The winners of the first National Wheat Yield Contest in 20 years used new techniques, advanced seed varieties, and innovative production practices to produce an average of 135 bushels per acre. The National Wheat Foundation recently announced the winners of the 2016 National Wheat Yield Contest, sponsored by Monsanto, BASF, John Deere, and Winfield, which drew nearly 170 entrants. The …
See the Future of Plant Breeding from #ASTACSS
Gene editing could be as revolutionary for plant breeders as cut and paste editing has been for the print industry. The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) held a press conference at the recent CSS & Seed Expo in Chicago to talk about new innovations in the industry that have great potential. We already posted the audio from that press conference …
Why #Farmers Grow #GMOs
Maryland farmer Chip Bowling agrees with a new survey that finds the main reason farmers have increased their use of genetically modified (GM) crops is sustainability. “We’re better at what we do because of technology, whether it’s seeds and traits or through the equipment that we use,” says Bowling, who farms on the Chesapeake Bay. He is also chairman of …
#Ethanol Reaction to Trump Team Mixed
Some ethanol interests are getting a little nervous about the oil industry ties of several Trump administration cabinet selections. Those include former Texas Governor Rick Perry for energy secretary, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for EPA administrator and ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) issued a call-to-action to its grassroots membership last …
Sorghum Checkoff Board Directors Sworn in
The Sorghum Checkoff Board swore in one new and three returning directors this week at the annual board meeting in Lubbock, Texas. Returning to the board are Martin Kerschen of Kansas; Daniel Krienke of Texas; and Clayton Short of Kansas. Newly appointed to the board is Kent Martin of Oklahoma. The newly sworn in board members were appointed by the …
Chicago School Growing Future Ag Careers
The American Seed Trade Association Future Seed Executives (FuSE) had the opportunity to hear about an agricultural high school right in Chicago that is growing the next generation for the industry. The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHSAS) is located just about a half hour south of the Hyatt Regency where the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo is held …
US Challenges Chinese Quotas for Rice, Wheat, and Corn
The Obama Administration has launched a new trade enforcement action against the People’s Republic of China over tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for rice, wheat, and corn. The complaint was filed with the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). “China’s TRQ policies breach their WTO commitments and limit opportunities for U.S. farmers to export …
#Farmers View GMOs as Sustainable
According to a new survey of U.S. farmers and ranchers, the majority view biotechnology and GMO crops as an important solution in helping raise crops more efficiently. The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) surveyed over 280 farmers across the United States about their attitudes toward GMO crops and specifically the impact of biotechnology …
USDA Announces New GIPSA Rules
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday announced updated regulations under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). The “Farmer Fair Practices Rules” outline “common sense protections to restore fairness and reduce the burden for farmers seeking justice under the Packers and Stockyards Act.” “For years, American farmers have been calling for protections against the most damaging unfair and deceptive practices …
DuPont Pioneer Virtual Pressers Unveil New Products
With the theme of “Innovation Elevates Performance for Growers,” DuPont Pioneer used virtual press conferences this week to unveil new corn and soybean products by region, and pulled it off with technical perfection! Technical issues are common even in simple telephone press conferences, so it was amazing to see one incorporate a phone feed with a live web feed including …