Search results for 'AZ'

Direct Driller Magazine Issue 3 is out now...

By Chris Fellows

Published 1 years, 5 days ago

Direct Driller Issue 3 Issue 3 Of Direct Driller magazine. The conservation agriculture magazine created by farmers for farmers... com/register/ All the magazines have been sent out to the farmers on the distribution list... 47 Grazing Cropped Land ... A PDF of the Magazine is also available to download here:...

Categories: Cover Crops

How Brazilian Big Agriculture is Destroying the Brazilian Amazon

By Maria Dampman

Published 2 years, 7 months ago

The rampant deforestation of the Amazon began in the 1970s when the government of Brazil determined they needed to build over 9,000 miles of roads help integrate the rainforest with the populated bordering areas... Farmers, loggers and cattle ranchers cleared forest to create grazing land as well as to grow highly profitable crops like soy... Widespread contamination of Brazil’s soil and water, the marked decrease of oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere and the extinction of countless plants and animals made scientists extremely concerned about the planet’s future... At its worst, Brazilian deforestation claimed over 11,000 square miles a year. With education, advocacy, and widespread support of the Brazilian government, the destruction of the vital forests dropped 84% to 1,700 square miles in 2012...

Direct Driller Magazine Issue 4 is out now

By Chris Fellows

Published 9 months ago

Direct Driller Magazine Issue 4 Direct Driller Issue 4 is out now! You can read the digital version here: Direct Driller - Issue 4 - January 2019 The first 3 issues have had a great reception and we hope that Issue 4 keeps the standard high... Here are some of the articles in the Winter edition: Soil Calcium and Soil Heath – the connection? Getting the best out of a 750A Field Pea Demonstration Trial Options to improve water-use efficiency Featured Farmer: Mark Lea Pushing Performance with Biostimulants Companion Cropping Boosts No-Till Profits Farmer Focus: Steve Lear Grazing Cropped Land Lifting Whole Farm Profits at Howick Using Temporary Electric Fencing Soil and Water Creating a Smarter Water Catchment What's most important in your soil Plowman's Folly: Part 2 Farmer Focus: Clive Bailye AHDB: Why Does Healthy Soil Matter AHDB: Aphids and BYDV management AHDB: Assessing Machinery Policy 3000ha per Year with a 3m Drill Comparison of “standard row“ and “wide row“ ADAS - How to do an on Farm Trial Project Xaver Overbury Estate Open Day Calcium Conference Highlights NOCC 2018 Visit to Victors Disc Verses Tine Lessons from STAR and NFS We want this to be a magazine that you actually want to read, content heavy and something that challenges you, a magazine you keep on your shelf and refer back to at a later date... PDF Version We have also had some requests from our overseas readers to be able to download a PDF version of the magazine so they can print it out for themselves. So here is the link to the PDF: PDF Version of Direct Driller Issue 4 Register for the MagazineIf you would like the magazine delivered to your door or to your inbox then please register using the link below... The Ethos As a new farming magazine, Direct Driller has been designed by farmers for farmers to educate and inform ourselves and the industry about soil health and systems of reduced tillage...

Categories: Cover Crops

A New Era of Farm Employees: Farm Technicians vs. Farm Hands?

By Gregory Heilers

Published 1 years, 5 months ago

Traditional agricultural skills that made civilization possible are still alive and in use today. At the same time, hundreds of farm technician job listings across the US, and the rise of precision agriculture and software, clearly evidence the need for technologically-savvy farm technicians in the 21st century agricultural industry. It’s no surprise that tech-friendly millennials interested in farming are encouraged by these developments, which may make farming less labor intensive than in generations past. Technology may even be the antidote to a number of ills plaguing modern agriculture, which have led to a drastic decrease in the number of farms across the United States. Satellite technology provides a broader view of agricultureTo assess the current state of affairs across the globe, I solicited the expert advice from one of the preeminent farmers in the United States, Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farm, and John Fargher, co-founder and COO of Australia-based cutting-edge farm management software, AgriWebb...

4 Steps to Building Soil Organic Matter in the South

By Laura Barrera

Published 1 years, 3 months ago

As we learn more about what goes on in the world beneath our feet, increased attention has been placed on soil organic matter. And for good reason. While it only makes up a small percentage of most soils, the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) says it’s the “very foundation for healthy and productive soils” — and the more organic matter there is, the better the results. Consider the following findings from SARE and the NRCS:A study of soils in Michigan demonstrated potential crop-yield increases of about 12% for every 1% organic matter. When organic matter increased from 0...

Categories: Cover Crops

What Farmers Need to Know About Mycorrhizae

By Laura Barrera

Published 12 months ago

If someone asked you, “How do plants take up the water and nutrients they need?” you’d probably tell them through the roots. But did you know that for many crops, those roots aren’t working alone?That’s because most plant species associate with mycorrhizal fungi. What is mycorrhizal fungi? University of Alberta biological scientist JC Cahill says that mycorrhizas are actually the interaction between a fungus and a plant. Although there are many different types of mycorrhizae, the only one crop farmers need to be concerned about is arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as 65% of plant species associate with it. A microscopic view of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus growing on a corn root...

Categories: Cover Crops

How Yield Champions Use Cover Crops for Growing Higher Bushels

By Laura Barrera

Published 1 years, 5 months ago

There are many factors that can influence corn yield. In fact, Fred Below, a plant physiologist at the University of Illinois, identified seven of them, which he dubbed the “Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World. ”The seven wonders, ranked in order of most influence on yield, are:WeatherNitrogenHybridPrevious cropPlant populationTillageGrowth regulatorsWhile Below was referring to the cash crop rotation in the fourth wonder, some farmers are taking it one step further by seeding cover crops. The benefit of added crop diversity along with improvements to soil health is paying off, as some of these farmers are achieving the highest yields in the country... He only made one pass on the crop, which included his burndown application of gramoxone, atrazine and simazine, while also topdressing nitrogen...

Prepare your farm for weather emergencies

By Nationwide Farm Insurance

Published 6 months ago

Severe weather brings a host of potential challenges for farmers and ranchers. Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and high volumes of chemicals on hand are just a few hazards that they face. Emergency preparednessWe’re passionate about emergency preparedness. We help our members deal with accidents, crises and disasters every day... Follow any specific procedures for disposal of chemicals or other hazardous materials to meet EPA requirements...

Categories: Agribusiness

How to Use the SmartMix Calculator to Create the Perfect Cover Crop Mix

By Laura Barrera

Published 2 months ago

When it comes to creating a cover crop mix, the options are endless. You need to determine what kind of species you’ll use, how many you’ll use, and at what seeding rates... “Cover crops can do so many different things — everything from erosion control to suppressing weeds to breaking compaction to fixing nitrogen to supplemental grazing,” he says... At the bottom of the screen, you’ll also see Mix Effect Potential Ratings for nitrogen fixation, grazing, drought tolerance, frost tolerance, winter hardiness, diversity and salinity tolerance... Another situation where the seeding rate can be pushed higher is when you’re grazing the mix, because those species are not likely to reach full maturity...

Categories: Cover Crops

20 Years Later: What Roundup Ready Crops Taught Us About Weed Management

By Amanda Allworth

Published 1 years, 2 months ago

It’s been over two decades since the first Roundup Ready crops were planted in commercial fields. At the time of introduction, the technology was revolutionary for farmers, who found a highly effective and convenient chemistry to control a broad spectrum of weeds. Roundup Ready corn and soybeans quickly became the norm in fields across the United States, and as a result, application of glyphosate increased dramatically. The initial ease and success of Roundup Ready technology may have caused some farmers to become lax with their weed management programs, which was ultimately a factor in the introduction of glyphosate-resistant weeds. The agricultural community certainly made mistakes with the introduction and use of Roundup Ready technology...