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Monday, Oct. 8, 2012
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U.S. Supreme Court to review Monsanto seed patents
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Friday to consider an Indiana soybean farmer's appeal of a decision finding that he infringed Monsanto Company patents over seeds containing the company's genetically altered Roundup Ready technology. Full story.
Comparing the 2012 drought to other droughts
Crop productivity is an excellent indicator of drought intensity. Grain crops have specific stages of development when their yields are most sensitive to drought stress, so both stress intensity and timing of stress influences the amount of yield loss. Full story. Dow AgroSciences acquires Cal/West Seeds
Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, has acquired the assets of Cal/West Seeds, based in Woodland, Calif. Full story. AgGateway drives precision ag data exchange
AgGateway’s Precision Ag Council has launched a new project that will improve the data exchange processes that drive the use of precision agriculture field equipment for such major operations as seeding, tillage, spraying, fertilizing and harvesting. Full story. AFBF presents case on Chesapeake Bay regulations
Attorneys for the American Farm Bureau Federation delivered legal arguments Thursday explaining why the Environmental Protection Agency violated the Clean Water Act when it issued its “Total Maximum Daily Load” regulation for the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed. Full story.
Rabo AgriFinance vendor finance team launches app
Rabo AgriFinance has launched a new interactive mobile application for the iPad, to provide valuable financing information and enable growers to make informed seed purchasing decisions. Full story. DuPont Instigate herbicide receives registration
DuPont Instigate herbicide has received federal registration approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for application from preplant through early emergence to control tough broadleaf and grass weeds in corn. Full story. Webinar discusses drought and crop nutrients
With the aim of helping farm producers manage nutrients and protect water quality, the Agricultural Nutrient Policy Council sponsored a drought and nutrients webinar for 800 crop advisors, farmers and others this past Wednesday. Full story. Interveners out of RiceTec lawsuit
RiceTec Inc., a hybrid rice seed developer, reports that the 51 interveners from Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana that attempted to join a lawsuit against the company have opted to remove themselves from that action. Instead they will file their suit separately within the next few weeks, an attorney for the farmers announced. Full story. ABA subsidiary renews alliance with Farmer Mac
Business Solutions, a subsidiary of the American Bankers Association, has renewed its agreement with the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp. to provide ABA member banks with an outlet for the sales of real estate farm loans. Full story.  BIG PICTURE
By Doane EconomistStatistics Canada released revised crop production estimates. Canada’s wheat crop is now estimated at 26.733 million tons, up 6 percent from the 2011 crop at 25.26 million tons. Expectations were for a slight increase from the August estimate, but production fell instead. In percentage terms, winter wheat was up the most year-over-year, climbing 21 percent followed by durum up 5 percent and spring wheat 3 percent higher. Wheat production increased from the previous estimate in August despite a lower yield. The yield was revised down to 42.1 bushels per acre from 44.0 bushels previously. Sharply lower canola production was probably the biggest surprise from the report. Expectations were for production to decline from the August estimate at 15.41 million tons to 14.6 million, a 5 percent decline. However, production is now estimated at only 13.36 million tons, 8 percent below a year ago.
Crop Fertility Resource Center
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Drought: Fertilizing for the next crop
Compared to seasons with normal rainfall, residual soil nitrate can be higher after a drought where N was applied to a cereal crop. Higher levels arise from decreased downward movement of soil water and from reduced fertilizer N uptake by the drought-stressed plant. Full story.
For more, visit the Crop Fertility Resource Center.
Soybeans: Green leaves, green stems, brown pods
In parts of Kansas, there are many fields of soybeans in which the pods are brown and the seed is at 13 percent to 14 percent moisture, but the leaves and stems are still green. Full story.
For more, visit the Soybean Resource Center.
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Pretty sure isn't sure, now is it?
Mother Nature tends to throw curveballs from time to time.
Just when a grower thinks he has clear skies to spray for weeds, storm clouds converge out of nowhere. Application windows this unpredictable call for the flexibility of SureStart® herbicide from Dow AgroSciences.
When you recommend SureStart, you're recommending a product that can be sprayed anytime from preplant to postemergence. And it works with three modes of action to perform under heavy weed pressure.
There are no sure things in farming. But it doesn't get much closer than SureStart.
Learn more about the benefits of SureStart herbicide at SureStart.com.
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Plot your course for success
Plotting a course for your boat requires having a destination in mind, and then you have to steer for that heading. Planning to sell to a prospect requires the same pre-planning. Without plotting your course, the forces of sales will carry you where they will and chances are that won’t be where you want to go. Full story.
For more Focus on Business articles, click here.
Planting winter wheat into dry soil
Dry soil conditions have sparked many questions from growers on how best to establish their winter wheat crop. Full story.
For more, visit the Wheat Resource Center.
Weed management video: ‘Be Part of the Solution’
A new video by Syngenta illustrates the growing threat of herbicide-resistant weeds on America’s farm lands while offering hope to growers who proactively choose to “Be Part of the Solution” in the battle against so-called “super weeds.” Full story.
For more, visit the Corn Resource Center.
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