USDA Finds More Than One Way to Skin a Tomato

John DavisAgribusiness, Research, USDA, Vegetables

To turn a phrase, there might be more than one way to skin a tomato. Scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have found that infrared heating can simplify the removal of the tomatoes’ tight-fitting peels, better than other peeling technologies. The researchers have demonstrated, for example, that infrared-based peeling is mostly waterless. That’s a benefit for canneries in … Read More

USDA Finds Cover Crops Can be Grazed

John DavisCover Crops, Government, Research, USDA

A new study shows that allowing cattle to graze on cover crops does no damage to the soil. This article from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the Agricultural Research Service study could encourage more producers to put down the crops that help reduce soil erosion, boost organic matter, keep more moisture in soil and sequester carbon in the soil. … Read More

USDA Test Measures Healthy Compounds

John DavisFruit, Research, USDA, Vegetables

A new test developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists is now measuring the health-promoting compounds in fruits and vegetables. This story from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) says the new analytical method is better for detecting and measuring concentrations of phytochemicals called “polyphenols” in plant materials. At the ARS Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, … Read More

USDA to Strengthen 1890 Land-Grant Universities

John DavisEducation, Research, University, USDA

More than $18 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is being made available to 19 historically black land-grant colleges and universities. This news release says the money will go to strengthen the research, teaching and extension capabilities at the schools. “This support for the 1890 land-grant universities is an example of the Obama Administration and Secretary … Read More

Strawberry Group Gets Research Grants for Soils

John DavisAg Group, Fruit, Research, USDA

The California Strawberry Commission is getting more than $1 million in state and federal grants to research healthy soils. This commission news release says the research will focus on evaluation of experimental soil borne disease management systems using biologically active soil treatments. “These recent grant awards will allow us to continue working with the top researchers in the world to … Read More

Purdue Acquires Protea’s LAESI Technology

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Herbicides, Research

Protea Biosciences Group, Inc. announced that Purdue University has acquired Protea’s LAESI® DP-1000 Instrument System for direct molecular analysis. The system will be used in Purdue’s College of Agriculture, the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, for the molecular imaging of herbicide active ingredients and other related compounds to optimize herbicide applications and improve weed management. Protea’s LAESI system is … Read More

Phenome Networks Announces Project Unity

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Research

Phenome Networks, a plant breeding management and analytics Software-as-a-Service company, announced the beta launch of its Project Unity at the Plant and Animal Genome (PAG) XXIII conference in San Diego. Today, plant and animal breeders must discover the crops to feed the future through breakthrough research. Yet, at the same time, phenotypic data from hundreds of genetic studies conducted in … Read More

Research on Corn Yield Needs

John DavisCorn, Research

Researchers from Kansas State and Purdue universities say that it takes more than just high nitrogen uptake levels for corn to hit its maximum yield potential. This news release from Kansas State says the work found that nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus uptake needs to be in the proper ratio. This is one of the main findings of a comprehensive review … Read More

USDA Finds Green Method to Control Stink Bugs

John DavisInsect Control, Research, USDA

Federal researchers have found a green way to control stink bugs. This article from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says an entomologist in Georgia figured out that certain plants could keep out stink bugs that attack crops in the southeastern United States, without using insecticides that could kill the good bugs. Many farmers in Georgia plant corn each spring, … Read More

Monsanto Transforms Plant Breeding

John DavisAgribusiness, Monsanto, Research, seed

Monsanto has announced a $20 million investment in integrated technology centers as part of its global breeding program that will help feed a hungry, growing world. This company news release says these tech centers will use continuing advancements in data science, genomic breeding methods and predictive analytics to further enhance seeds and unlock untapped yield potential. “We are at a … Read More