I’m sure most of you didn’t know this, but I haven’t quite made it back home from the Agritechnica event I covered in Germany in early November. In fact, I’ve only ventured further from home… all the way to Thailand. My first impression of farming in Thailand left me thinking that most of the farming operations were small and local, …
Urban Farm Helps Homeless, Named Social Innovator
Victory Programs‘ ReVision Urban Farm has been chosen as 2008 Boston Social Innovator. The program, which serves the homeless in surrounding areas, is set to receive financial support from Boston-area venture philanthropists. Victory Programs’ ReVision Urban Farm, a farm serving families facing homelessness in Dorchester, is among six area nonprofits selected as a 2008 Social Innovator by the Cambridge-based Social …
Record Year for Farmland Preservation in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is securing more farms under it’s nationally recognized Farmland Preservation Program. The state has announced that this year 351 farms have been protected. “Once again, we’ve shown our commitment to the future of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry with the preservation of another 5,234 acres of quality farmland for a total of 33,445 acres this year,” Governor Edward G. Rendell said. …
Altorfer Lets Farmers Customize
It’s about what the farmers want for Altofer Inc. The Midwest-based farm machinery dealer has introduced the new No Drift mojoRTK Auto-steer by Leica Geosystems. Altofer says the new mojoRTK is the first system of its kind to allow farmers to buy a system taylored for their specific needs. The new mojoRTK is the first auto-steer system that allows farmers …
Dairy Producer Wins Lawn Tractor
ANIMART, Inc. has announced David Hemann with Double H Dairy of Greenwood, Wisc., won the grand-prize of the 2007 ANIMART/Cydectin Fall Deworming Promotion. Hemann was awarded on Christmas Eve a new 2008 John Deere LA 115 Lawn Tractor worth nearly $2,000. Hemann operates a 95-cow dairy with his wife Linda and son Allen and his wife Karen and their children …
New Website Monitors Invasive Species for Farmers
Farmers in Pennsylvania wanting to track where and when invasive species are, well, cropping up in crops now have a new tool online. Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff has announced the launch of the new invasive species council website. Producers and consumers can learn how Pennsylvania is protecting against invasive plants, animals and insects by logging on to the new Invasive …
2007 National Corn Yield Contest Winners
The National Corn Growers Association has announced the Corn Yield Contest winners. Not only was the number of entries higher than ever before, but several entrants scored yields of more than double the estimated average. The 27 winners in nine production categories had verified yields averaging more than 298 bushels per acre, compared to the estimated national average of 153 …
Organic Beef or Green Beef?
A new Beef Eco-Report suggests that “green” food isn´t necessarily organic food and conscious consumers might have to start choosing between the two. Analysts at the Hudson Institute‘s Center for Global Food Issues say that beef produced with grains and growth hormones produces 40 percent less greenhouse gas emissions and saves two-thirds more land for nature as compared to organic …
Farmers in Midwest Have New Reason to Invest Ethanol Crops
The Midwest is getting three new ethanol production plants. Washington Group International has received $150 million worth of cost-reimbursable contracts from E85 Inc. for the construction of E85’s first three ethanol plants in the Midwest region. Washington Group will provide procurement, construction, commissioning, and start-up services for the facilities in Wahoo, Neb., and Red Oak and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Each …
Iowa Woman Recognized for Promoting Farm Safety
Voters nationwide are nominating their picks for 6th Annual Volvo for life Awards and one of the semifinalists is an Iowa woman being recognized for promoting farm safety and health. Marilyn Adams has been selected as one of the nation’s top 40 heroes for her creation of a non-profit organization that works to educate children about farm safety and health. …