Pivotal Issues Blog

By: John Hart The clear takeaway message: Farmers can’t rely on herbicides alone to control tough weeds. Farm journalists from across the country received a short course in managing resistant weeds during the Syngenta Media Summit held Oct. 28 at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, N.C. In a panel discussion at the summit, […]

By: Brad Haire At 30, Chad Gainey found out he could do things with a chainsaw few other people could. He proved his skill on the grounds of the Sunbelt Ag Expo one year, and his life changed. Gainey can look at a log or hunk of wood and from it carve most any image […]

From: Southeast Farm Press Both scientists and regulators have had a lot to say about the growing problem of herbicide resistance and how weed management techniques need to change in response. However, there have been few organized opportunities for farmers to make their voices heard and to share their experiences in managing herbicide-resistant weeds. This […]

By: Laurie Bedord Sentera’s ultra-lightweight, super-precise NDVI Single Sensor is being integrated onto the Phantom 4 Pro platform. The Sensor features a high-sensitivity global shutter imager and low-distortion optics for crisp, clear aerial RGB and NIR data collection, which are directly responsible for creating accurate NDVI maps. “The timing couldn’t be better for our customers […]

From: AgWeb Journal Harvest is underway, but with that extra time alone to think in the combine, farmers could be thinking about getting a yield advantage come springtime. According to agronomist Missy Bauer, there are two main reasons to consider using a field roller in standing beans. Benefits that could pay off in the fall. […]

By: Sonja Begemann When seeds are planted beneath the soil they enter a new world—a world farmers have long tried to understand and perfect. What would you do if you had a window that showed what is going on beneath the ground? This year, Precision Planting is beta testing their new product called SmartFirmer, which […]

By: Margy Eckelkamp With spring application season about to kick off, there’s no time like the present to review the fundamentals and learn new ideas for sprayer and floater maintenance. The first step is inspecting the machines for needed repairs. “Pre-season inspections are needed, even if the crew serviced the machine before they put it […]

By: Ben Potter Farmers faced with a fungicide, herbicide or insecticide application have more than one option – particularly as more and more generic inputs enter the market. They typically cost less than their name brand counterparts. But are they really a better deal? Two University of Nebraska crop specialists – Robert Klein and Robert […]

From: AgWeb Journal The latest Rural Mainstreet Index says 74 percent of bankers still expect equipment sales to decline in 2017. At the National Farm Machinery Show, equipment manufacturers say inventory on dealer lots is in a much better position compared to 2016. ‪”Looking at inventories in general, it’s in better shape,” said Charlie O’Brien, […]

By: Russ Quinn OMAHA (DTN) — Plenty of phosphorus (P) fertilizer application is still broadcast, but more farmers are moving toward banding or knifing in their fertilizer needs directly into the soil. The appeal of this process would be improved fertilizer efficiency, but it does also create a need for specialized application equipment. Ted Hamer, […]