Researchers from the Cornell Horticlutrue Section of the School of Intergrative Plant Science and the Department of Entomology have experimented with a rather surprising subject. The Cornell orchards in Ithaca are producing crisp apples– all without the aid of commercial hives of honeybees. “This is a food security issue,” said entomology professor Bryan Danforth. “We need to know if growers … Read More
BASF Opens New Research Station in India
A new BASF research station in Pune, India will focus on the areas of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and other solutions beyond crop protection products. Experts in biology, farm managements, and workers have been hired for the new facitlity. The center will research ares of global interest for the agriculture community, but it will also investigate issues specific to India, such … Read More
Space Research Sponsored by BASF
The research project of three twelfth-grade students will have the scientific and financial sponsorship of BASF as they send their experiment to astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS). The students from the ag program at Edith Stein School in Ravensburg, Germany have created an experiment to test plant growth in microgravity conditions, specifically plant cuttings. Prior research done in the field of … Read More
UF Breeds Wine Grapes with Precision
A University of Florida researcher, Dennis Gray, is using what he terms “precision breeding” to develop disease-resistant grapes. Powdery mildew and black rot are torment of grape growers, but Gray has successfully bred three varieties that resist these diseases. Thompson Seedless, Seyval Blanc and Syrah are three out of only 35 varieties of grapes that are grown on 66 percent … Read More
Bayer Opens New Breeding Facility
Bayer CropScience has celebrated the grand opening of its new $17 million, state-of-the-art, Beaver Crossing Breeding and Trait Development Station. Bayer hopes the research and development activities of this center will deliver breakthrough wheat and soybean varieties. The center will be focusing on parent discovery and hybrid wheat breeding, with plans to research new wheat varieties designed to help growers face … Read More
NRGene Maps Maize Genome in Just 34 Hours
An Israeli company specializing in big data genomic analysis has mapped the maize W22’s genome in just 34 hours. NRGene‘s speed and accuracy contributed to the entire mapping process being done exceptionally cost effectively. “NRGene’s expertise in both plant genomics and IT allows us to create tools that deliver practical, useful results for scientists,” said Dr. Gil Ronen, CEO, NRGene. … Read More
Researchers Study Using Wastewater on Crops
A new study will look at the feasibility of using treated wastewater on crops. This news release from the University of California, Riverside says the school has partnered with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem to launch the two-year study they hope will lead to viable and cost-effective regional water reuse policies. Kurt Schwabe, associate professor of environmental economics and policy … Read More
11 Land-Grant Institutions Help Protect Pecan Yield
More than 75% of the world’s pecan crop is produced in the United States, and researchers and extension specialists from 11 land-grant universities are working together to ensure that pests don’t affect crop yield. The project, titled S-1049 Integrated Management of Pecan Arthropod Pests in the Southern U.S., is a multistate research project that helps pecan growers learn more about … Read More
New Bayer CropScience R&D Facility Opens in NC
Bayer CropScience has opened a new breeding and trait development station in eastern North Carolina. This company news release says the $6.3 million state-of-the-art facility will be home to testing and development of new cotton and soybean varieties for the mid-Atlantic and Southern United States. The Breeding and Trait Development Station at Pikeville is the first of several Bayer CropScience … Read More
2014 Nebraska On-Farm Research Results
The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network continues to grow and this year the program expanded to include three update meetings with over 250 in attendance. Growers and educators discussed results from over 75 on-farm research studies. A number of topics were covered: cover crops, foliar fungicides, growth promoters, harvest methods, seed treatments, foliar micro-nutrients, planting operations, corn and soybean planting populations, … Read More