Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) is a plant nutrition consulting company that works with fruit and vegetable growers from across the country. They have become known for helping farmers grow crops that are completely resistant to diseases and insects using nutrition and enhancing plant immunity through nutritional balance. During Crop Health Laboratories’ Power Growers Seminar I spoke with founder and CEO …
A Blood Test for Plants
Crop Health Laboratories presented Power Growers Seminar over the weekend in Santa Clara, CA. The event provided a comprehensive introduction to plant sap analysis technology. This new nutrient management strategy was created by Sjoerd Smits, owner of NovaCropControl and HortiNova. Both companies are based out of the Netherlands and currently sap samples are shipped there for analysis. Crop Health Labs …
Bayer Synergy Between Biologics and Vegetables
The new Bayer CropScience $80 million dollar integrated research and development facility is a great marriage between the company’s biologics and vegetable seeds businesses. The courtship started when Bayer acquired AgraQuest in 2012 and Mike Millie was part of that acquisition. “Started with AgraQuest back in 2004,” said Millie. When Bayer came in, “at that point we were already out …
On Track with Bayer CropScience Biologics
The California Railroad Museum was the venue for Bayer CropScience to gather with friends and dignitaries in the warm up show for the grand opening of the new Biologics and Vegetable Seeds Research & Development Center in West Sacramento, California. Liam Condon, CEO of Bayer CropScience and Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer CropScience AG, made a connection …
Duda Farm Fresh Foods Celery Recipe Contest
Celery is a staple ingredient in most kitchens; in fact it’s one of the three pillars of the “holy trinity” of cooking (the other two are onions and carrots) but it’s rarely used in sweet applications. That is, until now. To celebrate celery and the vegetable’s versatility, Duda Farm Fresh Foods invites cooks to enter the “Sweet Celery Bake-Off” and …
Tomato Growers get Expert Help from Doctor App
Home gardeners needing some quick, expert advice about their tomato plants will find it right in their pockets with Purdue Extension’s Tomato Doctor mobile app. The app will help gardeners diagnose problems and offer solutions to get their plants back to a healthy condition, said Janna Beckerman, a Purdue Extension plant disease specialist and content specialist for the app. “Even …
Fresh Produce Sales Up in 2013
United Fresh Produce Association released the 2013 Year in Review edition of the FreshFacts® on Retail report, which examines overall retail trends in produce for the past year. The report shows that during 2013, the produce department averaged more than $47,000 per week per store, which was up 4.8 percent over the previous year. The FreshFacts® on Retail report, produced …
Nufarm Takes on Trees, Nuts, Vines and Veggies
During Nufarm’s recent farm media tour, Rob Schwehr, took time to highlight one of the newest expansion areas the company has taken on. Rob is the Marketing Manager for the tree, nut, vine and vegetable (TNVV) segment of Nufarm. He shares in an interview why the company pursued this new endeavor and what we can see coming down the pipeline. …
Iowa Accepting Grant Applications for Specialty Crops
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has announced that the IA Dept. of Ag is accepting grant applications for the Specialty Crop Block program. The estimated $271,000 grants are available to support projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Iowa and are contingent on federal funds being made available to the Department. Grant awards will be considered …
Consider Joining a CSA
It may be a bit chilly in the Midwest, but it’s never to early to think about spring planting and fall harvest. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, is encouraging Iowans to consider joining a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that will give them access to fresh, locally grown produce throughout the growing season. “CSAs are a great opportunity …