U.S.-Australia FTA Completed 

P. Scott Shearer

The U.S. and Australia finalized negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) designed to eliminate and reduce tariffs and other trade barriers. According...

Planting Tips To Improve Stand Establishment 

Stephen Smith, Mycogen Seeds

One of the simplest ways to improve a crop's yield performance is to be meticulous with all aspects of planting. Poor stand establishment can result in...

Survey Shows Precision Ag Tools Worth Investment 

Purdue University

The benefits of adopting precision agriculture technologies far exceed the costs required to use such systems, according to a 2003 survey of Ohio farmers....

Rise In Ag Exports 

USDA

U.S. agricultural exports rose to $53 billion in calendar year 2002, an increase of $30 billion in nominal dollars since 1976. In real terms, the average...

Test Of Bioterrorism Alert System Successful 

Iowa State University

A simulation designed to test a system that would alert the nation in case of a crop bioterrorism attack passed its first trial last month, according...

Costlier Crop Season Emerging From Input Trends 

Purdue University

Indiana producers will see a noticeable increase in the overall costs of crop production in 2004, according to a Purdue University expert. "For the average...

Brock Online Notes 

Brazil Cuts Soy Crop Estimate

Brazil's Agriculture Ministry has lowered its official forecast for 2003-2004 (Oct/Sept) soybean production to 57.66 million metric tons from a December forecast of 58.76 million tons....

A Good Farm Wife – Part 3 

Dave Kohl

Last week I was in Columbia, SC, teaching at the Agribusiness Leadership Institute sponsored by AgSouth Farm Credit, a newly-merged Farm Credit association....

Renewable Fuels Standard Would Double Use of Ethanol 

American Coalition for Ethanol

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has praised the bi-partisan agreement reached to reconsider the comprehensive energy bill later this month. The...

Report Examines Risk Management Option 

University of Illinois

A University of Illinois (U of I) Extension analysis of a new crop insurance option recently made available to farmers indicates it compares favorably...

Ethanol Tax & Budget 

P. Scott Shearer

The administration’s budget for fiscal year 2005 extends the income tax credit and an excise tax exemption for ethanol producers until Dec. 31, 2010....

A Good Farm Wife – Part 2 

Dave Kohl

In the last column I discussed the elements of being a good farm wife based upon a question posed by one of the followers of this column. On this cold, blustery winter morning, let’s examine this subject further....

Thiesse's Thoughts  

Kent Thiesse

USDA FARM INCOME OUTLOOK USDA has released its initial outlook for projected farm income in 2004, and it shows a projected decline in farm income of $7.3...

Brock Online Notes 

U.N. Warns Bird Flu Not Under Control
The United Nations on Friday warned Asian countries to "remain vigilant" in their fight against the bird flu virus that has killed 19 people in the region because the epidemic was still not under control....

ASA Says Soybean Rust Risk Assessment Must Be Completed Before Soybean Imports Considered 

American Soybean Association

To protect the United States from the accidental introduction of Asian soybean rust disease, the 25,000 members of the American Soybean Association (ASA) are saying that the soybean rust risk assessment currently being conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) should be completed before any potential commodity soybean imports from rust-affected countries are contemplated....