The Andersons Combining Turf, Plant Nutrient Groups

John DavisAgribusiness, Turf

An Ohio-based company working in the grain, ethanol, and plant nutrient sectors will combine some of its groups into a yet-to-be-named company. The Andersons, Inc. plans to combine its Turf & Specialty and Plant Nutrient groups into a single entity. “The Turf & Specialty and Plant Nutrient groups have become closely aligned in the customers they serve, the products and … Read More

Big Data Part of Big Debate at Farm Futures Summit

John DavisAgribusiness, Data

Farm Futures will foster a conversation on the pros and cons of Big Data, one of the hottest topics in agriculture. The Big Data debate is one of 21 sessions that will take place during the 2015 Farm Futures Business Summit, being held Jan. 7-8 at the Hilton at the Ballpark Hotel in St. Louis. “While companies have collected and … Read More

Report: Cover Crops Boost Yield, Benefit Soil

John DavisAgribusiness, agronomy, Cover Crops

A new report shows that cover crops boost yields while benefiting the soil and other pluses. The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) funded research, carried out by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), surveyed nearly 2,000 users and non-users of cover crops and showed the challenges and benefits farmers expect from cover crops. [Respondents] noted an … Read More

Sap Analysis Work in the Field

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, Crop Health Labs, Fertilizer

Crop Health Laboratories’ recent seminar focused on the new sap analysis technology sweeping across the United States. One speaker during the event was Jacob Gwilliam of Tulare Ag Products (TAP), who shared insights into his use of sap analysis throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Jacob is involved in TAP’s special projects and technologies. This is where things like plant sap … Read More

AgGateway Announces New VP & CEO

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Company Announcement

AgGateway is pleased to announce that Brent Kemp is joining the staff as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective November 24. Kemp replaces Wendy Smith, who will move into the position of President and Chief Executive Officer on January 1. “Brent will be a terrific addition to the staff – we couldn’t be more pleased,” said AgGateway Chairman … Read More

Plant Sap Analysis Sampling

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, Crop Health Labs, Fruit, Vegetables

The Power Growers Seminar by Crop Health Laboratories attracted fruit and vegetable growers from the East and West Coasts and everywhere in between. The conference covered anything pertaining to plant sap analysis, but the session on proper sampling, handling and labeling techniques answered many frequently asked questions. Maikel van de Ven is a consultant for NovaCropControl/HortiNova and was there to … Read More

Flagship VentureLabs Starts Microbe Solution Company

John DavisAgribusiness

Flagship VentureLabs is introducing a new company that will produce microbial solutions that naturally promote plant health and improve agricultural production by harnessing the beneficial microbes that reside within plants. This company news release from Symbiota says the company built a substantial platform and advanced multiple products into greenhouse and field trials in globally important crops including corn, soy, wheat, … Read More

FMC Offering Year-Long Management

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, FMC, Herbicides, NAFB

The FMC Agricultural Crop Protection portfolio has grown to now offer farmers a complete year-long management approach. Describing this to me during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention this week was Gail Stratman, Regional Technical Sales Lead. He says, “That has been a focus for us, to offer growers more of a complete solution.” Going in to 2015 he … Read More

Deere Partners Look to Lower Costs, Raise Integrations

John DavisAgNerd, Agribusiness, Audio, Data, John Deere, technology

Producers are always looking for ways to lower their input costs, and that certainly applies to precision farm equipment. At the recent 2014 Develop with Deere conference in Kansas City, Travis Jones with LHP Telematics, a company partially owned by John Deere, told Chuck that the biggest limitation to telematics is the cost of the hardware. “The boxes just cost … Read More