Debbie Borg blogs about issues of technology and food from her Borg Farm base near Allen, Nebraska. In a recent post of “Random Thoughts,” she spoke of the great achievements of agricultural technology and the production efficiencies it has helped achieve. Agriculture’s efficiency just seems to keep getting better and many of the activists groups want us to go … Read More
Precision Feeding Aims To Reduce Environmental Risks
To help reduce excessive nitrates from manure, Penn State research is focused on reducing manure nitrogen by 30-50% and phosphorus by 40-60% by precision feeding dairy cattle. The Chesapeake Bay Commission has determined that, by far, the most cost-effective way to minimize the environmental impact of the large volumes of manure generated within the estuary’s watershed is by adjusting feed … Read More
Satellites Show Ozone Cutting Soybean Yields
Losses of up to $2 billion per year (10%) in soybean yield is due to rising surface ozone, according to satellite measurements by NASA, as outlined in a recent study. Above a threshold concentration, ozone inhibits photosynthesis and reduces yield in soybeans, one of the more sensitive crops to high surface ozone levels. On the left are plants that have … Read More
Precision Crop Technology Proves Sustainability
While anti-agriculture naysayers continue to blast away at GM crops as the end of the world, it’s our duty to offer sound science to the discussion. To this end, a recent study by the British-based PG Economics offers some statistics on the value of biotech crops…as discussed in a recent Nebraska Corn Kernels blog post. Biotech crops help reduce greenhouse … Read More
Promote Precision Ag Benefits Beyond The Choir
As efficient farmers–using precision agriculture tools to apply less fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, et. al.–you know your technology ROI is helping your bottom line. But do the people we feed know the improvements–in crops as well as livestock? Sadly, no they don’t. It’s time we all make a greater effort to use some precision social media tools (Twitter and Facebook, along … Read More
Technology Will Drive Economic Recovery
Farm operations that embrace increased productivity through technology will help drive the world’s economic recovery, according to Ray O’Connor, president and CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems. “And this drives top-ranked technology companies to continue to support strong R&D efforts.” “In tough times, increasing productivity through the acceptance of technological breakthroughs will be the difference in success and failure, the difference … Read More
Precision Agriculture Boosts Farming Smarter
The technology of precision agriculture is becoming more affordable (Precision.AgWired.com!), easier to use, less cumbersome in the tractor cab and physically easier on the farmer (thanks to auto steer). That’s the message delivered by ag industry veteran Harold Reetz, president of the Foundation for Agronomic Research, in a recent story he penned for AgriNews. The risks of over-applying and under-yielding … Read More
Precision Technology Improves Sustainability
A new tool to measure sustainability shows how precision technology and practices have helped improve the efficiency of U.S. farmers. The Fieldprint Calculator was introduced last week at the Commodity Classic by Field to Market, The Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. “I do have to say that I like this tool for many reasons,” said Doug Goehring, who grows corn, … Read More