The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) hosted a panel discussion to focus on the expansion of rural broadband. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and representatives from equipment manufacturers John Deere and HammerHead Trenches met on Capitol Hill on May 18th in conjunction with Infrastructure Week 2017. The event was organized as part of AEM’s Infrastructure Vision 2050 initiative. Their initiative is “focused … Read More
Soil Health Institute Action Plan Unveiled
The Soil Health Institute (SHI) has unveiled the “Enriching Soil, Enhancing Life” Soil Health Action Plan during a National Press Club event. “This is an exciting time to be working in soil health,” said SHI president and CEO Wayne Honeycutt. “The action plan identifies critical goals and priorities. It helps identify key gaps in our knowledge and implementation…and we’ve identified specific … Read More
Nebraska Governor Highlights Importance of NAFTA
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts asked grain industry officials from Mexico and the United States join him Tuesday for a press conference to highlight the importance of Mexico to U.S. agriculture and how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has benefited both countries. “Bilateral trade with Mexico has helped grow agriculture in our state over the years,” said Governor Ricketts. … Read More
ASTA Sets Sail in June
With the theme “Voyage of Better Seed,” the 2017 American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Annual Convention June 21-24 in Minneapolis will focus on science and policy issues related to the development and free movement of quality seed worldwide. ASTA president and CEO Andy LaVigne says a number of special sessions and tours are planned for the week, including an Opening … Read More
John Deere Knows SMART Farming
We are already up to episode number seven in our SMART Farmer podcast series and this week our subject is John Deere, the company. John Deere was not a farmer, but he was a real person who started innovating for farmers back in 1837 when he designed a newfangled kind of plow that helped pioneers break through rich Midwest soil. … Read More
New Seed Mixture Offers Pollinator Benefits
Native bees contribute more than $9 billion to the U.S. economy by pollinating crops while managed hives contribute over $15 billion, so their decline has resulted in a major concern for the agriculture industry. Grassland Oregon is working to solve that problem with their new Pasture for Pollinators forage seed mixture. The seed is not only pollinator friendly, proceeds from sales will … Read More
Perdue Answers Questions From NAFTA to Wildfires
Yesterday newly confirmed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue spent his third day on the job visiting the USDA office in Kansas City, Missouri. He also addressed members of the press, answering questions on topics from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to wildfires. “I was a grain trader, and President Trump is a trader,” Perdue said when asked about … Read More
Perdue Officially Confirmed as Secretary of Ag
The U.S. Senate has formally confirmed the nomination of George Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III to serve as the 31st Secretary of Agriculture with a final vote of 87 to 11. Perdue is an agribusinessman, veterinarian, state legislator, and former governor of Georgia. He grew up working on his family farm in central Georgia, making him the fourth agriculture secretary who … Read More
GROWMARK Offers Advice to Protect Crops this Season
It’s been a warmer, dryer winter than normal, says Tim Laatsch with the Agronomy Division at GROWMARK. Combining that with the wet conditions many growers are experiencing this spring puts crops at risk. The dry windows have provided opportunity to plant some early season corn, but corn isn’t the only thing growing in the field. Winter annuals are also thriving, which … Read More
Mammoth Trading Presents Lesson in Water Markets
Mammoth Trading’s President, Richael Young sat on a panel during the 2017 Water for Food Global Conference called, “Drought, Water Risk and the Context for Water Markets.” Drought risk management was positioned as a focal point as panelists discussed the water transaction outlook, water policy trends and the role of public versus private investment in water markets. Mammoth Trading develops … Read More