Opening day of the Farm Progress Show, Bayer and the National 4-H Council announced a new partnership for future innovators in science and technology to help feed a growing population. The nationwide collaboration, Science Matters, is designed to address the need for an enhanced STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workforce by planting a love of scientific exploration in young …
Verdesian Life Sciences Introduces FlexConnect™
At the 2017 Farm Progress Show, Verdesian Life Sciences introduced FlexConnect™, the first closed transfer system for soybean inoculants. Combined with a mixing port, FlexConnect enables applicators to handle and mix inoculants of any volume straight from the packaging, without transferring to a separate tank. This saves applicators time and money by minimizing the waste normally associated with inoculant mixing. …
SPOT 6/7 Imagery to Feed Satshot’s Mapping Platforms
Airbus Defence and Space has entered into an agreement with the GIS mapping engine operator Satshot to provide high-resolution SPOT 6/7 satellite data over a large area of the corn and wheat belt within the continental United States. SPOT 6/7 data is integrated into the Satshot platform, which can be used for deep analysis of specific farmland for further improved …
Harvey Hits Texas Agriculture
Rescuing people trapped in flood waters continues to be the number one priority in Texas but it’s clear that Hurricane Harvey has hit agriculture hard. Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller says cotton farmers who were looking at a bumper crop this year were especially hard hit. “Best estimate so far is about a 150 million dollar loss for the …
NFU Announces Biofuels Initiative
National Farmers Union (NFU) has announced an initiative “to advance federal policies that support homegrown and home-produced renewable energy sources.” The effort follows a special order of business that was passed by delegates to the NFU 115th Anniversary Convention in March supporting expanded markets for higher blends of ethanol, like E30, and advanced biofuels. NFU’s initiative is supported by all …
GROWMARK and COFCO Announce Grain Partnership
A new grain partnership was created on Friday between agricultural cooperative GROWMARK, Inc. and global supply chain agribusiness COFCO International Limited (CIL) providing a direct link from farmers in the Midwest to the global marketplace, and China in particular. The partnership includes joint ownership and operation of the barge, truck, and rail terminal at Cahokia, Ill., with frontage on the …
Feed A Bee Plantings for Honey Bee Day
The Bayer Bee Care program launched the grant initiative, Feed a Bee in 2015 with a goal of planting 50 million flowers. They’ve now distributed more than 3 billion wildflower seeds and the organization is moving forward with a grander goal- to facilitate forage plantings or enhancements in every state by the end of 2018. August 19th is National Honey …
Secretary Perdue in Florida
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visited the Citrus Expo in Fort Myers, Florida this week to learn more about citrus greening and hold a farm bill listening session with Congressman Tom Rooney of the local district. During a very brief press gaggle, Perdue and Rooney answered questions from the press, including when he expects to have a full USDA confirmed …
2017 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange
U.S. soybean farmers meet the international buyers responsible for purchasing the 60% of soybeans exported from the U.S. each year during the 2017 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange. The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Midwest Shippers Association (MDA) hosted the 5th annual conference Aug. 15-17 at Omaha’s CenturyLink Center. Over 250 international buyers representing more than 50 countries and …
30th Annual ACE Conference
Members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) have gathered in Omaha August 15-17 for the organization’s 30th annual conference this week, with the theme “Tested. Proven. Driven.” This virtual newsroom includes links to photos, audio, and video from the conference. All content posted here is available free of charge for digital or print publication or broadcast. Credit may be …
SMART Farmer Phil Borgic
Meet the Illinois hog farmer whose family farm is the star of the 360 video the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance has been sharing around the country this year. You can watch the video without effects below – and if you have a VR viewer or headset take a look in 360. Phil Borgic has a family farm in Nokomis, …
Iowa Farmer is 1st Woman to Chair USGC
Iowa farmer Deb Keller was elected as U.S. Grains Council (USGC) chairman at the organization’s 57th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Vancouver, Washington earlier this month. She is the first female selected for the role in the organization’s nearly 60 year history. Keller’s experience as a strong advocate for trade will amplify the Council’s mission of developing markets, enabling …
USDA Forecast Optimistic Despite Conditions
U.S. farmers are expected to produce a record-high soybean crop this year, according to USDA’s August Crop Production report released Thursday. Soybean production is forecast at 4.38 billion bushels, up two percent from last year, while corn growers are expected to decrease their production by seven percent from last year, forecast at 14.2 billion bushels. Soybean yields are expected to …
RFA at the 2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The Renewable Fuels Association was once again a major sponsor for the Buffalo Chip Campground and the 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Aug. 4-13 in Sturgis, S.D. The event offers a unique opportunity to promote the benefits of high-octane, low-cost ethanol to the motorcycling community. It will also mark the first Sturgis rally for all motorists to take advantage of …
Young Beekeeper Recognized by Bayer
Bayer recently announced the recipients of the fifth annual Bayer Bee Care Community Leadership Award for dedication to pollinator protection and educating their communities about bee health. Bayer expanded the scope of its awards program this year to show support for the future of the beekeeping industry with a new young beekeeper award, which was presented this year to 14-year-old …