December 2017

I grew up on a farm in southwest Iowa and attended the one-room Franklin Grove School, where the kids all sang Christmas songs before Christmas vacation. One of those was the “12 Days of Christmas.” Only this Christmas did I learn the encoded Biblical meanings of the symbolism described in the true lover’s gifts. I thought

The first replicated corn yield trial we’ve seen with calcium silicate from the Redox company showed a 30-bu. average yield gain: 266 bu. for treated plots versus 236 for the check plots. See the table below. Dec. 27, 2017 — This is also the first time we’ve seen a product which combines calcium and silica

This is one of those cornfield trials where we wish there’d been random-rep, statistically significant data. But the visual evidence on the combine yield monitor image is so dramatic we feel it’s rational to report. December 20, 2017 — The photo of the combine monitor’s yield map (shown below) reveals a bold band of almost

New USDA/ARS research on soil health shows “Soil microbial diversity based on polyphasic microbial analysis was restored by Vitazyme in soils planted to maize and soybean treated with glyphosate. A high microbial diversity is essential to maintain a stable ecosystem and crop productivity.” Dec. 18, 2017 — Field trials in 2014-17 by Ag Research Service scientists based

We’re working for “clearance” to report how dairymen in more than a dozen states are converting to non-GMO corn, soybeans and grass forages — and seeing net profit per lactating cow rise by as much as $1,000 a year. Somatic cell counts drop. Cow life extends from a U.S. average of less than two lactations to five,

Renewable Farming team member Blake Carlson returned from the Bionutrient Food Association’s “7th Annual Soil & Nutrition Conference” in Southbridge, Massachusetts, loaded with ideas on improving soil health and human nutrition.  Dec. 8, 2017   By Jerry Carlson — One of the most significant conference themes was how the blend of microbial communities impacts total nutrient uptake

Video cameras on every smartphone and direct links to the internet bring you the power to literally show millions of people worldwide what you’re learning. When a video “goes viral,” it can multiply to millions of viewers in a global flood that no government or mainstream media gatekeeper can spike. This power is amplifying video stories published

One of the first visions for turning corn into ethanol for motor fuel on an industrial scale originated 60 years ago this month. I was there to hear that recommendation — made to board members of the Iowa Farm Bureau. Dec. 4, 2017  By Jerry Carlson — In December 1957, my father, Glenn A. Carlson, urged the

This fall, AgriEnergy Resources of Princeton, IL celebrates 30 years of growth by providing farmers with a full range of biological, organic and conventional fertility products and services. We’ve delighted to share the entire adventure with enthused, profitable clients — who are also good friends.  Dec. 2, 2017   By Jerry Carlson — In 1987, Dave Larson and his wife Carolyn