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Understanding soil variability can improve crop management
Understanding what is happening below the soil surface can help farmers make more precise agronomic decisions and better target their input investments. New tools are allowing growers and agronomists to collect more detailed soil data that can reveal variability across a field and highlight issues that may limit yield potential. EarthOptics is one company working to provide that kind of insight. Gunnar Bodvarrsson with EarthOptics says the company focuses on gathering detailed soil...
Feenstra working to bring cutting-edge technology to the farm
Agriculture is much more closely intertwined with technology than many people think. In fact, the industry is often making an effort to be on the cutting edge of modern technology. Unfortunately, agriculture?s relation to modern technology is sometimes overlooked....
Xitavo soybeans offer many advantages for growers
Choosing which seed to plant is one of the most important decisions a farmer makes every year. Xitavo is a fairly young line of soybeans, but it?s already proven to be a top-of-the-line product. Doug Little, BASF soybean seed manager, said Xitavo soybeans have had a...
Growing the ground pork market by studying consumer shopping trends
The National Pork Board is using Pork Checkoff funds to try and persuade consumers to opt for a different ground meat at the grocery store.The National Pork Board initially partnered with Michigan-based grocer Meijer grocery store, and was able to open a new avenue...
Precipitation gap looks to continue for start of 2023
The last few years have been the story of the ?have?s and the have not?s.? This was on full display right in our own state of Iowa. The northeastern part of the state received the rains they needed, while other parts of the state didn?t get much if any at all. The...
USDA announces conservation stewardship program
The next deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program applications to be considered for funding this year in Iowa is March 17, 2023.Iowa has the same application cutoff for the three primary programs (CSP, EQIP and RCPP). Program applications are continuously...
Climate FieldView increasing equipment compatibility for ease of use
Planting season will be upon us sooner than you think, so it?s important to consider what changes need to be made in order to have an even more successful crop year. Incorporating top-of-the-line technology can provide a great return on investment. Phil Larsen,...
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More Ag News
U.S. Wheat still poised to be ready to meet global demands in 2023
We don’t spend a great amount of time discussing wheat, because there isn’t a whole lot of it in Iowa when you compare it to the number of acres of corn and soybeans. However, it is still one of the major commodities in the world as we look at its global demand. It...
June meat export data positive for both pork and beef
U.S. pork exports concluded an excellent first half with another strong performance in June, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). While well below the record pace established in 2022, June beef exports topped $900...
Ethanol industry responds to EPA’s science board’s corn ethanol claims
The ethanol industry is unhappy with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board for downplaying the climate benefits of corn ethanol in a recent report. The Renewable Fuels Association argues in a letter to EPA head Michael Regan that his science...
McConnell: farm bill will be late
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says Congress will deliver a farm bill, but not likely in September. Roll Call says McConnell told the Kentucky Farm Bureau that Congress is running out of working days on the legislative calendar before the current law expires...
2023 Crop Tour better than last year
172 bushels per acre on corn and 49.7 bushels per acre on beans are the Pro Farmer National Corn and Soybean estimates for the 2023 Crop. Pro Farmer Editor Brian Grete has the highlights.“Ohio is kind of a hit or miss state but this year it was a real rock star and I...
