Finally, researchers have actually counted aphids, beetles and other insects in a wide array of actual farm cornfields to confirm — statistically — what many agronomists have long observed: Wider crop diversity on a farm increases diversity of arthropods and thus reduces economic losses from runaway populations of damaging insect pests. Amazingly, USDA-ARS entomologist Jonathan Lundgren and South Dakota State University

One of the most profitable farming inventions since the combine is the high-clearance, GPS-equipped field sprayer.  But we’re surprised at how early in the season many sprayer owners park their big spray rigs in the machine shed. That doesn’t happen in Europe. Small grains, corn and soybeans typically get foliar-fed through the summer, increasing seed fill and density. If it’s

Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead, announced that the government will opt out of European Union regulations on GMO crops, and impose a total ban on growing such crops in Scotland. This will include crops previously approved by the European Union. He said, “There is no evidence of significant demand for GM products by Scottish

A new study of the epidemic of chronic kidney disease among farmers in Sri Lanka offers another suspected cause: Ten farmers with the disease tested positive for unusually high levels of glyphosate and heavy metals in their urine. This study, coupled with previous medical evidence, have led to a renewed government ban on glyphosate in Sri

Last week we learned that one of our friends, Paul Syltie, was arranging a Midwest tour of Ukrainian farm managers interested in learning more about biologically sound technology for soybeans — so we offered to help. When the group of three managers flew out from Chicago to visit Iowa last Monday, we took them to