Corn growers got the world market viewpoint today at the Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies from Bill Tierney, Chief Economist, AgResource Company. I spoke with him after his presentation. China was a market he spoke about and I was fascinated to learn that the average holding of corn there is about 10-12 feet wide by about 60-100 feet! Bill says, “When …
Developing Corn Hybrids For Adverse Conditions
It is the 6th year for the Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies road show. We’re sitting in a comfortable tent in a corn field. Can’t find a better place to hold a conference like this. I visited with Bill Wyffels, President, to find out what’s new from Wyffels. He says they’ve introduced thirteen new corn hybrids from 96 to 117 day …
Wyffels Hybrids Does 2012 Corn Strategies
Wyffels Hybrids is kicking off a series of Corn Strategies sessions this year in Vincent, IA. Here’s the team this morning getting ready for the tent capacity filled crowd that’s here on Harmon Farms. What a contrast I’ve seen in corn yesterday to today. The corn here looks great. Although I’m sure there are local farmers here who would like …
Weather Taking Toll on Crops
This is what the corn looked like near Bloomington, Illinois yesterday – and it looks much worse in other areas. The USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate report out this morning did, as expected, lower corn yields as a result of the hot and dry conditions throughout much of the growing region this summer. “Dreadful,” said USDA Outlook Board …
Controlled Release Nitrogen on Corn
The Indian Creek Watershed Project Field Tour stopped at Herb Steffen’s farm again this year. At his farm we received presentations on the use of controlled release nitrogen on corn that according to Herb includes our sponsor’s products – AGROTAIN! Herb says he and his family have farmed in the area since 1863 so you know these people really take …
Corn Shadow
This is why I like to have a camera on me at all times. Just that random, “that looks like it might be a cool photo” shot. This is our plane landing in Bloomington, IL today. You can click on the photo for a larger version. After chilling out in the tropical paradise known as Pensacola, FL, it is time …
Harvesting Corn Stover
Much of the research that is presented during the Corn Utilization Technology Conference, held recently in Indianapolis, is about new uses for corn. During a session all about new uses at this year’s conference, Steve Peterson, Monsanto, gave a presentation on “Advances in Corn Stover Harvest and Treatment for Animal Feed.” He says Monsanto started a project about five years …
Zidua Herbicide Receives Federal Registration
Corn growers battling tough-to-control, small-seeded broadleaf weeds and grasses will have a powerful new tool, as BASF Crop Protection announced the federal registration of Zidua herbicide. Future registrations for use in soybean and wheat are anticipated in early 2013. According to 10 years of research and field trials, the residual weed control provided by Zidua lasts up to two weeks …
Split Vote on Corn Sugar vs. HFCS
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Do you prefer corn sugar to high fructose corn syrup?” In what is a first for our poll, the response was split evenly! See the chart below. Recently the FDA denied a request from the Corn Refiners Association to allow food labels to use the term corn sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. …
2012 Corn Tech Conference Underway
The 2012 Corn Utilization Technology Conference is underway, the ribbon has been cut. Cutting the ribbon are (l-r) Garry Niemeyer, President, National Corn Growers Association and Dr. Mike Ladisch, Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University and our keynote speaker this afternoon. Once again at this every other year conference I’ll be conducting interviews and posting them …