The potential for increasing yields exists everywhere if you ask Michael Doane. Michael is the Sustainability Team Lead for Monsanto. He spoke at the Monsanto discussion on sustainability on the 2008 Farm Progress Show last week. After his speech, I caught up with him and we spoke more about how he thinks the world will answer the global food demands …
Ag Steward of the Chortí Maya
There is a group of indigenous people in Honduras that live off an average of $300 a year… less than one dollar a day. At least two months out of every year they starve. That’s the reality as Billy Collins sees it. Billy has been working with the Chortí Maya, the direct descendants of the Mayan Indians, for five years. …
Fred Myers is For Ag Journalists
If you’re an AAEA member you probably know Fred Myers. If you’re not, then you can get to know him online via his new website, For Ag Journalists. This website is the latest of many contributions I have made to agricultural journalism, much of it through the American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA). Take a few minutes every month to look …
New ACT President
The Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow held it’s annual meeting this morning. You can see a few photos from the meeting in our photo album. Afterward, the now past national President, Matt Splitter and new President, Katy Teixeira, visited Agwired in the BASF Media Room. Katy says that they’re going to work on their website this year. I’m hoping that if …
A New Vision for Africa
Changing the African vision from one of short-term pay-offs to that of long-term success was one of the key issues for panelists at the “Education and Knowledge Building in Animal Agriculture” breakout session. The session was one of fifteen being offered at the 2008 U.S. Africa Agribusiness Forum. The workshop, sponsored by Novus International, featured a panel of experts that …
Needing More Research For Bio Economy
We had two Under Secretaries talk to us here today. It was my first time to meet our USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, Gale Buchanan. He was here at the Transition To A Bio Economy conference to talk about the need for research in a growing bio economy. In fact, he sees a need for a tremendous …
Take a Seat at Farm Technology Days
Wisconsin’s largest outdoor farm show now has ample seating for attendees. As part of a lesson in mass production, Wrightstown High School Tech produced 50 park benches in one day. The benches will be used at the 2008 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days held July 15-17, 2008, at Country Aire Farms. “These benches were hand made out of treated lumber – …
Deere Funds Innovation Center
A $1 million grant from John Deere will fund the development of a new John Deere Technology Innovation Center at the University of Illinois. Illini students and faculty will use the center for studies and research in agriculture, business, engineering and information technology. The new facility, which is expected to be ready by July, is located in the University Research …
Ag Leader Technology Precision Scholarships
Precision agriculture training at Iowa State University just got a boost. Today, Ag Leader Technology announced their commitment to support students interested in precision agriculture by establishing the Ag Leader Technology Precision Agriculture Scholarship within the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) at Iowa State University. Five Ag Leader scholarships will be awarded annually starting in the 2008/2009 school …
Got Scholarship? Students Receive Scholar Athlete Milk Award
The Milk Processor Education Program has named its 2008 SAMMY Award winners. Twenty-five teens are receiving the $7,500 Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year Award. A record-breaking 65,000 students entered the contest. The winners are unsurpassed when it comes to top-notch performance in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. The 2008 SAMMY Award winners will join a distinguished group …