2012 is the International Year of Cooperatives and provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of the cooperative business structure to the agriculture industry. Chuck Conner, president of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives says 2012 is also a great time to show off just how important farmer cooperatives are to the success of the farmer.
An online resource for white mold
May 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Dave Downing, Brand Manager at MANA Crop Protection says white mold typically shows up in early summer at about the time soybeans begin to bloom, the disease especially likes wet soils and cool temperatures. Downing also says that because white mold is a disease that has the ability to develop rapidly, any information to allow soybean growers to stay ahead of a potential problem can be a huge benefit.
Growing popcorn in central Nebraska
April 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Zach Hunnicutt farms with his dad and brother in Hamilton County, Nebraska. They raise corn, soybeans and popcorn under center pivot irrigation.
In a recent phone interview, Hunnicutt talked about how the management of popcorn differs from regular corn. He also discussed the work they are doing with variable rate irrigation.
AUDIO: Zach Hunnicutt (3:00 MP3)
The BSE safeguards work
April 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The latest case of BSE in that California dairy cow this week was “atypical BSE”. Dr. Ron DeHaven with the American Veterinary Medical Association says the molecular weight of the prions of atypical BSE are different and it appears the disease occurs spontaneously without any source such as contaminated feed. One important note is that this means there was no breakdown in the ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban in the U.S. or the other safeguards which have been put in place.
Establishing a new stand of alfalfa
April 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University Extension educator in Wayne County says there are three keys to a successful alfalfa stand, soil fertility, planting depth and weed control. And when it comes to weed control, the OSU Extension educator says ideally, weed control begins before the crop is planted, with a goal of maintaining the new alfalfa seeding relatively weed free for the first 60 days.
Audio: Rory Lewandowski, Extension Educator, Wayne Co. Ohio (3:00 MP3)
Robotic milking systems are slowly gaining in popularity
April 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Automatic Milking Systems—or robotic milkers–were developed in Europe to address labor issues on dairy farms and became available there in the early 90’s. This technology was introduced to the U.S. in 2000 and has slowly been gaining in popularity.
Robotic milking is a voluntary milking system that allows cows to set their own milking schedule. Because the robot milks the cow, farmers have more flexibility in how they use their time and more time to devote to farm management or other activities.
Lely is one of the companies that manufactures and markets robotic milking systems. We visited recently with Chad Huyser is Lely USA’s director of operations.
Volatile world markets
April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
There are a lot of variables when it comes to agricultural markets…crop conditions in the United States…crop conditions in South America….the Chinese economy, the world economy…and one challenge that seems to just go on-and-on, the economic crisis in the European Union. Mark Ludtke is with Stewart-Peterson
Will the risk pay off?
April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Optimal weather conditions presented farmers the opportunity to get into the fields much earlier this year. In fact – many planted well before the earliest planting date for crop insurance. Bob Nielsen, Purdue University Extension agronomist says after last week’s cold snap – at this point – farmers should be able to tell if that early planted corn will recover from its frost and freeze damage.
Keeping tillage to a minimum
April 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Harold Watters, an Ohio State University Extension field agronomist in Western Ohio says too much tillage has already been done and in some areas of the state that’s already causing concern as soils dry out. For those farmers that haven’t been tempted, Watters suggests dealing with ruts, but don’t over do it, but no-till may be the best bet.
Audio: Harold Watters, Extension field agronomist, Ohio State University (3:00 MP3)
Summit to address weed resistance
April 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The issue of herbicide-resistant weeds is serious enough that the National Academy of Sciences is organizing a one-day summit to hash out the problem.
“We’re holding a meeting in Washington, D.C., to bring together leaders who will help us first understand the nature of the problem of herbicide resistance and then figure out what possible opportunities we have to ameliorate the problem from spreading further,” said Dr. Charlie Arntzen, who chairs the steering committee for the National Summit on Strategies to Manage Herbicide-Resistant Weeds.
The program, Thursday, May 10, at George Washington University, is to be presented mostly by university specialists addressing what to do about weed resistance.
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