Marketing-Communications

Soils will work harder for you if you know what makes them tick

$42 million budget on tap for coming year.

The Agriculture Department would be barred, under language in a House appropriations bill, from proceeding with proposed marketing regulations opposed by major meatpackers and livestock trade groups.The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee approved the draft fiscal 2012 spending bill, including the provision, by voice vote on Tuesday. The bill would provide $17.3 billion in discretionary funds to the Agriculture Department, Food and Drug Administration and related agencies, a $2.6 billion cut from fiscal 2011. The measure also includes $108 billion in mandatory funding, almost 3 percent more than in fiscal 2011.The policy rider would bar the Agriculture Department’s Grain Inspection Stockyard and Packers Administration (GIPSA) from producing a regulation requiring meatpackers to report and justify pricing agreements with livestock producers. The proposed rule, unveiled last year, was written in response to a 2008 farm law (PL 110-246) directive to review marketing and competition issues in the livestock industry.

This lightweight, compact 24-row planter and applicator leave no tracks—and they don’t hog the road.

Seed companies put twin-row corn to the test

An online monitoring system gives farmers a way to track disease outbreaks.

Beef and dairy producers are urged to learn about best practices and to use them to help produce safe, wholesome beef.

Highlights from the 2010 Commodity Classic

Determine break-evens when developing a marketing plan

Start shopping for new deals on N, P and K

Robotic calf-feeding system provides flexibility, reduced labor, weight gain

Colostrum replacers are convenient, but they come at a price

Know how soy rust tools work to use them properly

Steps to take before shipping, on arrival and beyond

Ukraine has the soil and technology to emerge as a major competitor

On the Piepers’ farm in Iowa there’s a planter for every purpose

Three-way agreements could become more common

Neatness counts to maximize yield on outside corn rows.

Round and Round the Hay Field We Go

The Flowers have grown from small beginnings to international trade, with ties to South America and Europe

This boom-equipped service truck provides farmers a lift when machinery breaks down

What’'s Running Up Food Prices?

Choices abound for cob collection and transport

Shifts in White House, congress will impact ag

Precommercial harvest of corn cobs begins now

A biofuel farm grows in Iowa

Ground-level controls save time and reduce fatigue

The Mitchells strip-till applicator eliminates overlap and distributes fertilizer uniformly in the row

A checkoff and technology breakthroughs excite the industry

Iraqi farmers face infrastructure mountains to revitalize their agricultural industry