Bayer CropScience has launched its third annual Young Farmer Sustainability Award, which recognizes growers 40 years or under who demonstrate sustainability on his or her farm. The 2013 award will be selected by a group of industry experts and Bayer leaders, and will be awarded in February at the 2013 Ag Issues Forum held in conjunction with Commodity Classic in … Read More
Meet Dan Hughes – Precision.AgWired.com Profile
It is time for another Precision.AgWired.com Profile. Again, NAFB Trade Talk made it possible for me to meet Dan Hughes, a farmer from western Nebraska. Dan operates an 11,000 acre farm with 20% irrigated and 80% in dry land. He manages a diverse selection in the field including: hard red winter wheat, hard white winter wheat, corn, soybeans, dry edible … Read More
Generational Differences Among Farmers
New research shows how the management style of younger dairy producers and corn growers compares and contrasts with that of their older counterparts. The survey, commissioned by McCormick Company, considered management practices, ownership structures, decision-making processes, business and transition planning, and the role of information — including digital media — in running respondents’ operations. What the study found was that … Read More
Precision Farming Increases Sustainability
A grower sustainability panel took place during the recent Bayer CropScience 2012 Ag Issues Forum with the theme of “Hands in the Dirt: First-Hand Grower Experiences.” Panel member Nancy Kavazanjian, a farmer from Wisconsin who grows corn, soybeans and wheat, talked about what the word “sustainability” meant to her. “When a farmer hears the word sustainable they kind of cringe,” … Read More
Will Precision Technologies Lead To Eco-Foods
It’s one thing for growers or livestock producers and processors to work together, or vertically integrate. But what can happen when the World Wildlife Fund, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Cargill, Intervet/Schering-Plough and beef producer groups get together? A recent story in the Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) discusses the issue and the possible eco-food results. It is a subtle, yet vital, shift in … Read More
Precision Potato Farming Aims at Sustainability
Precision agriculture is playing a much larger role in helping potato growers become more sustainable, according to a recent story in Spudman. Bruce Crapo, a grower of 6,000 acres of commercial potatoes and 2,000 acres of seed potatoes in Idaho, is a good example of how the average potato farmer looks at precision agriculture – he uses technology to reduce … Read More
Precision Technology Helps Conserve Irrigation Water
At the recent Holdrege Water Conference in Nebraska, several speakers talked about how precision technology is not only conserving water but saving growers money as well, according to this Nebraska TV report. It really is a big money-saver,” said UNL Extension Educator Chuck Burr. “Several years ago, we had some irrigators figure out how much it costs them to make … Read More
NCGA Social Media Webinars Start January 20
Precision communications pays, too. Learn how to help promote your farm, your agriculture, using social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. These tools can truly help communicate the importance of what we’re doing, and it’s vitally important that we know how to use them, properly and regularly. Throughout 2011, the National Corn Growers Association will hold a series of hourly webinars … Read More
Nebraska Ag Tech Conference Gears Up
Don’t miss the upcoming February 9-10 NeATA conference in Grand Island, Neb., as it promises a technology extravaganza, along with other valuable topics such as precision Nitrogen management, social media, building consumer trust and much more. The Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association (NeATA), founded in 2001 by innovative Nebraska farmers, ranchers, agribusiness representatives and the University of Nebraska Extension, has compiled … Read More
Wireless Irrigation Sensor Workshops
If you irrigate and have not considered wireless sensors, the time is now to save money and improve yields. The University of Missouri will sponsor three free breakfast workshops on wireless soil-moisture monitoring for timing irrigation. The workshops will feature representatives from six leading manufacturers of wireless sensors. The workshops will take place Jan. 18 in Kennett, Jan. 19 in … Read More