocate Award Winners
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announced the winners of the 2015 4R Advocate Awards. The 4R Advocate Award program, now in its fourth year, recognizes on-farm stewardship actions. Winners are selected based on their actions to protect the environment, boost profitability and benefit society through nutrient stewardship practices based on the 4Rs (using the right nutrient source, at the right rate, … Read More
Farmers to Share Their Soil Health Decisions
Farmers attending this year’s Iowa Power Farming Show in Des Moines February 3-5 can learn how other Midwest farmers are making decisions that improve the health of their soil, along with yields, profits and environmental outcomes. An educational program “Building Farmer Wealth with Soil Health” will focus on what “soil health” means, practically, when farmers make decisions about soil sampling, … Read More
Corn Growers Join Cuba Ag Coalition
The National Corn Growers Association joins U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and fellow farm and food organizations seeking to end the United States’ embargo against Cuba and advance trade relations between the two nations. The U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba is composed of more than 30 U.S. agricultural and food organizations committed to building a deeper U.S.-Cuba relationship. … Read More
NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive
Scheduled for launch on Jan. 29, 2015, NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) instrument will measure the moisture lodged in Earth’s soils with an unprecedented accuracy and resolution. The instrument’s three main parts are a radar, a radiometer and the largest rotating mesh antenna ever deployed in space. Remote sensing instruments are called “active” when they emit their own signals … Read More
Cultivating Master Farmers Program Offers Opportunities
Learning from someone who has “been there and done that” can be some of the most valuable lessons of all. That’s why GROWMARK, along with the other sponsors, including 1st Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Illinois, Illinois Farm Bureau, Monsanto, and Prairie Farmer are looking for applicants for the Cultivating Master Farmers (CMF) program for the class of 2017. Now … Read More