BASF Plant Science has announced an expansion of its fungal resistance research platform by adding corn as a target crop with a main focus on yield and stress. BASF will continue to focus on the development of crops that deliver higher yields and improved resistance to stress conditions. A key component of these activities in plant biotechnology is an industry …
General Wesley Clark Addresses Custom Harvesters
At today’s U.S. Custom Harvesters luncheon, sponsored by New Holland, retired General Wesley Clark took the stage. Gen. Clark says his passion was the military and now his passion is national energy security and the move away from dependence on foreign oil. I have recorded his remarks for you to listen to or share below. Gen. Clark is the co-chairman …
FMC Seeking Registration for Anthem on Cotton
FMC Corporation is working on registration of a new herbicide for resistant weed control in cotton by 2014. Growers at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences had a chance to hear more about it this week from Scott Akin with FMC. “Anthem is going to be a valuable pre-emergence herbicide I think for cotton growers across the belt for use against grasses …
Nobody is Happy with Farm Bill Extension
*UPDATED with audio* Congress spent the New Year’s holiday working and actually managed to pass a “fiscal cliff” bill that even addressed agriculture – but no one seems to be very grateful for all of our lawmakers’ hard work and sacrifice except the lawmakers themselves. The nine month extension of the current farm bill, which actually expired months ago, is …
Happy Holidays from Illinois Corn Growers
Let’s have an end of the week Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Illinois Corn Growers. Wishing you and your family the Christmas season’s joys and wonders. Enjoy the holiday. Happy Holidays from the staff at Illinois Corn. Wish I could share all the holiday message we’ve received. Keep ’em coming though. Plenty of time left and I’ll do …
2012 National Corn Yield Contest Winners
Advanced production techniques, informed growing practices and improved seed varieties helped corn growers achieve high yields in the National Corn Growers Association 2012 National Corn Yield Contest. Despite a severe drought that plagued most of the Corn Belt, entrants continued to far surpass the national average corn yield, even doubling it in some circumstances. The National Corn Yield Contest is …
MOU Importance for China and US Seed Companies
American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Chairman Blake Curtis calls the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the US and China seed organizations Monday “monumental.” “Everything has to start somewhere and this is a great start,” said Blake, with Curtis and Curtis Seed Company of New Mexico. “China is a very aggressive force in our world today and we’re …
US and China Seed Groups Sign MOU
Leaders from the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and the China National Seed Association (CNSA) signed an historic Memo of Understanding today to promote cooperation relating to innovation in the seed industry, said ASTA president Andrew W. LaVigne. “This agreement achieves two extremely important goals,” said LaVigne. “First, it is an important first step in providing new business opportunities for …
Syngenta Shares New Product Lines at NAFB
It was obvious Syngenta was excited to talk about all the new and innovative things they have going on in the soybean and corn labs at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s annual Trade Talk. I spoke with Scott Erickson, Soybean Genetics Portfolio Manager for Syngenta. He shared how they are tackling all the things that can rob yields …
Deeper Roots, Strong Yield With Drought-Tolerant Corn
A root comparison study conducted this season at Monsanto’s Gothenburg Water Utilization Learning Center in Gothenburg, Neb., provided a dramatic demonstration of just how important a deep, strong root structure is to help corn plants withstand drought conditions. The research program evaluated the performance of a DEKALB® drought-tolerant corn product versus two competitor products – a Pioneer® Optimum® AQUAmax™ hybrid …