Valley® Water Management (VWM) and Yaskawa™ America are partnering to provide variable frequency drives for VWM pump stations. Variable frequency drives ensure that pump motors function at optimal efficiency. They can dramatically boost efficiency and energy savings by preventing over pumping and over pressurizing of irrigation equipment. “Yaskawa is the market leader in water pumping and agriculture applications for variable … Read More
EPA Chief Heading to Missouri
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy will travel to Missouri this week to defend and explain the Administration’s proposed rules defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA). On Wednesday, McCarthy will visit Missouri corn and soybean farmer Bill Heffernan to view soil conservation practices used to protect local waterways. On Thursday, she will deliver … Read More
Ag Leader Intellislope® Demonstration Video
Water management has become increasingly important for farming operations in the Midwest and tiling is a key component to effective water management practices. Intellislope® from Ag Leader is a way for the grower to efficiently work through the field and place their own tiling system. In addition, SoilMax offers a “Gold Digger” plow to run behind your machine and adjust … Read More
Hick Chick Chat with Ag Leader Technology
This week, I attended Ag Leader Technology’s field event, Where Technology Meets Dirt Road Tour. It was a beautiful and hot day, which was perfect for growers to come and see the live demonstrations and learn about seed, fertilizer, water and data. During Ag Leader’s Tech Meets Dirt event near Peoria, I caught up with Matt Wolf, territory manager for … Read More
Economist Finds EPA Analysis of Water Rule Flawed
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Water Act rule is rife with errors, lacks transparency and would greatly expand strict federal control over land that was previously not regulated by the federal government, according to a report by economist and University of California-Berkley faculty member Dr. David Sunding. Sunding’s report, Review of 2014 EPA Economic Analysis of Proposed Revised Definition … Read More
IFBF Members Urge Support of Conservation Programs
Iowa Farm Bureau members urge Governor Branstad to sign legislation authorizing additional one-time investments approved by lawmakers this year, including appropriations to the Water Quality Initiative, Soil Conservation Cost-Share Program, and the Ag Drainage Well Closure Program. A commitment to these important conservation programs will leverage private funds and are ideal areas to invest in Iowa’s water quality and soil … Read More
USDA Helps Ag Producers Improve Water Quality
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $33 million in assistance will be provided to farmers and ranchers to make conservation improvements that will improve water quality in 174 watersheds. “This targeted approach provides a way to accelerate voluntary, private lands conservation investments to improve water quality and to focus water quality monitoring and assessment funds where they are most needed,” … Read More
Hick Chick Chat on Sustainable Farming
At the recent Walmart Sustainable Products Expo, Monsanto made two significant commitments to help address critical challenges in the areas of water and nutrient efficiency. In making the announcement, Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant asked a farmer leader to join him and talk about what these commitments mean for the agriculture community. Leon Corzine is an Assumption, Illinois farmer and past National … Read More
Budding Conservation Practice Helps Farmers
An up-and-coming conservation practice offered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps farmers and ranchers manage water on their land, keep water clean and better cope with extreme weather like drought. Drainage water management enables landowners to determine when and how much water leaves farms through underground tiles and drainage ditches. Underground tiles lay beneath fields removing excess water … Read More
Farm Bureau Wants EPA to Ditch Water Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed “Waters of the US” rule was published in the Federal Register last week – all 111,000 words of it. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) responded with just three words – “Ditch the Rule”. AFBF Public Policy Director Dale Moore says the “ditch” part comes from the fact that a reading of the rule indicates … Read More