Variable Costs Increase In '06 

By Moe Russell

December is the time of the year to enjoy the holidays, but many of us also do year-end balance sheets, income statements and look at next year's cash...

PRODUCTS 

CORN HEAD Calmer Corn Heads, Inc., announces the addition of 30-in. corn heads to its existing line up of 15- and 20-in. heads. Features of the 30-in....

Recurring Rot 

By Liz Morrison

Some farmers in west central Minnesota harvested corn early this year, sacrificing $5-10/acre from the bottom line due to higher drying costs. The culprit:...

Rust Stop Ahead 

By John Pocock

No, Wooster, OH, didn't see any Asian soybean rust infestations this year. If we had, we would have made national news, says Richard Derksen, USDA Agricultural...

Complicated Tax Filing Limits Software Options 

By Kate Royer

As tax time approaches, many farmers might want to pre pare their taxes with computer software in order to avoid costly accounting fees or to save time....

Time For A Rotation Change? 

By Dave Howe

Should soaring energy and fertilizer prices prompt you to overhaul your corn/soybean rotation pattern? A Purdue University economic model shows that continuous...

Kill 'Em To Grow 'Em 

By Larry Stalcup

Have you ever considered planting conventional soybeans mixed with Roundup Ready lines to boost yields and reduce your herbicide costs? It may sound obscure,...

All I Want For Christmas 

By Dave Kohl

The following are gifts that might be on a producer's wish list for the holiday season. Some gifts may raise an eyebrow in an attempt at humor, while...

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) Bigger & Better Every Year 

By Kate Royer

As ATV manufacturers race to keep up with industry trends and the demands of consumers, vehicles have gotten bigger and better each year. From engine...

Irrigation Pays For Southeast U.S. Crops 

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Dawson, GA, say irrigation pays off for peanut, corn and cotton farmers. Marshall Lamb and his colleagues...

Hit More Marketing Homeruns 

By Larry Stalcup

Norman Stauffer sold much of his 2005 soybean crop for a whopping $6.71/bu. And he accomplished the $1.50-over-harvest price marketing without using futures...

Utility Vehicles (UVs) Load Up On Pulling Power 

By Kate Royer

A long with ATVs, Utility Vehicles (UVs) are gaining popularity among farmers because of their practical cargo beds, designed much like a mini pick-up...

NEW SEED TREATMENT FOR COTTON 

AVICTA Complete Pak is now available for the 2006 planting season. It's a seed-delivered technology to combat all early season cotton pests containing...

China: Hot Market Runs Hotter 

By Karen Simon

On the international playing field, China has gotten a bad rap lately. George W. Bush even went to China last month in an attempt to prod Chinese leaders...

Encroaching Western Bean Cutworm 

By Karl Ohm

For many corn and dry bean producers west of the Mississippi River, the western bean cutworm (WBC) has become an all too familiar insect pest that requires...

HURRICANE RECOVERY BILL 

U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) introduced the Agriculture Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005 on Nov. 16 to assist Florida's agricultural industry in recovering...

Feeding Ethanol Demand 

By Edward Clark

Gene Youngquist receives up to 10/bu. more than other markets in his area pay by shipping corn to the Big River Resources, LLC, ethanol plant in West...

LAUNCH OF WEST AFRICA COTTON IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman have announced the launch of the West Africa Cotton Improvement Program...

Rust In Review 

By Greg Lamp

Although not flawless, the Asian soybean rust detection and control plan worked well this past year. But with only one year under its belt, growers should...

MORE RUST TRACKING FUNDS AVAILABLE 

Compiled By Greg Lamp

Ag Secretary Mike Johanns announces that USDA is again funding projects to track the spread of soybean rust and create the Pest Information Platform for...

Soybean Switch In '06? 

By John Pocock

U.S. farmers harvested 3 million more grain-corn acres than soybeans in 2005 for the first time since 1997, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics...

Hello Again 

Kevin Coey

As corn and soybean harvest winds down this fall, so concludes the ninth year of F.I.R.S.T. seed testing. This year we've made changes to the way the...

MEXICO WON'T LIFT HFCS TAX 

Compiled By Greg Lamp

Mexico's Congress has approved maintaining that country's 20% tax on soft drinks containing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) during 2006, according to...

Cash Rent Crisis 

By Barb Baylor Anderson

Competition for land, tight crop production budgets, and even wild rumors can add to the air of uneasiness when it comes time to negotiate cash rent lease...

How To Interpret F.I.R.S.T. Trials 

It's independent, and it's comprehensive. F.I.R.S.T. has compiled more than 36,000 on-farm yield trials on 148 farms this year. Here's how those results...