In a recent speech on the Senate floor, Grassley noted that LightSquared hired dozens of lobbyists, including a former governor and nine former members of Congress, to push for approval of its planned high-speed wireless network.  But Grassley says while those lobbyists provided entry into the FCC and the White House, they couldn’t change the fact that LightSquared’s network couldn’t co-exist with GPS.

The FCC granted LightSquared a conditional waiver last year to develop the network, but later pulled the waiver and blocked the network after tests showed it would interfere with GPS devices. Many agricultural groups opposed the LightSquared plan, fearing it would interfere with farming GPS devices. 

Grassley says he still wants to know why the FCC granted LightSquared the conditional waiver in the first place.

“It seems strange that a project that was so obviously flawed was allowed to go so far, but LightSquared had help,” Grassley said, pointing to the influential lobbyists.

The FCC has denied giving LightSquared any special treatment.

Iowa State University entomologist Erin Hodgson says this year’s hatch is only slightly ahead of normal, but about two weeks ahead of the 2011 growing season.

Hodgson says conditions are right for good larval establishment this year.

“Those that were able to survive—and we had a very mild winter, so most likely the eggs did survive—they probably are hatching just fine,” Hodgson says, “and if they happen to emerge when corn is already planted and germinated, they have plenty of root tissue to feed on.”

Hodgson says the early egg hatch could also mean earlier adult corn rootworm emergence—which has the potential to cause some pollination problems.

“If their emergence is synched with silking, you could have some of that interference with pollination because they are really attracted to those corn silks,” she says, “and so we should be watching for the adults this year—paying a little closer attention to that this year than we normally would.”

Hodgson says the southwest region of Iowa is experiencing 50 percent egg hatch now.  She says other parts of the state will approach that 50 percent mark within seven to 14 days, depending on the temperature.

AUDIO: Erin Hodgson (5:00 MP3)

Link to more information on ISU website

That’s the federal legislation that would establish a national standard for hen housing in the egg industry.

UEP says the web site—eggbill.com—provides information to help legislators, consumers, the foodservice and retail industry and others learn more about the legislation, which would codify an agreement between UEP and the Humane Society of the United States.

The legislation, which would transition egg production in the U.S. from conventional cages to enriched colony cages by the end of 2029, has been introduced in the House.  UEP says it expects similar legislation to be introduced in the Senate soon.

Monsanto agreed to pay $210 million for the business, plus a performance based payment of up to $40 million.  Robb Fraley, Monsanto chief technology officer, says the purchase underscores Monsanto’s commitment to maximizing yield for farmers while optimizing crop inputs. 

Precision Planting was founded in 1993 by Gregg Sauder and his wife, Cindy.  The Sauder’s developed planter add-ons to achieve precise depth and spacing to maximize yields for their own farm.  Today their products are used across the nation and around the world.

The company’s operations will remain in Tremont, Ill.

This year’s Fastest Rookie was Josef Newgarden with a speed of 224.677.  The 22-year-old driver from Hendersonville, TN said he didn’t even realize he was the fastest rookie. 

“This really means a lot for myself and for my team,” he says, “it show the hard work from the crew through the entire group.”  Newgarden tells Brownfield, “You can really feel the tradition here at the Fastest Rookie Luncheon with the American Dairy Association of Indiana and all they put into this and all that they do for the race.” 

He says, “This is a fantastic race and this award makes it even better.” Newgarden was awarded a $5,000 prize and his name engraved on a trophy on permanent display in the Speedway’s Hall of Fame Museum.