There are different tools producers and technicians can take advantage of when coordinating disease control. Dr. Erin Johnson, Boehringer Ingelheim (BIVI), talked about a couple of these during the North American PRRS Symposium at BIVI’s breakout session. “One of our big data gap problems is we have a lot of data on the farm, but we don’t translate it very …
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Five Sorghum Checkoff board directors were sworn in during the Dec. 10, 2014, board meeting in Lubbock, Texas. As a follow-up to its Stacked Income Protection Plan/Farm Bill workshops, the National Cotton Council is hosting four regional information webinars. The Board of Directors of the American Soybean Association has confirmed Wade Cowan from Brownfield, Texas, as its newest President and …
Research Looks at Value of Neonicotinoids
The agriculture industry is working to show the benefits of neonicotinoids in the face of an EPA report released in October concluding that the seed treatments “provide little or no overall benefits to soybean production in most situations.” During the ASTA CSS and Seed Expo last week, Dr. Pete Nowak with AgInfomatics discussed some of his findings on the value …
CRomnibus Passes Congress
After passing a short term extension early in the day on Saturday to give them more time to consider longer term spending legislation, the Senate decided by evening to put a bow on the so-called “CRomnibus” and wrap it up. The $1.1 trillion measure to keep the government funded through September 2015 passed the Senate by a vote of 56 …
Forbes Ranks Feeding America 3rd Largest Charity
Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, has moved up to the number three spot on the Forbes Magazine’s list of the 50 top charities for 2014. The charity had been rated fourth by Forbes in 2012 and 2013. Forbes notes that Feeding America’s recorded gifts of $1.86 billion for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, mainly donated …
Specialty Crop Growers to Get Better Insurance
Growers of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops will get some better protection courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This USDA news release says the agency will now provide greater protection from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for crops that traditionally have been ineligible for federal crop insurance as part of the 2014 Farm Bill. “These new …
Commodity Classic Gets New Mobile App
Attendees of the upcoming Commodity Classic will have an easier time planning their schedules during the event. The mobile app, which can be downloaded from a variety of operating systems’ app stores, will give attendees fresh information on sponsors, trade show floor events, locations for sessions and exhibits, and other up-to-the-minute information on the nation’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and …
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The North American Meat Association (NAMA) and Executive Director Philip H. Kimball announced that he has stepped down after eight years of service to the North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) and NAMA. Archer Daniels Midland Company announced that it has selected Erlanger, Kentucky, as the site for its new information technology and support center. The Livestock Exporters Association (LEA) …
Follow Your Management Rules to Tackle PRRS
With over 20 years of research into PRRS, Dr. PH Rathjen with Boehringer Ingelheim (BIVI), is no stranger to the virus. As one of the speakers at the BIVI sponsored session at the North American PRRS Symposium he shared his experiences dealing with PRRS from his home in Denmark and how utilizing both Area Regional Control (ARC) and vaccines can …
UF Prof is Biotech Advocate
Hearing food and health “celebrities” spread misinformation about agriculture really annoys plant molecular and cellular biology professor Dr. Kevin Folta, who spoke at the CSS 2014 and Seed Expo this week in Chicago. Folta, who has a blog where he calls himself “a scientist in a scientifically illiterate nation at a time when we need science the most,” took the …