With 45 countries in attendance, the International Conference on Precision Agriculture truly had an international feel to it. And many are hoping to take what they learn back home to apply to their agricultural operations. “We’re trying to promote farmers to work as scientists to help themselves,” said Rachel Nwakwasi, a poster presenter from the Federal University of Technology Owerri …
Understanding Beef Board Committee Structure
Polly Ruhland, CEO of the Beef Board, is making a point in answer to a question during the first Beef Board business session in this photo. I spoke with Polly to get a better understanding of the new committee structure that was approved during that session. Polly explains the process that led to the proposal for restructuring that was presented …
Cattle Industry Summer Conference Going Well
The President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is J.D. Alexander. I talked to him about how the Cattle Industry Summer Conference is going. He says it’s going well in spite of challenges like the drought. There are over 700 people registered which is about normal for this meeting. When it comes to the weather related issues affecting the industry …
National Beef Quality Audit Updated
During the Cattle Industry Summer Conference the results of the 2011 Beef Checkoff funded National Beef Quality Audio were released. It shows that progress has been made but that there is still room for improvement. To learn more about it I spoke with Tom Field, Director of the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska. He’s a fifth …
Precision Ag More than Just Tools and Technology
With the introduction of conservation and horticulture, precision ag is branching out. “This is an indication that precision agriculture goes beyond just tools and technology. It’s really a mindset,” said Steve Phillips with the International Plant Nutrition Institute and moderator of a session entitled, Precision A to Z for Practitioners III, at the recent International Conference on Precision Agriculture in …
MAPPing… Mobile App’ing… MapShots’ Software
Conferences are always great for seeing the latest and greatest in equipment and software, and the International Conference on Precision Agriculture in Indianapolis, IN was certainly no exception. Making the rounds through the vendors’ displays, Chuck caught up with Tim Taylor from MapShots, who told him about the latest apps his company has to work with their precision agronomy software …
No Hormones Used in Chicken/Turkey Production
Think chickens are raised by giving them hormones? You’d be wrong. Simply not true. The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association has put together a video you can share to set the record straight. One of the most common, and frustrating, questions for U.S. poultry producers is why hormones are used to produce today’s poultry products. Of course, the actual answer …
AgGateway Opening Doors for eCommerce, Info
One of the benefits of the recent International Conference on Precision Agriculture in Indianapolis, IN was the chance for different groups and different companies, even some competitors, to get together to find common ground for the good of the agriculture industry. Enter AgGateway. “AgGateway is an organization focused on enabling eCommerce in the agricultural industry, and it goes across trading …
John Deere: Your Tractor is Calling
One of the images Chuck saw at the International Conference on Precision Agriculture was a picture of a farmer on an cell phone, being called by his tractor. While it might be a bit of a parody, it’s not too far from the truth. In an interview with Aaron Bartholomay from the Intelligent Solutions Group of our sponsor, John Deere, …
Agvocating With Kenny Wallace
Illinois Corn Growers got to hang out with “The Agvocate” Kenny Wallace at Chicagoland Speedway today. It’s NASCAR racing weekend and Kenny will be driving in tomorrow’s Nationwide STP 300 race. Kenny attracted a big crowd to the exhibit area outside the grandstands this afternoon. He talked to them and signed autographs for an hour. I heard one fan say …