Bayer CropScience is about to cut the ribbon on the grand opening of Greenhouse 5 in RTP, NC. I’m here for the grand opening and will be conducting interviews and learning more about this new facility and the kind of work Bayer is doing in the seed and trait area. To get a preview I spoke with Scott Kohne during …
Drop in USDA Estimates Talk of Wyffels Event
Some significant drops in USDA’s expected corn and soybean yields due to the drought have been the talk of the recent Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies event. “USDA took 20 bushels off of its yield, end of July, and dropping the soybean yield down to 40 and a half bushels… that makes a huge statement, and USDA probably thinks it’s smaller …
Peanut Growers Gather to Work and Play
The 14th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference kicked off Thursday with the usual scoop of southern hospitality at the ice cream registration reception. Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director Don Koehler is very excited about this year’s meeting of the Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi peanut producers. “It’s our biggest conference we’ve ever had, largest attendance. We’ve got more sponsors, we’ve …
GROWMARK: Uniting for Conservation is Refreshing
Different groups coming together for a common good… that’s the name of the game on the recent Indian Creek Watershed Project Field Tour. Chuck caught up with one of our good friends from GROWMARK, Howard Brown, manager of agronomy services and one of the participants during the tour. He said it was refreshing to see various groups coming together to …
Precision Farmer of the Year From Australia
The recipients of the 2012 PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence were honored during the International Conference on Precision Agriculture. Thanks to Paul Schrimpf, group editor of the CropLife Media Group, for the photo since I could not stay for the luncheon at which the awards were presented. Pictured are the award winners with Elliott Nowels (l), Director of the PrecisionAg Institute, …
FMC’s Anthem to Slay the Dragon of Waterhemp
Weed control and management was a big topic of discussion during the recent Anthem Field Plot Tour in Ames, Iowa, and one weed seems to be standing out this summer more than the rest. “Waterhemp is currently THE dragon,” said Dr. Mike Owen of Iowa State University. “It’s the one that is the big problem. It’s the one that’s going …
Ag Leader Technology Good Fit with Wyffels
Over the past few days, we’ve been talking a lot about how the seeds from Wyffels Hybrids are important for producers to get the most out of their land. With a high-quality product like Wyffels, you also need to combine it with the right kind of technology that helps make sure you are getting the right amount of corn in …
USDA: Conservation Project Tour a “Real Gem”
You can’t underestimate the value that an event like the recent Indian Creek Watershed Project Field Tour. “It’s a real gem,” Ivan Dozier, Illinois State Conservationist with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) told Chuck during one of the stops on the tour. He said he’s been involved in water shed planning for a long time, and it makes …
Drought Drawing National Attention
The widespread drought is now garnering national attention, with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today meeting with President Obama on the situation and giving a press briefing at the White House. Calling it the “most serious situation we’ve had in 25 years,” Secretary Vilsack said the president is fully informed about the damage being inflicted by the weather on crops …
NCBA Comments on EPA Dust Standard
The Environmental Protection Agency agreed with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and withdrew its proposed Livestock Reporting Rule late last week. Now, NCBA is hoping EPA will also agree on the dust standard. NCBA testified at an EPA hearing in Philadelphia Tuesday in opposition to any attempt to lower the coarse particulate matter (PM) standard as part of the …