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 …
Secretary Tom Vilsack, Chairman Frank Lucas to Speak at Commodity Classic
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 …
Novozymes Completes Acquisition of EMD/Merck Crop BioScience
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 …
Using Alge to Improve Ag Sustainability
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. …
Ag Leader Launches New SMS Mobile Package
It was a big day in Des Moines yesterday – a major snow storm blew in and thousands of farmers blew in with weather for the 56th Annual Iowa Power Farming Show. In tandem with the show, Ames, IA based Ag Leader Technology launched some new precision ag products and their team spent a very busy day demonstrating them for …
Snow Can’t Keep Growers Away From Iowa Power Farming Show
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 …
Book Review – Cows Can’t Jump
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 …
NCGA Applauds EPA’s Latest E15 Decision
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, …
UC Davis Wins $40M in Ag Grants
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 …
Pennsylvania Farm Show Goes Green
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 …