The much-anticipated 2015 Prospective Plantings released by USDA today shows declines expected in corn, wheat and cotton acres this year, with only a modest increase in soybean acreage. Corn planted area for all purposes in 2015 is estimated at 89.2 million acres, down 2 percent from last year. If realized, this will be the third consecutive year of an acreage …
Drones Can Increase Efficiency of Farming
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), better known as drones, will make farming more efficient, lower operating costs, and reduce their environmental impact. That was the message from National Corn Growers Association Manager of Public Policy Clint Raine to a group of policymakers and reporters during a panel about the applications of UAS technology to the agricultural industry. “I’m optimistic about the …
Doane Releases Planting Intentions Survey Results
Doane’s 2015 Planting Intentions Survey was released to subscribers and clients Friday, March 20th. Results from this year’s survey show a continuation of recent trends toward more soybeans and less corn acreage. Last year’s corn acreage declined significantly in 2014, down 4.8 million acres from the 2013 level, just a bit more than the 4.5 million acre decline implied by …
Corn Yield Contest Winner Keeps Pushing
It got a little repetitive at the Commodity Classic corn banquet announcing the national winners of the Corn Yield Contest when Randy Dowdy of Valdosta, Georgia won six of the 18 categories. But Dowdy did make history last year with nearly 504 bushels per acre in his irrigated plot using DEKALB DKC 62-08, and he thinks he can do even …
Annual Commodity Outlook w/ Richard Brock
While at the 2015 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, Richard Brock, of Brock Associates, gave his annual Commodity Outlook update to conference attendees. Brock’s session was packed with attendees hoping to gain insight into commodity markets. When asked about key takeaways for producers, Brock encouraged growers to shift acres to cotton if they’re in a cotton producing area as he …
Corn Growers Offer Risk Coverage Advice Webinar
Farmers trying to pick the right risk coverage under the new Farm Bill can be a daunting task. But the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is offering some help. The group is co-sponsoring a free webinar on March 12 from 10-11 am CDT that will help producers pick which coverage package is right for them. Farmers and ranchers will have …
New Holland Debuts Guardian™ Injection Toolbar
New Holland has introduced the Guardian™ Injection Toolbar to the Guardian self-propelled sprayer line. The new piece of equipment was on display at the 2015 Commodity Classic and Chuck stopped by to chat with New Holland’s Jason Hardy to learn more about it’s capabilities. The Guardian™ Injection Toolbar applies the liquid fertilizer exactly where the crop needs it most. Farmers …
BASF Xanthion In-Furrow Info at #Classic15
BASF Technical Marketing Manager Caren Schmidt had 10 minutes to tell the Commodity Classic attendees at a Mini WIN session last week about Xanthion™ In-furrow fungicide, which received Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration in October in time for use on corn this season. “Xanthion is our newest in-furrow fungicide for corn, and it’s the first in-furrow fungicide to combine a …
Record Breaking #Classic15
The 20th annual Commodity Classic was one for the record books. Total attendance was 7,936, more than 600 over the previous record, 7,325, set in 2014. Other records broken were the number of growers, at 4,328 (compared to 3,874 in 2014); and the number of first-time attendees, at 1,409 (compared to 1,261 in 2014). Additionally, the trade show featured an …
How BASF Innovation Specialists Help Farmers
Nebraska farmer Scott Eaton and his BASF Innovation Specialist Jennifer Wood talked about some of the advantages to their partnership during the BASF Science Behind the Right Chemistry event last week in Phoenix. “We’re a pretty good team,” said Eaton. “We work to develop a plan and try to stick the best that we can to that plan.” What Eaton …