Straight from the USDA Blog we find out that the National Agricultural Statistics Service will begin using iPads to collect data in 2011. Now how cool is that? There are benefits as you’ll read in the post. It looks like they’re already employing them since in the photo you can see Don Phillips, NASS interviewer, using an iPad for data …
Time For An International AgChat Foundation?
The emcee for the Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable conducted by Truth About Trade & Technology was Bob Thomson once again. He says the participating farmers were looking at what it’s going to take to thrive in the next several years. High on their list is modern technology. He says they realize that to feed the projected population equivalent of …
Testing and Conditioning Seeds
I was fascinated to see the Iowa State University Seed Science Center which was a tour stop for the TATT Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable. One of our hosts was Michael Stahr, Seed Laboratory Manager. The first thing that really got my attention was their herbarium which contains over 6,000 vials of seeds that date back to when George Washington …
Simultaneous Livestock and Ethanol Production
One of the places visited by the TATT Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable was Couser Cattle Company. Our host was Bill Couser. Bill conducted a fascinating presentation about his marriage of row crop farming (corn/soybeans), livestock production and ethanol production! You can see a portion of his explanation in the video below. He used a long table to display all …
TATT Roundtable Underway
The TATT Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable is now in session. This is a discussion which will take place this evening and continue tomorrow morning with a concluding lunch. After introductions we’re now involved in a discussion about issues like the growing world population and challenges faces farmers who are trying to produce food to feed them all. I’m listening …
E-85 Fuelfinder App From Renewable Fuels Association
The Renewable Fuels Association just announced a new iPhone app – E-85 Fuelfinder (opens iTunes) to help flex-fuel drivers access the latest, most accurately geo-coded E85 stations throughout the United States. Can you say, E85 fuel? There’s an app for that! Hurry to get yours since it won’t be free for long. This application will also work on the iTouch …
PureSense Adds Irrigation Manager iPhone App
PureSense Environmental Inc. announced that its Irrigation Manager iPhone application is now available through the iTunes App Store. Built as a mobile platform for PureSense subscribers, the PureSense app brings the reporting power growers have come to expect from Irrigation Manager to the iPhone, allowing the grower to be more informed, efficient and mobile than ever before. Growers can access …
Fluidigm Introduces First Reusable Bio-Chip
Fluidigm Corporation held a joint press conference this morning with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service to announce their new reusable bio-chip architecture which is a first for the commercial market. These reusable integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) will dramatically lower SNP genotyping costs and are designed to support accelerated sample throughput, while maintaining data quality of 99.75 percent or greater accuracy …
iPhone 4 Announced And Available Late June
Steve Jobs announced the latest version of the iPhone today. Sorry all you Android and BB fans. The only thing you’ve got going for you is that you have options to AT&T. Hopefully that will change soon. For now though just look at the next major jump in mobile communications and drool. You know you want one. I do. When …
New Zoom For Farm Podcasters
Hey Farm Podcasters. There’s a new Zoom in your future. Samson has announced the Zoom H1 which should be available next month. I’m betting this one goes over very well. Retail price expected to be $99! If you’d like to learn more about gadgets and how they can be used to make you more productive on the job then consider …