USDA Finds More Than One Way to Skin a Tomato

John DavisAgribusiness, Research, USDA, Vegetables

usdatomatoesTo 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 sometimes-drought-stricken California, the state that produces the majority of the nation’s processing tomatoes.

Not only could the technique cut the cost of bringing water to canneries, but it might also reduce the expense of recycling the water or properly disposing of it.

Disposal is of particular concern to processors who use sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide to peel tomatoes. These substances can increase the cost of treating factory wastewater, according to [USDA) scientist Zhongli] Pan.

What’s more, the infrared process may help reduce wasteful “overpeeling” of tomatoes that can occur when too many layers of tomato are inadvertently removed along with the peel. In a study published in the journal Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies in 2014, Pan and co-researchers showed that peel-related loss was about 8 to 13 percent with infrared heating as compared to about 13 to 16 percent with sodium hydroxide-based peeling.

The researchers hope to have the system ready for cannery operating speeds by 2016.

FMC Stewardship and Weed Management Infographic

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, FMC, Weed control

nfms15-fmc-davidFMC Corporation has designed a new infographic to help answer some of the FAQs about how pre-emergence herbicides fit in with best stewardship practices.

“Basically what we’re trying to do is educate farmers on the use of some of the older tools we’ve had in our tool box and not used for a long time,” said FMC Technical Business Manger David Wheeler at the National Farm Machinery Show last week. “We’re trying to get growers to take a look 12 months ahead of the application and 12 months behind the application so we maximize our weed control for maximum production and manage resistance issues and avoid overusing a single active ingredient or mode of action.”

Wheeler says they recommend applying a pre-emergence herbicide to provide extended weed control and reduce the weed seed bank. “Waterhemp or pigweed species can have up to a million seeds per plant and if we let one of those go we can have problems for years to come,” he said.

Listen to my interview with David here and check out the infographic to learn more: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nfms/nfms15-fmc-david.mp3″ text=”Interview with David Wheeler, FMC”]

2015 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

John Deere Offers Machine Sync Enhancements

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, John Deere, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS, technology

deere-machinesyncAt the National Farm Machinery Show last week, John Deere announced expanded the functionality of its Machine Sync application for 2015. The new Machine Sync features include coverage map sharing and guidance line sharing that can be useful during seeding and spraying operations, as well as when applying nutrients and during harvest.

nfms15-deere-lukeThese new features make it easy for two machines to operate in the same field while giving each operator immediate access to coverage maps and guidance lines to improve overall efficiency in the field, according to Jake Flanders with Deere’s Intelligent Solutions Group (ISG). “If you can share those (guidance) lines with each other and be able to see the areas each one has already covered that lets you do a very synchronized dance through that field with two machines without having to radio back and forth and look at lines in the dirt,” said Flanders. “You can just look at lines on your display and it makes it a lot easier.”

Jake and a few other John Deere ISG specialists conducted three daily workshops at NFMS last week to update farmers on John Deere FarmSight, AutoTrac, Section Control, Machine Sync, JDLink Connect, and the My John Deere Operations Center.

Listen to my interview with Jake here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nfms/nfms15-deere-sync.mp3″ text=”Interview with Jake Flanders, Deere ISG”]

2015 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by John Deere

FMC Promotes Overlap Weed Control

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS, Weed control

nfms15-fmc-nickThere’s no way around it anymore. With the prevalence of resistant weeds growing every year, farmers are having to use a pre- and post-emergent overlap weed management program for control. At the 2015 National Farm Machinery Show, FMC Corporation is helping to make that a little easier for growers by offering effective modes of action to keep their fields cleaner from planting to harvest.

Nick Hustedde with FMC technical services says the overlap residual program is designed to address resistant weeds that have long emergence patterns. “That overlap program encompasses several different products from FMC for soybeans and corn that fit in the strategy,” said Hustedde. Those products include Authority products for pre-emerge, Anthem for early post-emerge, and Solstice in corn to the V8 growth stage.

“We can get multiple modes of action in order to control the weeds, preserve the yield potential and also delay the onset of resistance, which is what the overlap system is all about,” he added. “It’s extremely important to get a clean start and finish clean.”

Find out more about the FMC overlap system for weed management in this interview with Nick: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nfms/nfms15-fmc-nick.mp3″ text=”Interview with Nick Hustedde, FMC”]

2015 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Root Demand Irrigation Accepts Awards

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Award, Irrigation

Screen Shot 2015-02-17 at 7.52.49 PMRoot Demand Irrigation® recently accepted one of 50 awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) for ground-breaking industry innovation for the development of its subsurface irrigation product. ASABE President Lalit Verma and ASABE Executive Director Darrin Drolinger further honored RDI by naming it one of five innovations that will change the nature of the crop farming industry.

Root Demand Irrigation is a unique form of subsurface irrigation that interacts with the plants’ roots to release water to meet the crop’s requirements. The RDI tube, a combination of the material science of DuPont and irrigation technology expertise and manufacturing of Valmont® Irrigation, is the key component of the new product. Other “smart” irrigation systems must be monitored and controlled to turn water on and off at a specific time or applied by a carefully planned prescription. The game changer offered by RDI is the way the tube senses the naturally occurring chemicals released by the plants’ roots that in turn releases water at the most beneficial time for the plants.

“It is like precision chemigation in a PVC pipe based on actual water measurements,” ASABE President Verma explains. “The purpose is to economize on the quantity of water used by placing it close to where it is needed in the plant, and at a time that is optimal.”

“RDI is honored to be seen as such an innovation that we stand out among so many outstanding products in the agricultural industry,” said Darren Siekman, Root Demand Irrigation General Manager. “RDI expects its significant benefits will be recognized globally and across broader agricultural segments – making this product truly a game-changer for the crop farming industry.”

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Kinze Offers Conversions Meters

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Kinze

KINZE_blk_R_rgbKinze® Manufacturing, Inc. is introducing the option to convert EdgeVac meters to 4000 Series Vacuum meters. This conversion allows for superior agronomic performance with singulation accuracy up to 99%+ and accurate seed spacing and population.

Kinze is releasing two kinds of conversion kits, the conventional hopper conversion kit and the bulk fill hopper conversion kit, which are available for planter models 3110, 3140, 3200, 3500, 3600, 3660, 3700 and 3800, build years 2010 and newer.

“Kinze was founded 50 years ago, and from the beginning we’ve known that innovation is the key to making superior machinery,” said Susanne Veatch, Kinze’s vice president and chief marketing officer. “We strive to provide our customers with the best products, and are offering this meter conversion option as a way to help increase the already proven performance of our planters.”

Kits are available for purchase through your local Kinze dealer.

The Chicago Farmers Talk Big Data

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Data

Screen Shot 2015-02-17 at 6.56.56 PMLearn more about big data and everything involved with it on March 9th, 2015 from 11:30-1:30 while Jesse Vollmar, CEO of Farmlogs, and Hank Roark, Manager, Decision Analytics for John Deere Technology Innovation Center talk big data. This educational opportunity is brought to you by The Chicago Farmers, an agricultural and agribusiness organization.

Big data in agriculture offers the promise of huge potential. It could dramatically improve agricultural efficiency and reduce environmental impact, but there are many questions about data security and privacy. Who owns the data and who can profit from aggregating it? How does the individual landowner or operator effectively apply this data? How will Big Data change the face of agriculture? Join us for an interesting discussion on the possibilities and how it might affect you.

For more information on this event here.

USDA Studies Phosphorus Loss Through Tiles

John Davisenvironment, USDA

10-705 Great Lakes Basin Map 25x37-rev22New information from the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that while surface runoff is a big contributor to phosphorus in watersheds, there is a significant amount coming from tiles. This article from the USDA says scientists in two studies for the agency found the runoff from farm fields into the Lake Erie Basin is a major contributor to algal blooms that can contaminate drinking water supplies.

Between 2008 and 2013, [Doug Smith, a soil scientist at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory in Temple, Texas] found that 49 percent of dissolved phosphorus and 48 percent of total phosphorus in the watershed was discharged via tile drains.

From 2005 to 2012, Kevin King, an agricultural engineer at the ARS Soil Drainage Research Unit in Columbus, Ohio, monitored phosphorus levels in the discharge from six tile drains and the outlet of a headwater watershed in central Ohio. He found that tile drains contributed 47 percent of the phosphorus discharge.

Farmers in the region are generally careful to apply only as much fertilizer as needed, and King’s measurements indicated that only around 2 percent of that phosphorus was lost through runoff. But phosphorus concentrations in the tile drainage and the watershed discharge often exceed concentrations recommended for preventing algal blooms, the researchers say. King’s team concluded that reducing phosphorus losses will require practices that mitigate losses via tile drainage in the late fall, winter and early spring, when most of the phosphorus loading occurs.

USDA is trying to find ways to reduce phosphorus levels in the Lake Erie Watershed, helping the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency meet its announced goal of reducing phosphorus fertilizer runoff into the Great Lakes by more than 1,400 tons by 2019.

USDA Finds Cover Crops Can be Grazed

John DavisCover Crops, Government, Research, USDA

cattlegrazingA 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.

Conventional wisdom holds that if cattle were allowed to graze on cover crops they would eat up and remove the nitrogen and carbon otherwise left on the soil in the cover crop plant residue. Allowing cattle to tread on the soil also could compact it, preventing air and water from passing through the soil to reach plant roots.

Alan Franzluebbers, an ecologist with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Plant Science Research Unit in Raleigh, conducted a 7-year study to see if grazing on cover crops affects the health of soils typical in the Piedmont region. ARS is USDA’s principal intramural scientific research agency, and this research supports the USDA priority of promoting sustainable agriculture…

The results showed that the relatively low-level of grazing did not significantly affect the amount of organic matter in soil and did not compact the soil. They also showed that cover crops provided high quality forage and that the organic matter lost by allowing cattle to graze on cover crops was likely made up in the organic material supplied as manure. As in previous studies, they also found that no-till soils generally contained more carbon and nitrogen than conventional till soils.

Bayer CropScience Gives $100,000 to Bee Project

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Bayer CropScience, Bees

bayer-200Every year, more than 1.7 million honey bee colonies are brought to California’s Central Valley to pollinate the vast expanses of almond orchards. Many bees arrive in the fall when little is in bloom to escape their native cold temperatures in anticipation of the world’s largest pollination event. Prior to and after the almond orchard’s bloom in late winter and spring, there is a shortage of food to help the bees survive. Bees’ food consists of nectar and pollen gathered from blooming plants. To help address the pre- and post-bloom food challenge, Bayer CropScience is giving $100,000 to Project Apis m., a nonprofit organization dedicated to better bee health through its work with growers. Project Apis m. will use the funds to provide seed mixes to growers in California and Washington who have agreed to plant cover crops for honey bees before and after almond bloom and other key seasons. The project will help build a healthier bee population to support crop pollination nationwide as bee colonies are transported to other states for other growing seasons.

“This initiative is a direct response to the lack of adequate forage needed to keep honey bees healthy and thriving,” said Jim Blome, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP North America. “In 2015, Bayer CropScience is committed to research and partnerships that will make a positive impact on honey bees.”

Bayer’s expanded partnership with Project Apis m. will complement its joint field research projects conducted on fence rows near almond orchards at Bayer’s Western Bee Care Technology Station in Fresno, California. Findings from Bayer’s research with Project Apis m. show that forage plantings also can have benefits for growers. If growers allow forage plantings adjacent to fields, rather than planting from fence row to fence row, they can reduce the loss of irrigation water, better manage soil quality and weeds, and help support wildlife, including pollinators. Local growers and landowners will plant the provided seeds on land with crops and on nearby plots to help ensure direct benefit to them and nearby bee colonies.

“With funding from Bayer, Project Apis m. will be able to work with growers to plant more acres of honey bee habitat right where it can be accessed by honey bees before the almond crop’s first bloom around Valentine’s Day,” said Christi Heintz, executive director of Project Apis m. and liaison to the Almond Board of California’s Bee Task Force. “Additionally, with Bayer’s help from its Fresno Research Station, we know the best plant species and mixes to use to feed bees and save them from starving.”

Project Apis m. will work with almond and other growers to get commitments for cover crops that will be planted in Fall 2015.