- In 2018, an epidemic of corn tar spot plagued corn growers from Florida to Michigan. This plant disease, caused by the fungus Phyllachora maydis, reduced corn yields by as much as 60 bushels per acre. Compounding difficulties, the fungus cannot be grown in a lab, limiting scientists’ understanding of how to fight it. To combat its spread, the Foundation for Food & Agricultural Research awarded a $150,000 Rapid Outcomes for Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to a group of plant pathologists to study and mitigate tar spot on corn. This ROAR grant was matched by the National Corn Growers Association, Corteva Agriscience, Wyffels Hybrids, Illinois Corn Growers Association and Purdue University for a total investment of $300,000.
- NACHURS® Turf & Ornamental, a brand of Nachurs Alpine Solutions®, has announced the commercialization of a new line of products called Enhanced Turfgrass Management®, a group of turfgrass supplements that represent a unique new approach for improved turfgrass management.
- At its virtual annual conference this week, AgGateway honored exemplary individuals who have made outstanding contributions in advancing the industry’s transition to digital agriculture. These digital solutions help companies reduce errors and increase efficiency; achieve interoperability in hardware and software systems to turn data into value; and leverage global resources and business relationships needed to enhance productivity, traceability and sustainability. Ann Vande Lune, Agronomy Administrator at Key Cooperative, received AgGateway’s Ron Storms Leadership Award, the organization’s top honor.
- Major investments and an enhanced breeding strategy are producing tangible results in the Golden Harvest® corn portfolio. New heights in bushels per acre arrive just as farmers seek new ways to maximize their profit potential in the 2021 growing season. The key to these improvements is a commitment from Syngenta to spend $1.4 billion every year on global research and development, supporting the company’s seeds, traits, digital and crop protection businesses – and the customers they benefit.
- Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business at Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives, announced a new collaboration with EFC Systems, Inc., a leading provider of solutions for ag retailers and growers. This initiative will unlock new value for ag retailers by allowing them to offer their growers an easy way to benchmark their current level of stewardship and identify additional practices and products that could benefit their farm, improve productivity and profitability, and better position their businesses and care for natural resources for the long term.
