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February 2013 Farm Industry News

The February issue of Farm Industry News features the latest in wireless connectivity for the farm, a feature on the worst pests in corn and soybeans, a piece on how insurance saved an Iowa farm and more.

SCOOP

  • Jan. 29, 2013
    blog

    See the future of farming at National Farm Machinery Show

    If you want to know the next big equipment trends in farming, you will find them at the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) in Louisville, Ky. Manufacturers use this show to introduce their latest machinery and new technology....More

FEATURE

  • Feb. 5, 2013
    Article

    Capitalizing on the cloud: Wireless connectivity in agriculture will make big gains in 2013

      Cloud-based computing in precision agriculture took a huge leap forward in 2012 and is likely to make another big gain in 2013. In the past 12 months, options for using “the cloud” to provide wireless connectivity to tractor and combine displays grew dramatically, to the point it is now possible to eliminate the frustration of shuffling thumb drives to keep precision ag data up to date....More

PRODUCTS

  • Jan. 30, 2013
    Article

    Horsch planter advances electric-drive technology

      Horsch, a German-based company with manufacturing in the U.S., entered the planter market last year. The company reports that sales of its inaugural planter called the Maestro have been through the roof. “Right now, our North American models are all sold out,” says product representative Jesse Kappenman. “It has been a huge success and is a very sought-after product.”...More
  • Jan. 30, 2013
    Article

    The row narrows: Testing 12-in. corn rows

      Narrow-row corn just got narrower. Stine Seed Company planted and harvested 2,500 acres of 12-in.-row corn in central Iowa last year. A hybrid designed for high density production yielded 320 to 330 bu./acre on the cropland. “(The fields) were up where we had a little extra rain and a little extra nitrogen on it,” reports Harry Stine, president, Stine Seed. “Most of our other yields were much lower with a farm average of 145 bu./acre (mostly 22½-in. rows).”...More

TECHNOLOGY

  • Feb. 1, 2013
    Article

    Worst pests in corn and soybeans: which insects to look out for in 2013

      In the Midwest, insect pressure varies widely depending on location, weather and cropping practices. But year-in and year-out, some pests tend to dominate more than others. According to Extension entomologists in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska, corn rootworm is by far the region’s worst insect pest for corn. Soybean’s top insect pest is less clear, but the four most often mentioned in the Midwest are soybean aphids, bean leaf beetles, Japanese beetles and spider mites....More
  • Feb. 1, 2013
    Article

    Protecting every bushel: Newest on the insecticide market

      With higher commodity prices, producers are looking to protect every last bushel. And the battle against insect pests has gone beyond traditional soil-applied insecticides. Companies are rolling out several advanced formulations of insecticides to do battle against a laundry list of yield-robbing insects....More
  • Feb. 1, 2013
    Article

    Team FIN test: 3-in-1 welders

      In May of last year, the welding giant Thermadyne changed its name to Victor Technologies Group, Inc. Since then, the company has launched two new 3-in-1 welders: the Thermal Arc Fabricator 252i and the Fabricator 181i. The products provide farmers with the flexibility of three applications in one unit and come completely equipped so there are no additional add-ons or costs after the initial investment. The 252i is a stationary unit that can weld up to ½ -in.-thick steel, while the 181i is portable and weighs less than 33 lbs....More
  • Feb. 1, 2013
    Article

    New smartphone and tablet applications bring decision-making tools to the field 1

      Over the past year, the market for ag-specific smartphone and tablet computer applications has gone mainstream. Now many of the big names in agriculture are offering apps to improve crop and machinery management. Here’s a look at some of the new offerings for Android and iOS (Apple) smartphones and tablet computers....More
  • Feb. 1, 2013
    Article

    Bayer CropScience: Past, present, future

      Very close to the downtown area of Frankfurt, Germany, lies a sprawling 11/2 -sq.-mile industrial park that straddles both sides of the Main River. It’s an impressive sight, with all the trappings you’d expect. It is here where Bayer CropScience houses its global research and development programs of the company’s herbicides....More

TRENDS

  • Feb. 1, 2013
    Article

    New biologicals enter mainstream market for corn and soybeans

      The global market for biologicals is between $1.4 billion and $1.6 billion and is projected to grow to approximately $3 billion by 2020, according to the industry analysis firm Frost & Sullivan. While there is confusion over the product category itself, which includes biorationals, biostimulants and biopesticides, there is no dought it will grow.More biological products, like those mentioned below, are being incorporated into conventional corn and soybean farming as part of a pest management and/or plant health program. Valent BioSciences...More
  • Feb. 5, 2013
    Article

    Calm after calamity: Insurance protects farms when disaster strikes

      On July 11, 2011, a severe thunderstorm with straight-line winds up to 130 mph slammed through east-central Iowa and into northern Illinois during the early morning hours. The storm toppled trees, blew down power lines, ripped off roofs, knocked over grain bins and beat down the corn crop in its path....More
  • Feb. 5, 2013
    Article

    Ag economist suggests insurance options for protecting revenue

      Disaster decision making starts before disasters strike, says Chris Hurt, Purdue University agricultural economist. “Insurance does not protect against a bad thing from happening; it protects against putting the family business in jeopardy if a bad thing does happen,” Hurt says. “The tendency is for younger people, who are less able to withstand a loss, to need more insurance coverage. Farmers who are more financially established can try to reduce their insurance costs if the feel they can cover a portion of the loss themselves.”...More
  • Feb. 5, 2013
    Article

    Industry Insider: Big trends in nutrient application

      As the chief marketing officer for Thurston Manufacturing Company, Nick Jensen travels the farm show circuit year-round, showing the company’s Blu-Jet tillage and fertilizer application equipment. The company markets NH3-, liquid- and dry-fertilizer applicators under the LandRunner, Legacy, and AT (All Terrain) brand names. Q. What’s hot in fertilizer applicators right now?...More

GOOD BUY

  • Feb. 5, 2013
    Article

    Good Buy: 2012 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4 pickup

      Nicholas Hofstad of Montevideo, Minn., this year decided to trade his seven-year-old Dodge Ram pickup for a 2012 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4. The 365-hp pickup is getting a lot of play for its unique 3.5-liter, V6 twin-turbocharged EcoBoost engine, which Hofstad says provides more horsepower and torque than his old V8 pickup, while getting up to 21 mpg. “I’ve heard nothing but good things,” says Hofstad, who brought home the truck for $39,900 — far less than its manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $47,585....More
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