January 1, 2010
My View
Crop Farmers Can Help Livestock Farmers in Battle with Humane Society of the U.S. | Brace for Another HSUS Scrimmage
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Greg Lamp Editor glamp@csdigest.com
Well-known quarterback Michael Vick, incarcerated for operating a dog-fighting ring, is back playing NFL football. Unfortunately, he's also providing... More
Features
River Systems Face Challenges that Could Impact Corn and Soybean Farmers | Can Our Rivers Deliver?
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Edith Munro
If you want to understand the many challenges facing the Mississippi River system and everyone who uses it, look no further than Lock 25 at Winfield,... More
The Soybean Genome Sequence is Published and Ready To Help Farmers Garner Better Traits | Soybean Now Sequenced
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Jen Bennett
When someone says, we think of human genetics and how baby Joe has great-grandpa Harry's nose or ears. Or, maybe we think of crime scenes. (Thank you,... More
Corn and Soybean Growers Question Taking Acres Out of the Conservation Reserve Program | Take Acres Out of CRP?
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Kenna Rathai
Although heralded as USDA's most successful conservation program in history, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) endures scrutiny every time a new... More
Online Marketing Tool Helps Corn and Soybean Growers Find Customers | Cyber Selling
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Karen Bernick
When VeraSun Energy Corporation filed Chapter 11 late last year, Mike Schlarmann was left scrambling to replace his corn buyer. He had recently contracted... More
Planter Air Clutches Save Seed and Time When Planting | Seed With Speed
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By John Pocock
Automated on-off controls have allowed Clay Mitchell, Buckingham, IA, to virtually eliminate seed overlap since 2007. That's when he installed independent... More
Nebraska Farmer Modifies Custom-Built Planter | Dream Machine
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Greg Lamp
Although he probably wouldn't admit it, Greg Kreikemeier's custom-built planter is almost a work of art. Originally built in 2002 and revamped the last... More
Strip-Till Is Precision Farming Aid | Precise Variability
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Liz Morrison
For Minnesota growers Kevin and Larry Lahr, strip-tillage is one more precision farming tool. The Lahrs' recent switch to strip-till is part of their... More
Organic Soybeans Offer High Profits, Along with Higher Risk | Organic Opportunities
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Liz Morrison
It could be a scene from the past: young people with hoes, weeding long rows of soy-beans by hand. That pretty much describes certified organic soybeans... More
Nematicides Can Help Control Soybean Cyst Nematodes | Is it Time for Nematicides?
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Larry Stalcup
Nematode-resistant soybean varieties aren't always living up to that billing. And it might be time to think about more use of nematicides along with a... More
Products
Products
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM
PRECISION FARMING SYSTEM ParaDyme is the new totally integrated precision farming system from AutoFarm. The product line offers a full suite of precision... More
News
EPA Delays E15 Blending Decision
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces that it needs more time to decide whether the blending limit for ethanol in gasoline should be raised... More
29% of Grain Sorghum Used For Ethanol
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
According to a study funded by the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP), about 29% of the grain sorghum produced in the U.S. is used to produce ethanol.... More
Brazil Raises Soy Estimate
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
CONAB, the supply division of Brazil's Agriculture Ministry, raised its estimate of that country's 2009-2010 soybean crop to reflect larger expectations... More
New off the Cob Podcasts
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has started a new ongoing series of podcasts on its Web site: www.ncga.com. The series features interviews... More
ASA Announces 2010 Officers
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
The Board of Directors of the American Soybean Association (ASA) has confirmed Rob Joslin from Sidney, OH, as president, and Johnny Dodson from Halls,... More
United Soybean Board (USB) Names New Officers
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled By Greg Lamp
The United Soybean Board elected the following slate of executive committee members last month. Chairman is Phil Bradshaw, Griggsville, IL; vice chairman... More
Profits
The Six C is Cranium
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Dave Kohl
While not all of agriculture has experienced the economic freefall, there are proactive management lessons to be learned from the latest crisis. There... More
Corn and Soybean Farmers Should Embrace Change and Opportunity | Change Provides Opportunity
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Moe Russell
The last three years have been a volatility nightmare with the price swings we've seen in corn, soybeans, oil, gold and other commodities. Cash grain... More
Grain Markets are Mysteries, Not Puzzles
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Ed Usset
On a cold winter night, few things are better than a warm drink and a good book. One of my favorite contemporary authors is Malcolm Gladwell, and his... More
An Economic Look Forward For Corn and Soybean Farmers | The Year Ahead of Us
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Richard Brock
For people in the livestock industry, the best news is that 2009 is finally over. Never in history has the livestock industry seen so much red ink led... More
What Will Corn and Soybean Farmers Do Differently in 2010?
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Bu Susan Winsor
High drying costs, poor grain quality and bushels of uncertainty were fresh in the minds of several northern Iowa growers as they look to the next growing... More
Crop Insurance Options Could Be Debated in Next Farm Bill | Insurance Endurance
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Forrest Laws
Are federal crop insurance programs about to take center stage in the national farm policy debate? For years, crop insurance has been treated almost like... More
Tillage Conference Packed With Take-Home Info
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM
This year's Conservation Tillage Conference is right around the corner and you won't want to miss the lineup of conservation experts and farmers. You'll... More
New Soybean Traits are On the Horizon | The New Soybean Frontier
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Lynn Grooms
Soybeans with new defensive traits and improved nutritional traits are on the new trait horizon. How soon could they be commercialized and how will they... More
Argentina
Export Taxes are Hot Topic For Argentine Farmers | Export Taxes: a Hot Political Issue
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By John Kennedy
Like many developing economies, Argentina taxes its commodity exports, including soybeans and corn. These taxes were first introduced in 1862 but were... More
Departments
Manure Storage Covers Capture Greenhouse Gas | Money From Manure Gas
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
Manure storage covers have been found to capture greenhouse gas emissions, and could potentially provide income for farmers looking to trade carbon credits.... More
Funding for Climate-Change Research gets Big Boost
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
Funding from USDA for research on greenhouse-gas mitigation in agriculture will increase more than 10-fold, according to an announcement last month from... More
Will Farmers See Benefits From Cap and Trade?
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
USDA continues to contend that farmers will see big net benefits from the cap-and-trade climate change bill, according to Doane's. However, on closer... More
Most Iowa Biodiesel Plants Need Tax Break to Survive
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
According to the Iowa Renew-able Fuels Association (IRFA), Iowa, home to one of the largest number of biodiesel plants, is expected to have fewer than... More
Valero Acquiring Three More Ethanol Plants
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
Valero Energy is beefing up its ethanol presence, purchasing three more plants including two more former VeraSun facilities for a collective $272 million,... More
Benefits of Soy Health
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
Two new University of Illinois (U of I) studies report that lunasin, a soy peptide often discarded in the waste streams of soy-processing plants, may... More
British Columbia Phases in Biodiesel Mandate
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Compiled by Greg Lamp
British Columbia's biodiesel mandate began Jan. 1, 2010, but the 5% requirement will be phased in over a two-year period, according to Oil Price Information... More
Articles
Twin-Row Corn Boosts Yields
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Wayne Ebelhar Mississippi State University Delta Research and Extension Center
Mississippi Delta growers are hoping to boost their corn yields by planting in twin-row systems on raised beds. Their success will depend on, among other... More
lastic Packaging Made From Corn Is On The Rise | Planting Plastic
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Edith Munro
A trio of corn-based products is poised to capitalize on growing demand for bioplastics, according to a new market analysis. This demand surge will result... More
Soybean Demand Continues To Grow, Thanks In Part To China | Bullish on Beans
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Susan Winsor
Soybean demand is growing the fastest of any crop in the world today. A growing appetite for meat in developing countries ensures that this trend will... More
Elevators Back To Offering Multi-year and –month Grain Contracts For Conr and Soybean Growers | Long-term Marketing is Back
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Larry Stalcup
Growers wanting to lock in multi-year or even multi-month grain contracts when prices surged in 2008 were often turned away by margin-requirement-strapped... More
Poor Grain Quality and Mold Could Be Devastating to Stored Corn | Corn Mold is Getting Old
Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM | By Edith Munro
Across the Corn Belt from Ohio to Colorado, grain quality experts and Extension staff are warning corn growers to be alert for Gibberella ear rot infections... More
(New Course)
