K-State Research Developing Biosecurity Tracking Software for Cattle Producers

Laura McNamara

Software enabling cattle producers to safeguard the health of their herds will soon be online. Researchers at Kansas State University are developing software that will help producers maintain secure feedlots and give them an informational database for understanding the impact of specific diseases. The feed yard security project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Kansas …

Farming, Livestock, Research, Technology

Agritechnica Hands Out Innovation Awards

Laura McNamara

Agritechnica organizer Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agri-cultural Society has awarded 7 Gold Medals and 33 Silver Medals for leading innovation in agriculture. Agricultural companies worldwide submitted a total of 331 innovations to DLG, making this year’s submissions the highest number of submissions in twelve years. “This can be assessed as a clear indication that agricultural machinery manufacturers are starting an …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Equipment, Farm Shows, Farming, John Deere, New Holland, Technology, Tractor

Lower Insurance Premiums for Farmers Using Monsanto Hybrid

Laura McNamara

Monsanto says its latest agreement with the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation means farmers can opt to have their insurance premiums slashed by up to 24 percent in four states. Monsanto is launching an innovative crop insurance pilot program with its hybrid corn seeds. A new pilot program recently approved by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) will provide farmers an …

Agribusiness, Corn, Farming, Research, Technology

Bunge Expands With Growth of Ag Shipping Industry

Laura McNamara

The number of shipments of raw and processed agricultural commodities is steadily increasing and Bunge North America is expanding its trade capabilities to meet that growth. The food and feed ingredient company has added a Georgia port to its shipping operations. Bunge North America, the North American operating arm of Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG) , announced that it has signed a …

Agribusiness, Farming, Food

Get to Know an Alpaca During National Alpaca Farm Days

Laura McNamara

The Grand Alpaca Farm is opening its gates to anyone who’s interested in learning more about Alpacas. The invitation recognizes National Alpaca Farm Days. Tim Talbott saw a news story in 1984, about Americans importing alpacas from South America and raising them for their cashmere-like fiber. Intrigued, the established surgeon sought more information. In 1985, he and his wife, Jane, …

Ag Groups, Farming

DuPont Funds Biofuel Projects

Laura McNamara

A million dollar pledge from DuPont means Iowa State University can begin development of its “New Century Farm.” The farm will be the center for biofuel and biomaterial farm production research on the Iowa State campus. DuPont has announced a pledge of $1 million to the Iowa State University (ISU) New Century Farm, the first research effort in the United …

Ag Groups, Farming, Research, Technology

BASF R&D

Cindy Zimmerman

I am in Japan now with Chuck and will be spending much of this week posting interviews and pictures from last week’s BASF trip while Chuck is covering the IFAJ events. So, I am starting at the beginning of the trip and posting the interviews with BASF executives done after the global press conference September 12. Research and development of …

Audio, BASF, Corn, Farming, Research, Soybean

Johnny Appleseed Festival

Laura McNamara

Mapleside Farms is commemorating agriculturalist Johnny Appleseed in it’s annual Johnny Appleseed Festival. The Ohio Farm began celebrating the Johnny Appleseed Festival in 1974 on what would have been Appleseed’s 200th birthday. Mapleside Farms uses a branch from an original Johnny Appleseed tree to graft onto a rootstock, which still produces fruit. The 34th annual Johnny Appleseed Festival at Mapleside …

Farming, Food

Whole Grains Share September Promotion with Rice

Laura McNamara

September is the month for celebrating rice, and now, it’s also the month for celebrating whole grains. The Whole Grains Council held a special competition to kick off its inaugural year for recognition in September. In addition to being National Rice Month, September has, for the first time, been declared “Whole Grains Month.” To celebrate, the Whole Grains Council (WGC) …

Ag Groups, Farming, Food

Competing Crop Solution Companies Monsanto and Dow Launch Joint SmartStax Innovation

Laura McNamara

The competition in crop protection is getting rather friendly. Two of the largest suppliers of technology-based agricultural solutions in the U.S., Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences, are teaming up in the unprecedented release of an eight-gene stacked corn combination. See the Zimfo Bites Melissa posted for media event information. Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, …

Agribusiness, Corn, Farming, Research, Technology