Renewable Farming

December 2016

In-furrow fertility: high-return place for biologicals, traces (and a little NPK)

Metering out corn fertility and biostimulants is a way to shave costs in 2017 — while raising your odds of improving yields. In-furrow fertility tests on our research farm show that early corn roots respond positively to: low-salt phosphorus, certain biological inoculants such as mycorrhizae, humates, amino acids and proteins in whole-fish emulsions, and an array […]

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Carey Gillam brings you GMO and ag policy news most farm editors won’t touch

Carey Gillam’s Dec. 16 on-scene report of this week’s EPA glyphosate hearings exposes how the federal “regulatory” chiefs consider their job as primarily biotech allies, not protectors of environmental and human health. Gillam’s analysis, published on The Huffington Post site, is one more lively confirmation of her self-description as an “investigative reporter.” Dec. 16, 2016  — For example, Gillam reveals that

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Outlook specialist Sue Martin: “Don’t get trapped in negative price talk.”

Sue Martin, founder and owner of Ag and Investment Services Inc., presented a mildly hopeful outlook for ag commodities at the Dec. 13 Spraytec “knowledge exchange” seminar in Ames. Rather than detailing her points, we’ll simply share notes on her analysis, with a little context around them. The tone of her talk could be summed up

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“I’m not convinced the solution to weed resistance will come in a jug.”

 “It will be in cultural things we do. Multiple things we do for weed control.”  That comment came today from Dr. Jason Norsworthy, chair of Weed Science at the University of Arkansas.  He was lead speaker at the first “Knowledge Exchange” seminar hosted by Spraytec, a Brazilian firm introducing a new line of crop nutrient

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EPA already seen leaning toward a “pass” on controversy over Roundup’s cancer risk

Hearings by the Environmental Protection Agency this week will focus on the scientific question of Roundup’s links, or lack of links, to cancer in humans. Investigative writer Carey Gillam has written a detailed analysis of the forces which converge in those hearings. Dec. 12, 2016   — The EPA has received  more than 250,000 comments filed by

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Argentina’s farmers reviving hopes as export tariffs, regulations are relieved

Argentina’s socialist policies for the past decade are fading out with new national leadership — and optimism is again spreading in one of the world’s naturally richest agricultural regions.  The Wall Street Journal has the report at this link, so we won’t be redundant about the facts.  The point is: Getting rid of stifling export

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Next spring, how much of that fall-applied nitrogen will still be in your soil?

Darrell Smith, Farm Journal’s Conservation and Machinery Editor, published on AgWeb Dec. 9 an analysis of fall-applied anhydrous ammonia which is worth close study. It focuses on one more reason we’ve avoided anhydrous on our own farm over the years.  Dec.10, 2016  By Jerry Carlson — The article focuses on the Spring 2016 runoff nitrate

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Updates from a crop consultant on control of resistant weeds for the 2017 season

Last week was important for anyone who wanted to gather as much ag knowledge as possible. There was an ag consultants’ late-fall tech seminar in Ames, the big ISU Extension-sponsored ICM Conference was held on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 on the campus, and the national ACRES U.S.A. EcoAg Conference was held in Omaha.  Dec. 9,

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Healthy crops, healthy food: Who can your family really trust?

For years you’ve read in the farm media, university releases and regulatory agencies that genetically modified foods are completely safe and healthy. But here’s a challenge: I dare you to carefully and thoughtfully read Steven Druker’s 511-page book, Altered Genes, Twisted Truth. Dec. 9, 2016  By Jerry Carlson — You will find the facts revealed by

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