University of Missouri researchers, focused on reducing soil and nutrient loss and runoff from agricultural fields, have found that using buffers between crops and trees both reduces soil runoff and maintains good growing conditions. Runoff, when fertilizer and pesticides are washed downstream, has been in the news lately as linked to “dead” areas in the Gulf of Mexico where high … Read More
More #Soybeans and #Corn Planted This Year
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) planted acreage report for this year estimates record soybean plantings and increased corn acres over last year. The report estimates U.S. soybean planted area at a record high 83.7 million acres, up 1 percent from last year, while corn growers increased their acreage from last year by 7 percent to 94.1 million acres, making … Read More
Stem Cells May Be Key To Increased Yields
Biologists at New York’s Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered a regulatory pathway in corn that could help explain how plants regulate the proliferation of stem cells, and could potentially be used to increase yields of corn and other staple crops by as much as 50 percent. The pathway works by channeling signals from emerging young leaves in corn to … Read More
#CUTC16 Starts Off Right
In light of a lot of negativism directed toward farming today the opening speakers for the 2016 Corn Utilization Technology Conference (CUTC) were very optimistic in their outlook. Welcoming us to the 10th CUTC was Chris Novak, CEO, National Corn Growers Association. The conference is held every other year so twenty years of corn technology has been discussed in sessions … Read More
Summer Events and Contests for Corn Growers
A series of field days are being offered throughout Illinois this summer, allowing interested Illinois farmers an opportunity to learn more about progressive agricultural practices and ways to improve the health of their soil. The series, sponsored by Soil Health Partnership, will showcase how changing nutrient management and tillage strategies, along with cover crop adoption, can create lasting economic and … Read More
Comment Period Opens on RFS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a proposal to cut corn ethanol in the Renewable Fuel Standard by nearly 200 million gallons. The comment period for this proposal is opened to the public, now through July 11. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) urges farmers and consumers to submit a comment as soon as possible. The NCGA has created a webpage … Read More
Study Shows Corn Exports Add $74.7 Billion to Economy
In 2014 the export sale of corn and corn products in the U.S. generated $74.7 billion. The total rises to $82 billion when expanded to include all feed grain products, says a new report by Informa Economics. Overall, corn exports increased the U.S. GDP by $29.8 billion, compared to what would have occurred without these exports. Full-time jobs related directly … Read More
American Ethanol Launches NASCAR Sweepstakes
NASCAR will soon surpass 10 million miles of racing on American Ethanol E15 blended fuel. This year will also mark the expansion of E15 availability at fuel pumps across the nation. To celebrate both of these milestones, American Ethanol is holding a sweepstakes contest to send two lucky winners to the ultimate NASCAR experience. American Ethanol and NASCAR have been … Read More
New Discovery A Boon for Plant Breeders
The idea of “dark matter” may send your mind to astronomy (or at least science fiction), but plant scientists have discovered what they’re terming “dark matter” in the maize genome. This new discovery is a tiny percentage of regulatory DNA, and accounts for approximately half of the variations in observable traits that occur in corn. Cornell University and Florida State … Read More
Corn Production and Demand Expected to Set Records
The latest USDA report says the nation may see an all time high in production of corn in 2016, possibly reaching 14.1 billion bushels. Production is following demand, which is being driven by feed, ethanol and exports. “NCGA is pleased to see continuing demand increases in the ethanol, feed and export sectors in the report, but this report shows us … Read More