At the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk I had a chance to visit with Ron Restum vice president of sales for North America with Koch Agronomic Services. He explained how they’ve been working with new technology for the grower with the addition of two new nitrogen stabilizers to the AGROTAIN® product family; AGROTAIN® ADVANCED and AGROTAIN® DRI-MAXX. … Read More
Bayer CropScience Commitment to Innovation
Bayer CropScience hosted a press conference at last week’s ASTA CSS & Seed Expo to highlight the company’s commitment to innovation. David Hollinrake, vice president of Agricultural Commercial Operations Marketing, says that they are investing more than $1 billion annually in research and development. “We’re looking across disease control, crop efficiency, trying to help crops thrive in less than great … Read More
Research on Value of Neonicotinoids
The agriculture industry is working to show the benefits of neonicotinoids in the face of an EPA report released in October concluding that the seed treatments “provide little or no overall benefits to soybean production in most situations.” During the ASTA CSS and Seed Expo last week, Dr. Pete Nowak with AgInfomatics discussed some of his findings on the value … Read More
ASTA Welcomes Economist Back for Outlook
Back again by popular demand this year at the ASTA CSS 2014 and Seed Expo was AgResource Company president Dan Basse giving his economic outlook for the year ahead. Basse notes that this crop year is historic in that it’s the first time we’ve seen record world production for corn, wheat and soybeans. “So something agronomically is afoot here,” he … Read More
Bayer CropScience to Open New Seed Growth Center
Bayer CropScience will open a bigger and better seed growth center at the end of January, according to company officials at the American Seed Trade Association CSS 2014 and Seed Expo last week. “It’s going to have a state-of-the-art training center, a demonstration center, and a research center,” said Brad May, lead key account manager for seed growth and seeds. … Read More
Biotech Advocate at ASTA CSS
Hearing food and health “celebrities” spread misinformation about agriculture really annoys plant molecular and cellular biology professor Dr. Kevin Folta, who spoke at the CSS 2014 and Seed Expo this week in Chicago. Folta, who has a blog where he calls himself “a scientist in a scientifically illiterate nation at a time when we need science the most,” took the … Read More
Bayer CropScience has EPA Approval for ILeVO®
Bayer CropScience announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved its application for the registration of ILeVO®, the only seed treatment that protects the root system against infections caused by the Sudden Death Syndrome fungus and has activity against dangerous nematodes in the seed zone. Business to business strategy manager of seed growth, John Carlson says, “This is … Read More
ASTA Looking Forward to Happy New Year
The chairman and first vice chair of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) are pleased with this year’s turnout at CSS 2014 and Seed Expo and with the direction of the organization. ASTA chair John Schoenecker with HM. Clause of California says the program is exceptionally good this year. “Everything from bee health to cover crops, the international treaty for … Read More
Ag Retailers Precision Ag Panel
One of the key general session panels at the Agricultural Retailers Association Convention was titled, “Meeting the Needs of Precision Growers.” This panel was moderated by Dr. Dave Downey, Purdue University, and included Brad Murray, Meadow Brook Farms, Jeff Wilson, Lone Oak Hog Farms and Byron Seward, Seward & Son Planting/Seward & Harris Planting. The challenge for the group was … Read More
New ASTA Consumer Research on Seed Attitudes
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) today unveiled results of new research that shows consumers have a lack of knowledge and appreciation for the importance of seeds and seed improvement, until they are presented with specific examples of the environmental, economic and health benefits of seed. ASTA president and CEO Andy LaVigne briefed members of the media during the CSS … Read More