We talked with a couple of the people at the showing last month of “The Great American Wheat Harvest” in Bismark, North Dakota and everyone seemed to give it two thumbs up. “I think it will open people’s eyes if they see it as to how the whole industry works,” said Zack, a custom harvester from Girard, Kansas who was …
Wheat Growers Pleased with Documentary
The North Dakota Wheat Commission is one of the sponsors of the documentary “The Great American Wheat Harvest” which had a special showing in Bismark last month, and they seemed pretty pleased with the outcome. “It’s primarily focused on the harvest element,” said NDWC administrator Neal Fisher after watching the finished product. “(But) there’s a very human, family element in …
USDA Announces Conservation Program Success
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday that $328 million in conservation funding is being invested to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands across the nation. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which was created in the 2014 Farm Bill to protect critical wetlands and encourage producers to keep lands in farming …
FMC Corporation to Acquire Cheminova
FMC Corporation today announced an agreement to acquire Denmark-based crop protection company Cheminova for $1.8 billion. “We are very excited about the opportunity to combine Cheminova with our own Agricultural Solutions business,” said Pierre Brondeau, FMC Corporation president, CEO and chairman. “Cheminova is a company that we have long considered to be an attractive potential partner. It follows a similar …
GROWMARK FS Promotes N Management
The FS STAR Energy/GROWMARK tent was the place to be at Farm Progress Show to learn more about nitrogen management. I discussed that topic with GROWMARK western region agronomy marketing manager Nate Pierce, senior field sales agronomist John Grandin, and Chuck Webb with AGRILAND FS in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Pierce says FS started introducing nitrogen management as a system several years …
Growth of Biologics Industry
The market for biopesticides and other biologics in crop protection is growing fast and the industry is making significant investments in more research and development for these types of products. “We’re growing globally about 15-16% per year, here in the U.S. about 14% per year,” says Biopesticide Industry Alliance executive director Bill Stoneman. “Starting from a small base, we’re about …
Bayer Synergy Between Biologics and Vegetables
The new Bayer CropScience $80 million dollar integrated research and development facility is a great marriage between the company’s biologics and vegetable seeds businesses. The courtship started when Bayer acquired AgraQuest in 2012 and Mike Millie was part of that acquisition. “Started with AgraQuest back in 2004,” said Millie. When Bayer came in, “at that point we were already out …
Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck Does ALS Challenge
Showing its support for one of the most popular fundraisers ever, the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck has nominated the Florida Department of Citrus, Washington Apples, and Georgia Peaches to accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The energetic Tater Team that travels with the Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck initiated the challenge on Facebook with a …
Deadline Extended for CTIC Everglades Tour
The Conservation Technology Information Center has extended the early-bird registration deadline for the upcoming Everglades Conservation in Action Tour with discounts available now until September 12. The tour will take place October 14-15 and provide an in-depth look at the unique story of the approximately 700,000-acre Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), which is located south of Lake Okeechobee in Florida. Lettuce, …
Bayer CropScience CEOs Thrilled with New Center
The global and North American CEOs of Bayer CropScience are thrilled with their new facility for biologics and vegetable seeds research and development in West Sacramento. “It is a very big deal for us,” said Liam Condon, CEO of Bayer CropScience and Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer CropScience AG. “This is a very big investment … it’s …