Mike Smidt is a key account lead for traits with GreenLeaf Genetics, a subsidiary of Syngenta. At a recent GreenLeaf Go! Plots Summer Tailgate event near York, Nebraska, we asked Mike to give us an update on the Agrisure Viptera trait in corn.
Japanese beetle found in Nebraska soybean field
July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Nebraska farmers may have a new pest to deal with in the future.
According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension entomologist Bob Wright, Japanese beetles have been found feeding on soybean foliage in a field south of Crete, Nebraska.
The Japanese beetle is a common pest of corn and soybeans in the eastern Corn Belt, and it’s been found in urban areas of eastern Nebraska over the last 20 years. But Wright says it’s the first time it’s been found in a Nebraska farm field.
“They’re going to start moving into crop areas, I would imagine, over time—that’s what we’ve seen in other states,” Wright says. “But it takes a while for them to move out of cities, because they really prefer some of the horticultural trees and shrubs, as opposed to crops.”
Wright says the Japanese beetle doesn’t like cold winters.
“We’ve had populations die out in Nebraska if we have a cold winter, so their numbers are going to go up and down,” he says. “This is sort of the western range of their distribution in the Midwest, so it’s not as favorable as the eastern part of the U.S. for them.”
Study: Greater challenges ahead for rural health care
July 28, 2011 By 1 Comment
Results of a new study show rural areas will face even greater health care challenges when the federal government’s health care reforms take effect in 2014.
The study was conducted by United Health Group, one of the nation’s largest health insurers. Spokesman Dr. Lew Sandy says the health reform legislation passed last year means nearly five million rural residents will get new insurance coverage—either through the Medicaid or state health insurance exchanges.
Sandy says that will put more strain on the already fragile rural health care system.
Brownfield’s Ken Anderson visits with Dr. Sandy about the United Health Group report, including proposed solutions.
AUDIO: Dr. Lew Sandy (6:58 MP3)
Discussions continue on GPS issues
July 28, 2011 By 1 Comment
Farm group representatives have met once again with officials of LightSquared to discuss ongoing concerns the company’s planned 4G wireless broadband network will cause destructive interference with existing GPS receivers.
Ag officials say LightSquared’s proposal for 40-thousand new cellphone towers in rural areas would push farmers’ GPS systems further down the spectrum band, compromising movements across their fields. LightSquared’s position is that GPS band users are extending into the band licensed to LightSquared.
During an appearance in Iowa this week, the administrator of the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service, Jonathan Adelstein, said the issue is being discussed at the highest levels of the federal government. He says the problem is a shortage of bandwith.
“You can see what’s happening with iPhones and the explosion of uses on video and wireless, that in the future we’re not going to have enough spectrum if we don’t do something to get more available out there,” says Adelstein. “So how do you not interfere with current uses while getting more broadband out is an issue that both the FCC and the Department of Commerce are now struggling with.”
Adelstein says the broad spectrum used by GPS precision farming does present challenges.
“They use a particularly wide swath of spectrum in order to be very precise—almost to the inch—and that is raising concerns that as a new system is coming in on the same spectrum, that there could be harmful interference,” he says.
The ag groups have apparently been able to wrestle some concessions from LightSquared. The company has proposed that, in order to mitigate interference issues, it will start its operations using the spectrum farthest away from GPS. It is also offering to fund research and development for resilient receivers.
The FCC will ultimately decide whether LightSquared can proceed with its broadband plan. The agency is expected to issue a report later this summer.
Green tea supplements not same as green tea
July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Researchers at the USDA ARS lab report chemical composition changes in green tea supplements when compared to green tea itself. The healthy properties and powerful antioxidants in green tea have been well studied and documented. Green tea supplements, the researchers found, are not chemically the same as the real thing.
Long term ramifications for cutting vet school funding
July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Dr. Rene Carlson is the new president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA); she says the biggest challenge facing her industry right now is the reduction in funding for vet schools. If the trend continues, students will graduate with large debt loads and will not be able to afford working in rural areas. In the long term, that could affect how we deal with disease outbreaks.
Indiana 4-H Foundation receives donation
July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
One of CoBank’s board members has directed their corporate giving program towards the Indiana 4-H Foundation. The foundation will receive $2,500 on behalf of Kevin Still. Still says these donations play an important role in developing the future leaders and upcoming decision-makers for the agriculture industry. Shelly Bingle-Coffman, Executive Director of the Foundation says the 4-H Foundation provides the financial support for 4-H programs that help young people build strong leadership traits and life skills. She says the donation will be used to support 4-H youth programs across Indiana.
Last year CoBank donated more than $1 million to benefit local communities where its employees and directors live.
Are the too many chickens in the Delmarva Peninsula?
July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A new report from the Pew Environmental Group says there are too many chickens in the Delmarva Peninsula. The “Big Chicken” report says the land in the area cannot handle all of the manure from the poultry operations causing a buildup of nitrogen and phosphorus in groundwater and making its way into Chesapeake Bay. The EPA says 19 percent of the nitrogen and 26 percent of the phosphorus in the Bay’s dead-zone comes from animal manure, poultry, hogs and cattle.
The Pew report calls on poultry companies to share the cost of manure management with growers and also proposes a cap on the number of birds allowed in the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia area.
The National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association say the report does not take into account the steps the industry is taking to reduce environmental impact. The groups note poultry farmers are required to have nutrient management plans and “have been advancing effective control of nutrients for more than a decade.” They contend the report “demonstrates Pew’s bias against modern farming practices.”
Continued strength in dairy markets
July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A busy day in the cash cheese market and the fact that blocks went lower then rebounded to close unchanged at $2.155 while barrels gained a half-cent to 2.13 on one sale and one unfilled bid. We are starting to see the effects of the heat wave on milk production, Dairy Market News says milk volumes are down 7 to 10 percent and components have dropped reducing cheese yield. Some plants are using more nonfat or running reduced hours and some cheese orders may be delayed. The one exception is the Pacific Northwest where the weather has been pleasant, milk production has been strong and cheese plants are running full-tilt.
The cheese market activity added support to the Class III futures, the August contract gained 24 cents to close at $21.34 equaling the July contract. September added 30 cents to close at $20.55. Since the end of June, the August Class III contract has gained $2.27 while September has added $2.11. The August through December contracts have gone from an average $17.83 at the end of June to $19.50.
Total cheese consumption for March through May was up 3.8 percent compared to a year ago, domestic use was up 2.5 percent but export business jumped 36.4 percent. Butter use increased 13.1 percent for the period, domestic use up 8.6 percent and exports increased 65.7 percent compared to March through May in 2010.
Helping to feed Indiana’s hungry
July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Indiana’s Family of Farmers has a unique opportunity for fairgoers to help feed Indiana’s hungry at this year’s Indiana State Fair. Attendees are invited to follow the Indiana’s Family of Farmers Recipe trail and collect recipe cards from different locations on the fairgrounds. After all cards have been collected from the 12 locations, fairgoers can bring them to the Food for Thought display at the Ellison Bakery Home Family Arts Building for their complimentary gift. In addition, they can register for the Heartland Steaks daily give away and the grand prize, a Frigidere chest freezer. For each person who finishes the trail and registers for the daily giveaway, Indiana’s Family of Farmers is partnering with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry to donate one pound of food to food banks in Indiana. Joe Kelsay, Indiana agriculture director, says this is another great opportunity to share the perspective of Indiana farmers and also feed the hungry.
The Indiana State Fair runs August 5 through the 21st.
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