Dow AgroSciences LLC has announced Conkesta will be the brand name for its novel insect-resistant trait. This company news release says that, when commercialized, Conkesta will provide soybean farmers with the broadest spectrum for insect control against lepidopteran pests. The company’s insect-resistant soybean trait, originally announced to the market in 2013, continues to move through regulatory processes as the first … Read More
HarvestMaster Debuts Data Collection Tool for Ag Research
Utah-based equipment maker HarvestMaster has debuted a new harvest data system. This company news release says the H2 High Capacity GrainGage is designed to collect highly accurate data on large-plot, high-volume grain samples, such as corn or soybeans. Available for both single and split-plot combines, the H2 GrainGage features advanced technology to provide superior data accuracy, enhanced efficiency, and reduced … Read More
Simplot CEO Appreciates ASTA Mentoring
The opening session of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CSS and Seed Expo was highlighted by keynote speaker J.R. Simplot president and CEO Bill Whitacre. Since inventing the first viable frozen french fry the J.R. Simplot Company, has become one of North America’s largest, privately held food and agribusiness companies, with over $4.5 billion in annual sales. Simplot has … Read More
Iteris ClearAg Prime
Intelligence. It’s vitally important to national security and your crop’s security. Iteris has just released ClearAg Prime, which they call “Next Level of Intelligent Agriculture Decision Support.” To learn more about it I visited by phone with Tom Blair, Senior Vice President, Iteris. He says that ClearAg Prime is the latest in a series of API’s that customers can readily … Read More
ASTA CSS 2014 and Seed Expo Underway
The American Seed Trade Association CSS 2014 and Seed Expo kicked off Tuesday in Chicago and possibly may be a record crowd this year. “We have a great participation this year,” said ASTA president and CEO Andy LaVigne. “Beginning of this week, we had over 2700 registrants and that’s almost 100 more than we finished with last year and we … Read More
Changing of the Chairs at ARA
The Agricultural Retailers Association changed chairmanships of the organization during last week’s annual meeting in New Orleans. Outgoing chairman Gary Farrell (pictured left) of Ag Enterprise Supply passed the gavel on to the new Chairman, Dave DuFault of Simplot. Farrell says that during his term he is most proud of the formation of the ResponsibleAg program, as well as the … Read More
More Farmers Adopting Variable Rate Seeding
Low corn prices are causing farmers to take a hard look at what new technologies will optimize inputs while minimizing costs. As farmers begin to plan for the 2015 season, SST Software is seeing an increased interest in variable rate planting recommendations. SST’s decision support technologies are used by ag service providers around the world to provide precision ag services … Read More
Climate Corp. Builds Data Platform with Labs Acquisition
The Climate Corporation is beefing up its efforts to build the industry’s leading data science platform for farmers with its acquisition of 640 Labs, an agricultural technology startup based in Chicago. The Monsanto subsidiary made the acquisition announcement but did not disclose terms of the deal. “At The Climate Corporation, we strongly believe that leveraging on-farm data can help farmers … Read More
John Deere Acquires Sugarcane Automation Company
John Deere has acquired a South American company that should help Deere make more headways into the sugarcane industry. The company announced it bought Auteq Telematica, an onboard software and computer company located in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and an outfit Deere previously work with to create a joint venture in 2009 to provide integrated, innovative technologies and solutions for sugarcane … Read More
ResponsibleAg for Ag Retailers
ResponsibleAg Inc. is a non-profit organization founded this year to promote the public welfare by assisting agribusinesses as they seek to comply with federal environmental, health, safety and security rules regarding the safe handling and storage of fertilizer products. Billy Pirkle of Crop Production Services was chosen as the first chair of the organization and he says one of their … Read More