How Broadband & Precision Ag Are Increasing Farmers’ Profits

Joanna Schroeder

I recently attended the Iowa Power Farming Show and one of the technologies that I featured in a post on our sister blog Precision Pays, was Ag Leader’s new SMS Mobile Technologies. As I result, I was asked to write a guest post for Broadband for America. They asked if I could write a blog about how broadband technology has …

Ag Leader, Agribusiness, Internet, Precision Agriculture

Secretary Tom Vilsack, Chairman Frank Lucas to Speak at Commodity Classic

Joanna Schroeder

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is returning to the Commodity Classic and will be joined this year by U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas. The two will deliver keynote addresses during the General Session on March 4th in Tampa, Florida. “We are honored to welcome two of the most respected and influential men in Washington on agriculture …

ASA, Commodity Classic, NCGA

Novozymes Completes Acquisition of EMD/Merck Crop BioScience

Joanna Schroeder

It’s official. Novozymes now owns EMD/Merck Crop BioScience. The acquisition was announced last December and completed this week. “We’re excited to bring these two innovative companies together to help farmers produce more and better food, feed, fuel, and fiber while minimizing the environmental footprint,” says Thomas Videbæk, Executive Vice President of Novozymes. Novozymes purchased the company because it felt it …

Agribusiness

Using Alge to Improve Ag Sustainability

Joanna Schroeder

Agriculture often gets a bad wrap on the sustainability scale but growers know that they aren’t going to jeopardize their livehoods and they are great stewards of the land. But for those growers who are still looking for some unique ways to be a little “greener” with their operations, they should consider algae. Kent Bioenergy has its roots in aquaculture. …

Aquaculture, Audio, Biodiesel, Livestock, Sustainability

Snow Can’t Keep Growers Away From Iowa Power Farming Show

Joanna Schroeder

Despite blizzard conditions throughout much of Iowa and across the country, the weather couldn’t keep thousands of growers from descending on Des Moines for the 56th annual Iowa Power Farming Show that kicked off today. This three day show, which ends on February 3, 2011, is expected to be one of the largest in the show’s history and I’m here …

Ag Leader, Audio, Farm Shows

Book Review – Cows Can’t Jump

Joanna Schroeder

Calling all teachers and parents and those with nieces, nephews, cousins…OK, I’m basically calling everybody. You have to read this book, “Cows Can’t Jump,” by Dave Reisman. The book is about embracing our differences and focusing not on what we can’t do well, but on what we do best. In a world where a child’s self-esteem is attacked and challenged …

Uncategorized

NCGA Applauds EPA’s Latest E15 Decision

Joanna Schroeder

This morning, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is approving the use of E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) in conventional vehicles and light duty trucks manufactured in 2001 or later. Last October, the EPA had approved the use of E15 for model year 2007 or newer. During a press call, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said, …

Corn, Ethanol, NCGA

UC Davis Wins $40M in Ag Grants

Joanna Schroeder

UC Davis has won $40 million in federal grants to develop climate-change-tolerant plants and plants better suited to produce fuel. UC Davis scientists, who will led the various projects, will work with researchers at more than 50 universities spanning 20 states. UC Davis wheat geneticist Jorge Dubcovsky will receive $25 million to head a team that will work to develop …

Biofuels, Research, Wheat

Pennsylvania Farm Show Goes Green

Joanna Schroeder

The Pennsylvania Farm Show kicked off a little greener this year. The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center has some new “eco” features including a 124 kW rooftop photovoltaic solar array that were part of an energy savings project complements of the Pennsylvania Guaranteed Energy Savings Act. The new energy efficient, eco-features were celebrated during an opening day celebration …

Farm Shows, Sustainability