Agronomy News

Iowa Farmer Battles Today's Pests While Eyeing Tomorrow's 'Mean Sixteen' Threats

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:31:41 GMT

For Worth County, Iowa, farmer Sarah Tweeten, the list of high-priority agronomic threats isn’t a political abstract — it’s a harsh reality she deals with every season.

Farming with her parents, Brian and Julie, and her uncle Roger, Tweeten has been steering the partnership toward more resilient cropping practices since joining the operation in 2021. This includes shifting from conventional tillage to strip tillage and splitting nitrogen applications.

The changes are part of a broader mindset: Protecting yields today from weeds, disease and insects while aggressively preparing for the next generation of agronomic threats. This forward-thinking approach is what led Tweeten to Washington, D.C., earlier this week as a Farm Journal Foundation farmer ambassador to help introduce a new report: “ The Mean Sixteen: Major Biosecurity Threats Facing U.S. Agriculture and How Policy Solutions Can Help. ”

Today’s Battles and Tomorrow’s Warnings
Researched and developed by Stephanie Mercier, PhD, the report takes an in-depth look at 16 significant pest issues U.S. farmers face now or could realistically in the future.

Tweeten is already battling a couple of the problems that underpin the urgency behind the research. For example, Palmer amaranth (pigweed) is gaining ground in her fields and across Iowa. The pervasive broadleaf weed can drastically reduce yields, with studies showing corn yield reductions between 11% and 91% and soybean yield reductions of 17% to 68%.

“We’ve struggled with pigweed as it continues to establish more resistance to our herbicides in our toolkit,” Tweeten says.

Two additional agronomic issues the report details include:

1. Asian Soybean Rust. First detected in the U.S. in Louisiana in 2004, this fungal disease has spread to southern states like Georgia and Mississippi. Scientists warn that warming winters could enable its migration to the Midwest, adding to existing disease pressures.

2. Corn Ear Rot. It can lead to aflatoxin production, making corn unmarketable and posing risks to humans and livestock. Aflatoxin is an issue Pickens County, Ala., farmer Annie Dee says is an ongoing problem for corn growers in her area.

“If we have aflatoxin, it can be impossible to sell the corn,” says Dee, also a Farm Journal Foundation Farmer ambassador.

A more recent threat she references is the impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu) on local poultry farms.

Since January 2022, HPAI has been confirmed in a commercial or backyard poultry flock in all 50 states.

(USDA)

“An important market for us is poultry feed meal, so that’s a constant worry. The trickle-down effect is if we can’t move our corn then we can’t meet our financial obligations,” Dee adds.

Despite agricultural R&D offering a high ROI — $20 in benefits for every $1 spent — the Farm Journal Foundation report notes public funding for ag research has been declining over the past two decades.

“Farmers urgently need sustained support for aflatoxin research and prevention because these risks threaten our yields, our markets and the trust consumers place in American agriculture,” Dee says.

U.S. public spending on ag research and development has been falling for two decades.

(USDA-ERS)

African Swine Fever Has ‘Devastating Potential’
Looking to the future, Tweeten says she is concerned about African swine fever (ASF) and its potential to impact crop farmers as well as hog producers. The highly contagious swine disease hasn’t been detected in the U.S. mainland, but it isn’t far away. ASF has been confirmed in the Caribbean countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, roughly 700 miles from Miami, Fla.

“Being a farmer from Iowa, where we have probably eight times the amount of pigs as we do people, an outbreak of ASF would be just devastating to our state,” Tweeten says.

Hogs are among the biggest customers for the corn and soybeans Tweeten and her family grow. If African swine fever were to shut down hog production or exports, it wouldn’t just be a blow to livestock producers – it would hurt the entire agricultural community, she contends.

Read about 5 livestock diseases that could impact U.S. food security and economic stability.

Food Security Is National Security
When it comes to justifying funding for ag research, Tweeten knows there’s competition for every federal dollar. But she believes agriculture deserves a front-row seat — not only because of its economic weight and impact on farmers, but because of its role in national security.

“There’s that argument that food security is national security,” she says. “If there’s one thing COVID made us aware of, it’s that a disruption to our food chain can be terrifying, quite frankly.”

The pandemic made consumers and policymakers more aware of supply chain vulnerability. In 2020, the shock to the supply chain came from a human disease and logistical bottlenecks.

(Sarah Williams Photography)

Next time, Tweeten says, the disruption could just as easily come from animal or plant disease — whether African swine fever in hogs, Asian soybean rust or some other pathogen in crops. She worries about scenarios where farmers could face a fast-moving disease or crop pest while critical tools are still hung up in regulatory delays.

Her message: Farmers need a full toolbox, not one that’s half-built by the time a threat arrives.

“Ag needs to be in a good position when these sorts of emerging diseases and pests come into the country,” she says, “to have the tools in our toolbox ready for farmers to pull out.”

About the Farm Journal Foundation
The Farm Journal Foundation is a farmer-centered, non-profit, nonpartisan organization established in 2010. It works to advance agricultural innovation, food and nutrition security, conservation, and rural economic development.

Chinese Scientist Accused Of Smuggling ‘Potential Agroterrorism Weapon’ Into the U.S.

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 23:10:37 GMT

Two Chinese nationals have been charged with trying to smuggle a fungus, Fusarium graminearum, into the United States.

Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, citizens of the People’s Republic of China, were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the U.S., false statements and visa fraud.

The charges against the pair were unsealed in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, on Tuesday.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office references Fusarium graminearum online as a “dangerous biological pathogen … which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon.”

Fusarium graminearum causes significant diseases in a number of U.S.-grown food crops, including corn, wheat, barley, soybeans and rice.

Diseases caused include Fusarium head blight (scab) in wheat, and two corn diseases Gibberella ear rot and Gibberella stalk rot , which can lower yield and feed quality of silage corn, according to the Crop Protection Network, a partnership of land grant universities.

Toxins the fungus produces can cause vomiting, liver damage, reproductive defects and mycotoxin-induced immunosuppression in humans and livestock, including cattle, hogs, horses and poultry.

One Scientist Arrested, One Returned To China
The 25-page criminal complaint alleges Liu tried to smuggle the fungus through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DMA) in July 2024, so he could study it at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, worked at the time.

Jian had been living in the U.S. and working at the university laboratory since 2022.

The roots of the case involving Yunqing Jian, 33, and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, 34, stretch back to March 2024. That is when Liu applied for a B2 tourist visa to enter the U.S.

(The Detroit News and Sanilac County Jail)

According to the criminal complaint, Jian and Liu had both previously conducted work on the fungus in China.

Officials further allege Jian received funding from the Chinese government for her research on the pathogen in China. They also claim she is a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

Jian, who was arrested by the FBI, remains in federal custody. On Thursday, her detention hearing was adjourned until 1 p.m. June 13 to allow time for a new defense attorney to get up to speed.

Liu was sent back to China last year after changing his story during an interrogation at the Detroit airport about red plant material discovered in a wad of tissues in his backpack, the FBI says.

The U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with China, which makes Liu’s arrest unlikely unless he returns.

In a statement released on June 3, the University of Michigan said it condemns “any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university’s critical public mission.”

“It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals,” the university added. “We have and will continue to cooperate with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution.”

In a statement released on June 3, the University of Michigan said it condemns “any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university’s critical public mission.”

(Michigan News Source)

Boyfriend Spills Intentions To Investigators
An article in The Detroit News said Liu told investigators during an interrogation at the Detroit airport he planned to clone the different strains and make additional samples if the experiments on the reddish plant material failed, according to the government.

“Liu stated that he intentionally hid the samples in his backpack because he knew there were restrictions on the importation of the materials,” an FBI agent wrote. “Liu confirmed that he had intentionally put the samples in a wad of tissues so CBP officers would be less likely to find and confiscate them, and he could continue his research in the United States.”

Liu told investigators he planned on using UM’s Molecular Plant-Microbe Interaction Laboratory to research the biological materials, the FBI agent wrote.

“Liu stated that, while he was in the United States, he would have free access to the laboratory at the University of Michigan on some days, and that other days his girlfriend would give him access to the laboratory to conduct his research,” The Detroit News article reported.

Before preventing Liu from entering the U.S. and sending him back to China, the investigators found messages between the couple that indicate Jian previously smuggled biological material into the U.S., the FBI agent wrote.

The messages are from August 2022 and discuss smuggling seeds into the U.S.

Lawmakers Respond To The Criminal Complaint
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement that the Justice Department “has no higher mission than keeping the American people safe and protecting our nation from hostile foreign actors who would do us harm.”

“Thanks to the hard work of our excellent DOJ attorneys, this defendant — who clandestinely attempted to bring a destructive substance into the United States — will face years behind bars,” the attorney general says.

“I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country,” FBI Director Kash Patel said on Tuesday.

(FBI)

FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the arrest of Jian late Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter.

“This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences … putting American lives and our economy at serious risk.”

U.S. Custom and Border Protection, Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon says the criminal charges against Jian and Liu are indicative of CBP’s critical role in protecting the American people from biological threats that could devastate its agricultural economy and cause harm to humans.

“This was a complex investigation involving CBP offices from across the country, alongside our federal partners,” says Raybon in a prepared statement. “I’m grateful for their tireless efforts, ensuring our borders remain secure from all types of threats while safeguarding America’s national security interests.”

Your next read: Surveillance State: Game Wardens Sued for Secret Private Land Intrusions in Alabama

'Stay Tuned, We'll Be Right Back With Your Forecast'

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 15:02:27 GMT

What if you could know the timing of significant weather events for your area during the next six months with 91% accuracy?

Now you can, according to Gary Lezak, a former meteorologist with KSHB-TV in Kansas City turned weather entrepreneur.

Lezak’s business, Weather 20/20, provides weather-based data analytics on a global basis to its customers, who range from farmers to retailers to general consumers.

Eighty Years In The Making
Lezak learned in the mid-1980s that a weather cycle exists, an insight he attributes to Jerome Namais, who first addressed the concept in the 1940s. Namais, a renowned American meteorologist, was Chief of the United States Weather Bureau’s Extended Forecast Section in Washington, D.C. from 1941 to 1971.

“What it’s all about is the weather pattern above us – the river of air that goes across North America through the westerly belt, across to Europe, Asia, and then back around across the Pacific. That jet stream flow, that river of air above us, has an order to it,” Lezak told Andrew McCrea, host of the Farming The Countryside podcast, during a recent conversation.

For the next 20 years Lezak continued to study the weather cycling concept, refining what he learned as he went along.

By the early 2000s, Lezak was blogging about what he had learned, eventually calling the concept he developed the Lezak Recurring Cycle (LRC). He founded Weather 20/20 in 2008.

“The LRC is all about the cycle,” Lezak says. “After many years of practicing it, 20 to 30 years of using it, we are able to predict when and where and a little bit of the what,” with regard to weather, he told McCrea.

The core tenet of the LRC is that a unique weather pattern establishes itself every year. It starts to set up in early October, with develpment continuing through early January. By then, Lezak says the pattern can be identified and predictions of every day’s weather around the world can be produced.

Based on the LRC, Lezak says he can predict with a 91% accuracy level when and where there will be major weather events – from snowstorms to hurricanes to droughts – for the next seven to eight months in the U.S.

“That (timing) is the sweet spot of the LRC and fits agriculture perfectly,” Lezak says.

He adds that Mother Nature still creates weather disruptions he can’t predict 9% of the time, based on influences such as El Nino, La Nina and the Arctic Oscillation.

Lezak’s take on the accuracy of weather forecasts differs from what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports, though an apples-to-apples comparison is not available.

The NOAA says a seven-day forecast can accurately predict the weather about 80 percent of the time and a five-day forecast can accurately predict the weather approximately 90 percent of the time. However, a 10-day—or longer—forecast is only right about half the time.

Agriculture Takes Notice
As Lezak was honing the development of the LRC in the early 2000s, fellow meteorologist, Dean Wysocki, then based in Nebraska, learned of it and reached out to Lezak for more details.

Wysocki started using the information he learned during his broadcasts, noting that Nebraska farmers were hungry for more accurate weather insights and predictions.

“I’ll tell you what, it’s a game changer. That’s the easiest way to put it,” says Wysocki, who joined Lezak on the podcast.

Wysocki, now based in Fargo, N.D., got LRC certified and began telling farmers in the Dakotas and Minnesota about its benefits.

“It’s a major piece of long-term weather forecasting, and the accuracy on it has just been amazing,” Wysocki says. “We’ve signed up between about 50 to 100 in our ag community and we’ve got nothing but positive feedback. Is it 100% correct? No, nothing is, but it’s a great tool to have on your tool belt.”

The Weather Outlook Ahead
During the conversation with McCrea, Lezak and Wysocki shared some of their weather predictions for late winter and early spring 2025, based on information the LRC has provided. Here are three of their predictions:

1. Lezak says a La Nina, which is the cooling of the tropical Pacific Ocean, has a grip currently on parts of the western and upper Corn Belt areas, but he expects that to ease up.

“That grip that it has tends to shift precipitation patterns to the eastern Corn Belt. That’s not good for Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota,” Lezak says. “It shifts precipitation patterns to the East, but that grip we think is going to be let loose by March.”

2. Wysocki says he foresees a wetter spring, in March and April, for most of the Dakotas.

“We’ll get our moisture that we need in March and more than likely into the first part of April, and that should be good for planting season,” he says. “I’m still concerned about the western Dakotas into areas of Montana and Wyoming, worried that they’ll remain dry.”

3. With regard to drought, Lezak encourages farmers to keep an eye on the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor, as he says droughts are constantly either shrinking or expanding.

“It appears that over the last year or so that areas of drought, as we look at the entire nation, have begun to decrease,” he says. “This one has been shrinking for weeks, and that is a good sign. The likelihood of that trend continuing is high.”

Wysocki and Lezak offered additional weather insights during their conversation with McCrea. You can hear more of those specifics on the podcast, available here:

Your next read: With More Arctic Air Set to Blast the U.S., Why This Winter Could Be Remembered for Its Extremes

Illinois Farm Families Star in Super Bowl LVIII Commercial

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 21:39:42 GMT

Super Bowl LVIII fans in Illinois will be able to cheer on some familiar faces in a commercial during the big game on Sunday. Illinois pork producer Chad Leman will be starring, alongside family and farming friends, in a commercial titled “Career Path,” closing out Illinois Farm Families’ (IFF) “We are the 96%” campaign” that highlights the state’s family-owned farms.

For current past president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association and father of four daughters, the commercial is all about communicating and building trust with consumers.

“I hope people can see that the same families who have been responsible for growing their food in the past are still responsible for growing it today,” he says. “But, we’ve had to grow a little in the meantime so the next generation has room to move in.”

It’s an honor to be included in a message that will be broadcast to millions of people, he says. He hopes that it will help improve understanding of life on the farm today.

(Farm Journal)

^{Tess, a recent college graduate, will hopefully never be too old to learn something new from her grandpa. (Photo courtesy of Illinois Farm Families)}

Leman and his wife, Staci, recently welcomed the newest generation to join their four-generation farm. Tess, their oldest daughter, is a recent Illinois State University graduate and has come home to the family farm.

“The next gens don’t have to come back to the farm, but the values and work ethic they learned growing up on the farm will benefit them in whatever path they pursue,” he says. “No matter what our daughters pursue in life, we hope they carry with them a fondness of the time they spent on our family farm.”

The Leman family farm was established in 1949 when his grandfather, Vernon Leman, began farming the main farmstead in Woodford County. Since then, with each new generation has come an opportunity to expand the family farm, Leman says. It started with crops. Then, pigs in the late 1970s. Next, creating a business to sell seed to fellow farmers in the early 1990s.

“It’s a testament to our parents and grandparents that they created laid the foundation for us to continue to grow and expand,” Leman says.

(Farm Journal)

^{The Boucher family of Dwight in Livingston County includes, from left: Delaney, Matt, Heather and Harlie. Not pictured is son, Cole. (Photo courtesy of Illinois Farm Families)}

Matt Boucher, a fourth-generation Illinois farmer, will appear in the commercial with daughter, Harlie. He became involved in the “We are the 96%” campaign after sharing a photo of him and his daughter in the combine while his father was driving the auger cart. The photo highlighted the generational aspect of farming.

“There’s a scene in the commercial where we’re walking away from the camera and I’m literally tossing her the keys to the combine with the next shot of her driving the combine. It’s a really cool representation of that idea of passing on the farm to the next generation,” Boucher says.

Boucher farms alongside his wife, Heather, with help from their teenaged children Harlie, Cole and Delaney in Livingston County. Together, they raise corn, soybeans, wheat and cover crops, as well as pork and chicken for local sales. The operation also includes a trucking business and seed sales.

“The vast majority of Illinois farms are not owned by big corporations,” Boucher points out. “It’s a huge honor to participate in this campaign and act as a bridge between farmers and people outside of agriculture to help them understand where their food comes from, how its grown, and the families that make it all possible.”

The Leman and Boucher families will be joined by the Marr family of Morgan County, the DeSutter family of Knox County and the Bunting family of Livingston County.

(Farm Journal)

^{The entire Marr family came together for a family photo during a harvest video shoot for the “We are the 96%” campaign. (Photo by Illinois Farm Families)}

“I’m only one example of what family farms in Illinois look like, but I know it is so important for all the non-farming families in Illinois to see our families and to understand that we are the ones growing their food and fuel,” says Marty Marr, a third-generation farmer who works alongside his wife, brother and sons on their Sangamon-Morgan County farm. “We look just like them in so many ways and we all value the same things – family, relationships, protecting our soil and water for future generations, building opportunity for our kids to find a future in the job that they love. I hope that everyone in Illinois who has the chance to watch will see that passion for the family farm in this commercial.”

The commercial will air in the Champaign, Peoria-Bloomington, Quad Cities, Quincy, Rockford, Springfield, St. Louis and Southern Illinois markets, including the Evansville, Ind., and Cape Girardeau, Mo., markets.

All families appearing in the commercial are profiled on the campaign’s website at wearethe96.org . Visitors can view behind-the-scenes footage and learn more about each family, their history on the farm and what their farm looks like today. More photos and videos of the families participating throughout the campaign will appear on IFF’s social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts, IFF said in a release. Following the on-air debut, the full commercial will be available on IFF’s Facebook page and website.

Read More:

Super Bowl Commercial Puts Spotlight on Illinois Farming Family

Super Bowl Stand-Outs: 8 Ways to Win With Pork

How the $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Spending Package Might Impact Your Operation

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:19:29 GMT

Text of the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package was released early Tuesday morning. The Senate will vote first and intends to pass the measure before Thursday, leaving the House no time to demand changes before the Christmas holiday.

Here are the details that might impact your farm:

Disaster Relief

• $250 million in aid to rice producers and $100 million to cotton merchandisers to make up for losses related to the pandemic or supply chain disruptions. USDA previously provided $80 million in aid to textile mills and other cotton users. For rice, USDA would determine payment rates based on yield history and acreage.

• $40.6 billion for drought, hurricanes, flooding, wildfire, natural disasters and other matters — $3.7 billion in disaster aid for farmers to cover 2022 crop and livestock losses.

Food Aid

• Funds two programs that provide foreign food aid. These include the Food for Peace Program (PL 480), which is funded at $1.8 billion, and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program, which is funded at $248 million, for an increase of $11 million over fiscal year 2022.

• Summer Meals Program Modernization: Updates the summer food service program to permanently allow states to provide non-congregate meals and summer electronic benefit (EBT) options nationwide to eligible children in addition to meals provided at congregate feeding sites. Non-congregate meals, such as grab-and-go or home delivery, would be provided in rural areas to eligible children, and summer EBT benefits would be capped at $40 per child per month. This provision is fully offset and based largely on the Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act, which Boozman authored and introduced earlier this Congress.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT Skimming Regulations and Reimbursement: Requires USDA to coordinate with relevant agencies and stakeholders to investigate reports of stolen SNAP benefits through card skimming, cloning and other similar fraudulent methods. This provision aims to identify the extent of the problem, develop methods to prevent fraud and improve security measures, and provide replacement of benefits stolen through these fraudulent actions.

Conservation

• Cracks down on “conservation easements,” which allow tax breaks when land is dedicated for conservation purposes. The IRS has identified the transactions as a method for avoiding taxes. The conservation easement provision was expected to raise between $6 billion and $7 billion.

• SUSTAINS Act: Enacts a House bill that allows corporations and other private entities to contribute funding for conservation projects and authorizes USDA to match up to 75% in matching the donations.

Inputs

• Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA 5) Reauthorization: Reauthorizes pesticide registration and review process user-fee programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and increases registration and maintenance fees to support a more predictable regulatory process, create additional process improvements, and provide resources for safety, training, bilingual labeling, and other services to advance the safe and effective use of pesticides.

• Pesticide Registration Review Deadline Extension: Extends deadline for EPA to complete registration review decisions for all pesticide products registered as of October 1, 2007. EPA is facing a significant backlog of pesticide registrations due to a variety of factors over the past several years, which raises potential implications for continued access to numerous crop protection tools. The agency will be allowed to continue its registration review work through October 1, 2026, as a result of this extension.

Climate

• Growing Climate Solutions Act: Incorporates updated language from the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which directs USDA to establish a program to register entities that provide technical assistance and verification for farmers, ranchers and foresters who participate in voluntary carbon markets with the goal of providing information and confidence to producers.

Farm Business

• $1.92 billion for farm programs, which is $55 million above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. This includes $61 million to resolve ownership and succession of farmland issues, also known as heirs’ property issues. This funding will continue support for various farm, conservation, and emergency loan programs, and help American farmers and ranchers. It will also meet estimates of demand for farm loan programs.

• Funding for specialty crops and remarks on crop insurance/A&O. Some $25 million is being made available for specialty crop equitable relief and report language directing USDA to use its legal authority to index all A&O (crop insurance program) for inflation and provide equitable relief for specialty crops going forward.

Livestock

• Livestock Mandatory Reporting Extension (LMR) Extension: Extends livestock mandatory reporting requirements until September 30, 2023. LMR requires meat packers and importers to report the prices they pay for cattle, hogs, and sheep purchased for slaughter and prices received for meats derived from such species to USDA who then publishes daily, weekly, and monthly public reports detailing these transactions.

Markets

• Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Whistleblower Program Extension: Enables CFTC to continue payment of salaries, customer education initiatives and non-awards expenses related to the whistleblower program to ensure it can continue to function even when awards obligated to whistleblowers exceed the program fund’s balance at the time of distribution.

Some ag sector items that did NOT make the omnibus package:

Nothing for the proposed farmworker labor reforms from Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and others. The bill also left out legislation to reform cattle markets or appoint a special investigator at USDA to investigate possible anti-competitive behavior in the meatpacking sector.

We’ll be updating this article as more details become available.

More on policy :

Water Resources Bill Reauthorized with a Component that Will Impact Producers
European Union Clinches a Deal on a Carbon Border Tax
U.S.'s “Candid” GMO Corn Conversation With Mexico Results In Changes To Looming Trade Dispute
Senate Clears Annual Defense Policy, Pushing $858 Billion to Military

Online Estimators to Help You Reduce Energy Use

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 02:45:40 GMT

Still trying to nail down a good New Year’s resolution? How about pledging to use less energy on your farm in 2011?

With some help from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), you should be able to do just that. NRCS has developed four online energy tools designed to help you understand where you are spending your energy dollars and help you reduce those costs.

The tools allow you to input your farm-specific information which generates recommended modifications that can save you money.

The four different energy estimators cover:

Animal Housing
This estimator applies to swine, poultry or dairy cattle housing operations. It evaluates major energy costs in lighting, ventilation, heating, milk cooling, water heating and milk harvesting.

Irrigation
Pumping water for irrigation can be a major drain on the pocketbook. With this estimator, you can analyze your irrigation costs based on your current energy prices, the type of crop and pumping requirements.

Nitrogen
Fertilizer is a high enough input cost, no one wants to contribute any extra dollars to it. With this estimator, you can calculate the costs and potential savings for nitrogen use on your farm. You input the crop you’re growing and the form of N you will use, along with your application rate and price. The estimator then provides you with predicted savings based on alternative application methods and rates.

Tillage
How much money would you save if you switched from conventional tillage to ridge-till or no-till? This energy estimator tells you just that. Simply enter your crop acres and local diesel fuel price and see which tillage system pays off for you.

For additional assistance on energy savings, you can contact your local NRCS office. Access the tools online at http://energytools.sc.egov.usda.gov/

Our Editors Share Favorite Stories

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 15:37:22 GMT

We here at Farm Journal are so honored to provide you with the latest, most interesting and helpful news and content.

Whether you read us in print (Farm Journal, Top Producer, The Scoop, Drovers, Dairy Herd Management, MILK, Pork or Bovine Veterinarian), watch us on TV (AgDay, U.S. Farm Report), listen to us on AgriTalk or visit us at AgWeb.com, we appreciate your time and hope we’ve made a positive difference for your farm or ranch.

As we prepare to put 2021 to bed, several of our editors reminisced about the past year and identified the stories, pieces and clips they enjoyed producing the most. Please enjoy our short trip down memory lane.

Clinton Griffiths, Farm Journal Editor & AgDay Host

“The Biologicals Race is On”

Farmers and the agricultural industry are just now on the cusp of unlocking the powerful potential of biologicals. This segment of the industry stands to dramatically change some of the ways we farm including using less fertilizer, improving plant health or even battling against pests. A Farm Journal Pulse poll found that more than 60% of respondents either don’t know or need to know more about biologicals. That tells me there’s a lot of room for education, growth and investment in the coming years.

Sara Schafer, Farm Journal Content Manager & Top Producer Editor

“Fuel the Crush”

Some trends slowly emerge while others seem to surface out of nowhere. Renewable diesel is a topic that falls in both camps. This fall I (along with several team members) dug into this emerging market and what it means for farmers. In the future will we value soybeans more for their oil than their meal? Time will tell — it’s definitely a trend to watch. It was fun to tell this story with words, charts, maps and graphics.

Chris Bennett, Farm Journal Technology and Issues Editor

“U.S. Farming Loses the King of Combines”

In December 2020, American farming lost a true giant with the passing of Jessie Small — a titan for whom farmland coast-to-coast became a kingdom. In 2021, it was an absolute honor to write a short summation of Mr. Jessie’s buccaneering life, spent cutting grain for 62 years in nearly every U.S. state. RIP to a true champion of U.S. agriculture.

Rhonda Brooks, Content Projects Manager & Bovine Veterinarian Editor

“Dollars or Doubts? 9 Questions to Ask Before Jumping into the Carbon Market”

For me, this article represents what Farm Journal is all about – what its focus has been for the past 143 years and will be in the future – providing solid, actionable information that growers can use to make decisions for their farms and families. As the headline indicates, the article addresses nine common questions farmers have about carbon markets: How much money can I make? Can I get paid for conservation practices I’m already using? How will my data be used? These and other questions are ones we will continue to explore and answer for farmers in the year ahead.

Jenna Hoffman, Content Creator, Agriculture & Food Policy and Innovation

“What to Consider When Farming the Sun”

This was my first piece in print and it focused on my favorite concept: science at work. Solar power has intrigued me for some time, but I had not known much about it until speaking with Tom McKinney. When I obtain my own land someday, I will call Tom and consider my solar options.

Karen Bohnert, Dairy Editorial Director

“Passing the Torch from One Generation to the Next at Steinhurst Dairy”

In this story, the Steiner family shares their Christian values so many of us can relate to. We must continue to write content about succession planning and share those much needed and somewhat uncomfortable conversations about how the family farm will be passed on to help spell sustainability. A farm can be the most efficient and profitable, but if they don’t have a succession plan, then that all can come to an end tomorrow.

Greg Henderson, Drovers Editorial Director

“Driven to Sustainability”

Today 72% of consumers are willing to pay more to support companies that support their values. Credit Suisse, the Swiss global investment bank with $1.5 trillion under investment management, finds 75% of millennials believe their investments can influence climate change, and 84% believe their investments can help lift people out of poverty. That’s why we’re seeing so many sustainability initiatives in the beef industry.

Jennifer Shike, Farm Journal’s PORK Editor

“Eric Stonestreet Sets the Record Straight About Real Pork”

I had an exclusive interview with actor Eric Stonestreet, the face of the National Pork Board’s new mythbusting campaign. My 28-min. interview with Modern Family’s “Cam” was an experience I’ll never forget. What stood out the most was his sincere desire to bridge the gap between his rural roots and urban consumers. We know what it means to care for and respect animals. I’m looking forward to how Stonestreet will use his platform to open people’s hearts and minds to what pig farming is all about.

Katie Humphreys, Producer Media Content Manager

“A Phantom Lurks in Your Corn Fields”

Farm Journal Field Agronomists Ken Ferrie and Missy Bauer are attentive to the details that impact yield, profitability and sustainability — as evident in this story. The concept of phantom yield loss isn’t new, yet few studies can quantify the bushels that vanish and even fewer offer recommendations. Ken and Missy used real farms to study the invisible enemy and their findings provide farmers with the evidence they need to make tweaks to harvest timing to capture the bushels they work so hard to produce.

Margy Eckelkamp, The Scoop Editor & Machinery Pete Director Content Development

“A Robot To Replace The Need For Farmers To Go Inside the Grain Bin”

I met the Grain Weevil team through our Row Crop Challenge hosted with AgLaunch. I can remember clearly the first time I saw their product demo video — it was like a Roomba for the grain bin! More importantly, this team has put in a lot of effort and talent to bring a solution to the market that can help keep farmers safe. My least favorite stories to write are about farm accidents. Technologies such as the Grain Weevil can help reduce horrific accidents.

Tyne Morgan, U.S. Farm Report Host

“Remarkable Rescue: Five Farmers Save Father and 6-Year-Old Son”

This compelling story sparked change — I can’t even count the number of individuals who have told me the story made them “well aware.” The story sparked conversations I’m not sure would have happened if this family wasn’t willing to share their emotional story. The situation wasn’t easy to relive. In fact, there were details about the story not even those involved knew. But Brandon was willing to share his story to help save the lives of others.

See the 2021 Farm Journal Field Day Agendas

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:09:06 GMT

In 2021, you have the choice to join Farm Journal Field Days in person or online. Join us at a location near you or login online to find educational content, equipment demos, industry insights and more.

During the event, you can network with producers at some of America’s top farms and hear the latest insights and trends affecting the industry.

What is in store for the event? Here’s a quick overview. Click on each day to see the agendas.

Online Event: Aug. 23-27

Aug. 23: In-Person Field Day hosted by Whiskey Acres in DeKalb, Ill.

Aug. 25: In-Person Field Day hosted by Silent Shade Planting Company in Belzoni, Miss.

Aug. 26-27: In-Person Field Day hosted by Frahm Farmland in Colby, Kan.

Read more about the three Farm Journal Field Day Hosts

Whiskey Acres in DeKalb, Ill.

Silent Shade Planting Company in Belzoni, Miss.

Frahm Farmland in Colby, Kan.

Register now for the Farm Journal Field Days!

Why should you attend?

Powerful and Insightful Speakers: Hear from leading experts such machinery expert Greg Peterson, AgriTalk’s Chip Flory, your farmer peers and more!

Interactive Farm Tours: Take a behind-the-scenes look at our three hosts farms. Aren’t you ready to network with fellow farmers and learn from your peers?

Easily Accessible: Since part of the programming is online, you are not limited by geography or time restraints. This type of programming is more convenient in every way.

Direct Access to Exhibitors: Visit virtual booths, ask questions and learn about their latest offerings.

Register now for the Farm Journal Field Days!

Find Trusted Partners To Help You Succeed With Hemp. Here’s One Way.

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:54:25 GMT

When you start a new endeavor, one of the best ways to learn how to succeed often comes from other people—those individuals who are willing to share their knowledge, resources and first-hand experiences with you.

That’s certainly true if you want to grow hemp in 2020 for the first time, or even if you’ve got a couple of years of production and marketing under your belt.

“The No. 1 piece of advice farmers are telling us is you have to know who you’re working with, and that can be hard to know sometimes. It can be tricky to identify those sketchy players and figure out your trusted partners—from purchasing your seed to processing, and all the way down the line,” Portia Stewart, Farm Journal content strategy director, producer media, told AgriTalk Host, Chip Flory, earlier this week.

One way to accomplish that is to attend a Farm Journal Hemp College this winter . Later this month, the company is hosting a nationally focused hemp program in Chicago, featuring industry speakers and farmers from around the U.S. To learn more information about the agenda and register for the Chicago event, click here: https://bit.ly/2QVqnsv .

The Hemp College is being held in conjunction with the Top Producer Seminar, Executive Women in Agriculture and the Legacy Project.

“Real farmers from across the United States will tell you their secrets to what has worked and what has not worked for them with hemp,” Stewart said. “You’re going to get detailed policy updates. You’re going to have an opportunity to network and talk to people who might be good partners and really suss out what hemp could be for you.

“We also like to level set and make sure that you know we’re giving you all the information available, so that you don’t get in over your head. It’s really about making a good choice for 2020 and beyond, if you’re taking a close look at this crop,” she added.

Some of the featured speakers and topics at the Chicago event include:

How to Grow Hemp: A Farmer’s Perspective
Speaker: Dion Oakes, Farmer, Monte Vista, Colo.

Best Practices for Tillage, Harvesting and Processing Hemp
Speaker: Corbett Hefner, VP Research & Development, Formation Ag

The Agronomics of Hemp Production from A to Z
Speaker: Bryan Parr, Legacy Hemp

Hemp Seed Genetics, Availability and Selection
Speaker: Jeff Kostuik, Director of Operations, Central Region, Hemp Genetics

Hemp’s Hefty Pitfalls
Speaker: Chris Adams, Adams Family Farm

Legislative Outlook for 2020
Speaker: Jonathan Miller, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys

Top Producer Summit 2020

Farm Succession Planning Gets A Boost From An Ethical Will

Paul Neiffer: Help, I Have An Ugly Return!

EU Puts the Brakes on Gene Editing

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:13:54 GMT

Genomic editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 offer tremendous potential for accelerating genetic progress in crop plants and livestock, but a new ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) appears likely to stifle research and development in the European Union.

The ECJ ruling mandates that genomic-editing technology should be regulated similarly to genetic engineering methods using DNA from other species to create genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Europe currently enforces tight restrictions on planting and sales of GM crops.

Proponents of genomic editing maintain that the techniques modify an organism’s existing DNA to encourage expression of desirable genetic traits, or discourage undesirable traits, without introducing DNA from other species. The results are similar to those from conventional selection-based breeding, but can occur much faster – in a single generation rather than many generations over years of time.

In a recent example, scientists in Scotland used genomic editing to create a line of pigs with genetic resistance to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), one of the most destructive viral diseases in pigs worldwide.

The ECJ ruling to classify organisms developed using genomic editing as GMO’s removes financial incentives for companies to research the process for use in the European Union. According to news reports , Europe-based genetics companies such as Bayer, BASF and Syngenta likely will focus their genomic-editing research on other regions, such as North and South America.

Unlock The Door To Higher Corn & Soybean Yields

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:05:58 GMT

Many of today’s corn hybrids have the potential to reach 500-bushel-per-acre yields—that is, until the seed is poured out of the bag and planted. Likewise, most soybean varieties possess tens-of-bushels of untapped yield potential.

Why the big disconnect between yield potential and harvest results? Some of the reasons have to do with geography and weather—things you can’t change. Others have to do with agronomic practices and technology factors you can manage, often in transformational ways.

Farm Journal wants to help you address your agronomic management and technology use this season with its 2018 Yield Tour program. The Tour is scheduled for three locations this summer:

June 7 in Ft. Collins, Colo.
August 7 in Seymour, Ill.
August 16 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Each of these three events is designed to help you unlock the door to higher corn and soybean yields and features Farm Journal Field Agronomists Ken Ferrie and Missy Bauer, as well as leading agronomy and technology experts at AgriGold, Trimble and Valent.

Topics covered at each event include:

Large or Small Farms, Technology Can Benefit All
How ISOBUS Can Take Your Precision Farming to The Next Level
New Strategies for Achieving High, Consistent Corn Yields
Variable Rate & Multi Hybrid Planting: How to Make Them Work for You
Leverage Your Soil: Build a Stronger Root System with a New Technology

Along with great seminars and some hands-on training, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a live U.S. Farm Report taping with host Tyne Morgan and/or an AgriTalk segment with host Chip Flory.

Each event is $49 per person and includes lunch and materials. Go to Farm Journal events to learn more about the sessions and to register, or call (877) 482-7203.