ISU experiment shows organic farming is profitable
Organic crop systems can provide similar yields and much higher economic returns than a conventional corn-soybean rotation, according to 13 years of data from a side-by-side comparison at Iowa State University’s Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm. Full story.
Explosion in biotechnology crops by Monsanto
Three fundamental technologies producing breakthroughs in agricultural production are converging, according to Robb Fraley, chief technology officer at Monsanto Company. Full story. ARA asks for survey help by retail/distribution
The Agricultural Retailers Association has initiated a survey of the ag retail and distribution industry in order to help shape the future of the retail industry. Full story.
MFA joins national buying group
MFA Inc. announced it is joining with Tenkoz, a Georgia-based buying organization. Full story.
Genome of first arachnid cracked
An international team of scientists have successfully deciphered the genome of the spider mite, the first known genome of an arachnid, which could open more opportunities to develop crop protection tools against this pest. Full story.
U.N. report details widespread degradation of land, water
Widespread degradation and deepening scarcity of land and water resources have placed a number of key food production systems around the globe at risk, posing a profound challenge to the task of feeding a world population expected to reach 9 billion people by 2050, according to a new FAO report. Full story. Mexican farmers suffer worst drought in 70 years
Mexico is being battered by its worst drought in seven decades, which has devastated farm life and is expected to continue into next year. Full story. Big boost to plant research
The four largest nonprofit plant science research institutions in the U.S. have joined forces to form the Association of Independent Plant Research Institutes in an effort to target plant science research to meet the profound challenges facing society in a more coordinated and rapid fashion. Full story. CHS to acquire soy protein firm Solbar
CHS Inc., a farmer-owned cooperative, announced it has signed an agreement with Solbar Industries Ltd., a global provider of specialty soy proteins and soy isoflavones, to acquire 100 percent of the shares of Solbar. Full story. Enhancements made to DPPSM Grain Desk Mobile App
Pioneer Hi-Bred and Farms Technology L.L.C. announced an enhancement to the electronic grain marketing programs mobile application, which simplifies the buying and selling of corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum. Full story.  BIG PICTURE
By Doane Economist
The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) map, valid through Feb. 29, shows drought to “persist or intensify” over all of Texas, Oklahoma, nearly all of New Mexico, the southern half of Kansas and southeast Colorado. That’s pretty much the entire hard red winter wheat region. As for soft red winter wheat, CPC sees “persistent or intensified” drought through February for southwest Arkansas, all of Louisiana and nearly all the southwest areas of Georgia and the Carolinas.
Crop Fertility Resource Center
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Soil test phosphorus variability in .33 acre grids
Since traditional agricultural crop soil test results (2.5 acre grids or field samples of 10 acres in size or larger) are often quite variable, Ohio State University scientists recommend sampling from randomly selected .33 acre grids. Full story.
For more, visit the Crop Fertility Resource Center.
Season wrap up on soybean diseases, part I
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Agronomist Believes in VAULT® HP
"Applying VAULT® HP plus INTEGRAL® is good for our business and it's good for our growers," says Mark Bowman, crop consultant and seed dealer in Kearney, Nebraska. Bowman owns Bowman Agronomics and has worked with growers for more than 30 years. Since most of his growers are in a two-year corn, one-year soybean rotation, he has seen the benefits of using VAULT HP plus INTEGRAL in a seed-treatment system.
"We're mainly an irrigated-crop area, and two of my growers told me their whole-field yields on irrigated beans treated with VAULT HP plus INTEGRAL along with an insecticide/fungicide were 85 bushels per acre or more this year," continues Bowman. Another grower told Bowman his non-inoculated beans yielded 15 to 20 bushels less than his treated soybeans.
"We've really expanded our use of a seed-treatment system. I'm a firm believer in the products and the system we're using," says Bowman. "I'd have a tough time selling beans that weren't treated because the return on my customers' investment is huge."
The triple BioStacked® VAULT HP plus INTEGRAL system pairs a patented biological performance enhancer and a high-count rhizobia inoculant with INTEGRAL biological fungicide. Collectively, these components work together to deliver improved nitrogen fixation; help extend protection from key soil-borne diseases; and enhance root vigor, nodulation and nutrient uptake.
Learn more about the VAULT HP plus INTEGRAL soybean seed treatment system and other soybean seed enhancements at www.BeckerUnderwood.com or call 1-800-892-2013.
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Focusing your employees on common goals
The overarching principle behind organizational development is that all employees have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can be harnessed and tapped into to enable the organization to grow. Managers are the organization's primary facilitators of knowledge and experience at their specific level. Growth can only be successfully accomplished when employees are focused upon a shared vision and common goals. Full story.
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Scientists explore genetics to halt spread of Ug99
Scientists are enlisting a wild grass collected from coastal plains in Israel to protect wheat harvests from a disease that is devastating crops from Uganda to Iran. Full story.
For more, visit the Wheat Resource Center.
Moldy corn and upright ears
As corn harvest nears completion, moldy ear problems have been reported in northwest Ohio especially in certain corn hybrids planted late after June 1. Full story.
For more, visit the Corn Resource Center.
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