USDA has increased its estimate of both the corn and soybean crops this month, building on already forecast record highs. Corn production is forecast at 14.4 billion bushels, up 3 percent from both the August forecast and from 2013. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 171.7 bushels per acre, up 4.3 bushels from the …
John Deere’s New ExactEmerge Planter
John Deere is breaking the planting speed and accuracy barriers of traditional row-crop planting with the introduction of a new seed delivery system. With the launch of their ExactEmerge row unit for the most accurate planting at speeds up to 10 mph and the new industry-leading MaxEmerge 5 row units for planting at traditional speeds, customers can now plant with …
Food Prices Not Following Corn Down
Just two years ago when corn prices were up due to the drought, critics were blaming higher food prices on the use of corn for ethanol. Today, corn prices are lower than the cost of production, but food prices are still rising. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has released a new report that shows how false food versus fuel claims …
2014 IFAJ Congress Wrap
I’m calling on all AAEA, LPC, NAAJ and NAFB members to put the annual IFAJ Congress on your calendars. In October 2015 it will be in New Zealand! But let’s take a listen to some information about last week’s Congress in Scotland. First up in the program is opening remarks from the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists’ Jane Cragie. Then …
Bayer CropScience Expanding R&D
The opening of the new Bayer CropScience research and development facility last week in Sacramento will allow the company to better leverage its full capabilities by consolidating and expanding its global R&D organization. “The investment into this state-of-the-art facility creates an environment where our researchers and experts can find the best possible conditions to discover solutions that growers across the …
House Says Whoa to WOTUS
While everyone else in the world was watching the new Apple products roll out Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives was rolling over a proposed rule that would greatly expand regulation of waters in the United States. A parade of Congressional representatives from both parties spoke up for the bill that would stop the controversial rule proposed by the Environmental …
Wheat Harvest Documentary Reviews
We talked with a couple of the people at the showing last month of “The Great American Wheat Harvest” in Bismark, North Dakota and everyone seemed to give it two thumbs up. “I think it will open people’s eyes if they see it as to how the whole industry works,” said Zack, a custom harvester from Girard, Kansas who was …
New Holland Introduces New Product Innovations
In 2015, New Holland will introduce 25 new product innovations to the market, from award-winning, revolutionary engine technology meeting Tier 4B emissions requirements, to the latest advancements in harvesting technology and precision farming. The Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa set the stage for New Holland to introduce the new products. There Chuck spoke with New Holland’s Mark Hooper, he …
Wheat Growers Pleased with Documentary
The North Dakota Wheat Commission is one of the sponsors of the documentary “The Great American Wheat Harvest” which had a special showing in Bismark last month, and they seemed pretty pleased with the outcome. “It’s primarily focused on the harvest element,” said NDWC administrator Neal Fisher after watching the finished product. “(But) there’s a very human, family element in …
USDA Announces Conservation Program Success
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday that $328 million in conservation funding is being invested to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands across the nation. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which was created in the 2014 Farm Bill to protect critical wetlands and encourage producers to keep lands in farming …