A disease causing some real problems for citrus growers in the U.S. is citrus greening disease, also called Huanglongbing or HBL. The bacterial disease poses no threat to humans, but its effect on the trees can be devastating. Discovered in Florida in September 2005, HBL is being closely monitored. But that monitoring can be quite labor intensive and costly. At …
Newbies to Precision Ag Credit Pioneers for Success
Getting more out of your fields… that’s the name of the game in agriculture these days, and precision techniques are helping farmers optimize those yields to their fullest potentials. Success by some pioneers in the field is helping more new companies also offer more products. At the recent International Conference on Precision Agriculture, Chuck caught up with Nick Koshnick (on …
NCBA Federation Div. Approves Comm. Structure
The NCBA Federation Division, which we’ve known as the Federation of State Beef Councils, is chaired by Craig Uden, fourth generation cattleman from Elwood, Nebraska. I visited with him to find out what’s on the agenda for the Federation here at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. Craig says the main issue before the Federation here is the committee restructuring. He …
2012 W. D. Farr Scholarship Recipients
During the Cattle Industry Summer Conference two graduate students, one studying animal science and the other agricultural water management, received the 2012 W.D. Farr Scholarships from the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. The $12,000 awards recognize superior achievements in academics and leadership and will allow the students to further their study in fields that benefit the cattle and beef industry. The scholarships …
NCBA Leading Forward
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO, Forrest Roberts, gave a passionate speech this morning during the closing business session at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. He encouraged everyone to keep “leading forward.” I visited with him beforehand to find out what his vision is for NCBA moving ahead and he focused on three key areas, Challenge, Change and Courage. He says …
Int’l Attendees Take Info Back Home from ICPA
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 …
Getting to Know Raven Industries
The Raven Innovation Summit this week was a great chance to get to learn more about this dynamic and diverse company that manufacturers precision agriculture solutions. This year was the 10th Innovation Summit and the first time that the company invited media to attend the event that brings Raven partners from around the world to company headquarters in Sioux Falls, …