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UAS Pathfinder Program Includes Ag

Cindy Zimmerman

At the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems international conference in Atlanta on Wednesday, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta announced new partnerships with industries, including agriculture, to explore the next steps in unmanned aircraft operations. “We’re calling it the Pathfinder Program,” said Huerta. “We’re partnering with three leading U.S. companies who have committed extensive resources to perform research that …

Audio, Precision Agriculture

Farm Bureau Launches GMO Website

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Farm Bureau Federation has launched a new website to help farmers “Get a Move On” and stand up for biotechnology. By going to GetaMoveOn.fb.org, farmers can show their support for a national, science-based labeling standard, such as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599). “Now is the time for farmers and ranchers to take action in …

AFBF, Biotech

Phenomenal Corn Planting Progress

Cindy Zimmerman

A week ago corn planting was running behind schedule but thanks to the very latest precision technology corn farmers are now 17% ahead of the five year average with 55% of the crop in the ground, according to the latest crop progress report. The phenomenal progress included an increase of 38% in Nebraska and Illinois, 41% more in Missouri, 45% …

Audio, Corn, Farming, NCGA

GROWMARK Provides Fertilizer Update

Cindy Zimmerman

Lower crop prices and a later harvest caused farmers to cut back some on fall fertilizer application last year but supplies are expected to be adequate this spring to meet demand, according to GROWMARK Plant Food Director Joe Dillier. “Haven’t had a great test of that because of the planting delays we’ve had to date,” said Dillier. “But my guess …

Audio, Fertilizer, GROWMARK

Bayer CropScience Teams with Flagship Ventures

Cindy Zimmerman

Bayer CropScience today announced a new partnership with venture capital firm Flagship Ventures to invest in leading-edge agriculture companies and technologies. The partnership also includes an investment in Flagship Ventures Fund V, a $537 million venture capital fund that closed in March 2015. “Emerging challenges in agriculture are leading the industry in new and exciting directions,” said Liam Condon, chief …

Agribusiness, Bayer

Avian Flu Epidemic Grows

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad declared a state of emergency Friday as new confirmed and probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been announced on an almost daily basis in the last two weeks. Yet another four probable cases were announced Monday, bringing the total now to over 20 million birds at 25 sites in 11 counties. Iowa is …

Audio, Poultry

Netflix to Stream FARMLAND

Cindy Zimmerman

The movie FARMLAND is now available for streaming to 57 million subscribers worldwide on Netflix.com. “I’m thrilled that FARMLAND has found a new home at Netflix,” said Academy Award®-winning director James Moll. “There’s a lot of interest out there in the next generation of farmers and ranchers, and Netflix is a great venue to meet and be inspired by these …

USFRA

BASF Starts 150th Year With Higher Sales

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF’s 150th anniversary year is off to a great start, due in a large part to the chemical company’s innovative crop protection business. Compared with the first quarter of 2014, sales grew by 3% to €20.1 billion ($22.5 billion USD) in the first quarter of this year. Sales in the Agricultural Solutions segment rose by 15% to €1.9 billion ($2.1 …

Agribusiness, BASF, Crop Protection

Support for Food Labeling Act

Cindy Zimmerman

Hundreds of organizations representing various sectors of the food and agriculture industry signed on to a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives this week asking them to support the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The groups representing the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food urged members of Congress to consider co-sponsoring the bill introduced last month by …

ARA, Audio, Biotech

Senators Call for Revised WOTUS

Cindy Zimmerman

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators today introduced a bill that would repeal EPA’s “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) proposal. The senators, including John Barrasso (R-WY), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), jointly introduced the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, directing EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers …

Audio, EPA, Water