The comment period for the EPA’s proposed volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has officially ended and stakeholders in both the biodiesel and ethanol industries made their voices heard. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments “urging the agency to finalize the RVOs that were included in EPA’s first draft of the proposal that was submitted …
GROWMARK Leading in Nutrient Loss Reduction
GROWMARK and the FS System have been leaders in the state of Illinois when it comes to helping farmers adopt best management practices to reduce nutrient losses, contributing to the success of the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. At the Farm Progress Show this week, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey visited the GROWMARK FS tent to learn what he can …
House Ag Committee at #FPS17
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX), Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) and members of the committee hosted a farm bill listening session at the Farm Progress Show Thursday in Decatur, Illinois. It was the fifth such session the committee has held so far. “This was a terrific listening session that will benefit us as we write the next farm …
Verdesian Life Sciences Introduces FlexConnect™
Verdesian Life Sciences introduced FlexConnect™, the first closed transfer system for soybean inoculants, at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois this week. Combined with a mixing port, FlexConnect enables applicators to handle and mix inoculants of any volume straight from the packaging, without transferring to a separate tank. This saves applicators time and money by minimizing the waste normally …
Stoller Fortified Stimulate Yield Enhancer Plus
At the Farm Progress Show Tuesday, StollerUSA launched its new Fortified Stimulate Yield Enhancer Plus for the 2018 growing season. During a press conference at the show, Stoller Market Development Agronomist Rob Jerek explained that the product contains a proprietary blend of four bio-identical growth-regulating hormones for optimal yield production. “These hormones are naturally in the (soybean) plant,” said Jarek, …
Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Report
The directors of the Illinois Department of Agriculture and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency yesterday presented the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Biennial Report at the Farm Progress Show. This report describes actions taken in Illinois during the last two years to reduce nutrient losses and influence positive changes in nutrient loads over time. Illinois’ Strategy is one of numerous other …
Bayer and 4-H Launch Science Matters Collaboration
Opening day of the Farm Progress Show, Bayer and the National 4-H Council announced a new partnership for future innovators in science and technology to help feed a growing population. The nationwide collaboration, Science Matters, is designed to address the need for an enhanced STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workforce by planting a love of scientific exploration in young …
NCGA Officers at #FPS17
Officers of the National Corn Growers Association are busy at the 2017 Farm Progress Show this week. I had a chance to chat with NCGA president Wesley Spurlock of Texas, first vice president Kevin Skunes from South Dakota, and 1st VP elect Lynn Chrisp first thing yesterday morning at show. We talked about a variety of topics, including crop conditions …
Bright Outlook for #FPS17
The forecast for the 2017 Farm Progress Show is so bright Don Tourte has to wear shades inside the media tent! Tourte, who is Penton Agriculture vice president and Farm Progress Show manager, says the weather is great and the crowds are here, despite the downturn in the farm economy. “I say, maybe farmers need the Farm Progress Show more …
Harvey Hits Texas Agriculture
Rescuing people trapped in flood waters continues to be the number one priority in Texas but it’s clear that Hurricane Harvey has hit agriculture hard. Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller says cotton farmers who were looking at a bumper crop this year were especially hard hit. “Best estimate so far is about a 150 million dollar loss for the …