Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Rep. John Shimkus. The Illinois Republican is pleased with the results of the first six months of the 114th Congress but admits difficult votes lie ahead on spending and regulatory overreach. Shimkus supports free trade and believes leadership should withhold opposition to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal until the final rules of the …
iCropTrak at InfoAg Conference
The InfoAg Conference is only four weeks away and companies like iCropTrak are getting excited to showcase their products to a record setting crowd in St. Louis. iCropTrak has been a supporter of ours for several years now and I look forward to visiting with them in the trade show and during a session I will be moderating that includes …
Corn Growers in Cuba
Nine farmer leaders and staff members from the National Corn Growers Association, the U.S. Grains Council and the North Dakota Barley Council traveled to Cuba last week to see first-hand opportunities for expanding U.S. coarse grain exports if trade is fully normalized with the island nation. The mission was part of an ongoing effort by the grains industry to assess …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Rep. Ron Kind
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Rep. Ron Kind. As a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Wisconsin Democrat supports free trade and explains why it was such a difficult vote for many Democrats, who largely opposed President Obama. Kind shares his thoughts for the Obama administration in the latter stages of the TPP negotiations, especially …
A Different Approach to Nutrient Management
Growers who are interested in reducing crop inputs and increasing profits can learn more about a program to achieve both from Crop Health Labs. This nutrient management tool is plant sap analysis and they are hosting webinars throughout July to educate growers about this different approach to very common nutrient management problems. I spoke with Crop Health Labs Executive Director, …
Record Beans, Lower Corn in New Acreage Report
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates 85.1 million acres of soybeans planted in the United States this year, up two percent from last year and setting a new record high. In contrast, growers planted an estimated 88.9 million acres to corn, the lowest corn acreage since 2010. Record high soybean planted acreage is estimated in …
Calling All Drone Buffs – Interdrone
Got Drone? Want Drone? Then plan to attend Interdrone! It’s Interdrone, the International Drone Conference & Expo, taking place in Las Vegas, September 9-11. AgWired is a media sponsor for Interdrone and I hope to attend the show to provide coverage right here and on Precision.AgWired.com. I talked with Ted Bahr, President/CEO, BZ Media, the company that is conducting the …
TPA Signed With Eye Toward New Agreements
President Obama signed two trade bills passed by Congress on Monday, one authorizing Trade Promotion Authority and one renewing Trade Adjustment Assistance. The president pointed out that while the bills will help negotiations move forward on trade agreements such as the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), they are not the actual agreements. “We still …
Corn Growers Tell EPA the #RFSWorks
Corn growers from across the nation were in Kansas City, Kansas yesterday to testify and rally in support of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association were among over 200 stakeholders to provide comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to reduce the volume of ethanol required to be used in the nation’s fuel supply …
Dancing Bachelor Farmer Supports Ethanol
He’s been a guy handing out roses to the ladies on “The Bachelor” and wowing everyone with his fancy footwork on “Dancing with the Stars.” Now, Chris Soules says he just a “normal famous guy” back home in Iowa supporting agriculture and getting back to what he loves: farming. He recently served as the grand marshal for the American Ethanol …