infoblast archives http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles RSS Feed for InfoBlast Articles en-us Mon, 20 May 2013 19:39:51 GMT Early-season soybean pests could be a challenge http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles/Early-season-soybean-pests-could-be-a-challenge-208128501.html Concern about early-season bean leaf beetles, spider mites and soybean aphids might be heightened this year with the weather that has been messing with farmers, but also causing crop consultants and ag retailer agronomists problems. A large amount of vegetation has grown in most fields, and some of this vegetation is ideal for hosting early-season insects. New insecticide could be very important http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles/New-insecticide-could-be-very-important-208127271.html Insect pressures are expected to vary this season. However, the lineup of pests on this year’s watch lists is why so many growers are scrambling to get yield loss prevention strategies in place. For soybeans, Extension entomologists are watching soybean aphids, bean leaf beetles, Japanese beetles and spider mites as key soybean pests. Wireworms in potatoes need new control http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles/Wireworms-in-potatoes-need-new-control-208125771.html Since every geographic location has its own set of species, to know which wireworms are causing damage to potato, it is necessary to trap them and identify those in the potato field, according to Extension specialists from Virginia to California. A wireworm-infested field will remain infested for three to six years and planting has to be avoided if wireworm levels reach too high a level in the soil. Collaboration by ag competitors at AgGateway http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles/Collaboration-by-ag-competitors-at-AgGateway-177629041.html Ag retailers and suppliers to farmers must be able to bring value to those growers who will be bigger and replacing the 40 percent of farmers older than 55 years of age. One of the major ways of assisting farmers by ag retailers and members of AgGateway is to assist those high-tech farmers in getting through the regulatory environment easier and faster, said Garrett Lofto, president of the Simplot AgriBusiness Group. Age of the mobile device is here http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles/Age-of-the-mobile-device-is-here-204146781.html Farmers and ag professionals can use apps on smartphones or tablet computers for everything from staying up to date on agriculture news to calculating sprayer tank mix ratios, noted Kent Shannon, University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist, who is trying to educate the agricultural industry to the potential value of apps and mobile connectivity to websites. Commentary: Innovation is anything but business as usual http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles/Commentary-Innovation-is-anything-but-business-as-usual-191043511.html American agriculture has employed science and technology to dramatically increase production and choice while lowering prices, but these changes have also altered the experience of farmers and the public in unexpected ways. iPhone and tablet apps for agriculture http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles/iPhone-and-tablet-apps-for-agriculture-204119681.html Recently, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service hosted a workshop focused on apps for agriculture. In addition to providing an introduction to using iPads (everything from turning the device on) they provided hands-on demonstrations of numerous apps they have reviewed for use in agricultural settings. Precision ag can be based on EC measurement http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles/Precision-ag-can-be-based-on-EC-measurement-206279291.html Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measurement that correlates with soil properties that affect crop produc­tivity, including soil texture, cation exchange capac­ity (CEC), drainage conditions, organic matter level, salinity, and subsoil characteristics. Soil EC maps often visually correspond to patterns on yield maps and can help explain yield variation. Spray section, nozzle control pays http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles/Spray-section-nozzle-control-pays--206277001.html Sections, nozzles and row automatic turn off and on technology for sprayers can result in considerable savings by not double treating at headland turns, point rows, terraces and/or waterways. Farmers are beginning to expect the use of this technology when custom application is being done on their fields. Farm mechanization gone backward in Central Asia http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/infoblast/articles/Farm-mechanization-gone-backward-in-Central-Asia-206274581.html Farmers and those in agriculture in the U.S. historically were known for their equipment knowledge and ability to “baling wire” equipment together until it could professionally be repaired. But those baling wire days are gone with the size of U.S. equipment and the sophistication of everything being built. Those days are not gone in Central Asia.