Farmindustrynews.com
Nov 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Closed system for insecticides
Collaboration between Syngenta Crop Protection, John Deere and Raven Industries has produced a new closed system for handling liquid insecticides on a planter. With this system, an operator may attach a liquid insecticide box to a connector valve on the planter without ever being exposed to the product. The chemical is injected into the spray line with Raven controller equipment. Dan Kidder, Syngenta research scientist in application technology, explains how the new closed system works.
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Early weed competition
Corn plants compete with weeds for water and nutrients. They also compete for light even when they tower over the weeds. Cheryl Dunne, Syngenta research specialist, explains how light reflected from new weeds will adversely affect corn development. Dunne uses a lab experiment to highlight the weed effects that were first proven by Clarence Swanton at the University of Guelph.
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New AGCO combines
AGCO product marketing manager Kevin Bien describes the new Gleaner combines with unloading rates of 4.0 bu./sec. He also points out the main features of the new Massey Ferguson 9895 Class 8 combine and the new Challenger 670B Class 7 combine.
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Farmers test ATVs
Farmers from the Midwest who participated in the Farm Industry News ATV Rodeo talk about what they like and dislike about seven different ATVs. These reviews are a unique look at the vehicles through the eyes of farmers who ride ATVs every day on the farm.
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TALK
Do the math
I just finished reading “$500 Seed?” [September 2008, page 26], and I feel I must respond to some statements made by Monsanto's John Jansen.
Jansen states that a bag of corn seed will plant 2.7 acres. Monsanto does not sell a single hybrid in the Midwest that they recommend planting at 29,630 seeds/acre (2.7 acres/bag). He states that the hybrids available for 2009 will produce 6 more bushels per acre than 2008 hybrids, which cost $85/bag less. If I hold my planting rate down to 32,000 seeds/acre (less than Monsanto dealers recommend), it will cost me $34/acre more to plant my 2009 crop than it cost to plant my 2008 crop.
He states that I can sell my extra 6 bu. for $6.00/bu. ($36), leaving me a $2.00/acre return. Unfortunately, I checked the local corn markets and I can only lock in $5.45 for May through July corn delivered. Let's say I contract my corn for the $5.45. Now I have sold my 6 extra bushels for $32.70 and lost $1.30 on each acre that I used Monsanto's new technology on.
Jim Cuddeback
Washington, IA
FROM FIN TV
“New Combines”
“For the Gleaner R6 combine, we can unload at 4.0 bu./sec. There's nobody else in the world that can unload at that rate on any combine.”
- Kevin Bien, AGCO Corporation















