Rich Keller http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller RSS Feed for Rich Keller en-us Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:54:37 GMT Commentary: Sick people are anti-farming activists http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller/Commentary-Sick-people-are-anti-farming-activists-197493421.html The University of North Carolina (UNC) academic environmental activists are leading the way in giving opponents of hog farming manure and sewage sludge fertilizers a national audience. This week “epidemiology researchers from the Gillings School of Global Public Health” at the university published their findings that such “fertilizers” spread on fields are making people horribly sick. Commentary: GMO Inside unfair fighters against GMO foods http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller/Commentary-GMO-Inside-unfair-fighters-against-GMO-foods-179644761.html Those who lost the California referendum vote to require all food that might contain genetically modified ingredients be labeled as such have been inspired to continue fighting but on a more national scale. Hybrid offerings change rapidly year to year http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller/Hybrid-offerings-change-rapidly-year-to-year-179273281.html Corn growers talk about the years when seed corn companies would offer the same number of hybrids for a few years, but today the seed companies are coming out with large numbers of new hybrids each year. Right and left at odds in Chesapeake Bay cleanup http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller/Right-and-left-at-odds-in-Chesapeake-Bay-cleanup-178950731.html The Washington Post reports plans for water cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay are being “hit by opponents from both the left and right.” AgGateway standards could help farmer and service provider http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller/AgGateway-standards-could-help-farmer-and-service-provider-177840941.html Yield data is a reflection of every management decision. “It is the last chapter in the book,” said Steve Cubbage, president of Prime Meridian LLC, a company that is a “service provider” to farmers who are incorporating precision ag into their operations. Two economist highlights from ASFMRA http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller/Two-economist-highlights-from-ASFMRA-177236891.html The 83rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), which also included the Agronomics—Vision 2013, more than anything else included a program of economists providing differing views and various outlooks for land values, U.S. grain marketing and world economies. Monsanto helping solve the Rubik’s Cube of farming http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller/Monsanto-helping-solve-the-Rubiks-Cube-of-farming-176237461.html “Farming is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube,” according to Ted Crosbie, Monsanto, vice-president global plant breeding. Ag professionals and cyst nematode recommendations http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller/Ag-professionals-and-cyst-nematode-recommendations-175807011.html Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the single most damaging soybean pest in the United States, according to DuPont Pioneer. Without showing obvious symptoms, many fields are infested without the knowledge of the grower, decreasing yields substantially. Expect soil drought to continue in 2013 http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller/Soil-drought-will-continue-in-2013-174245771.html Unless corn and soybean farmers of the Corn Belt have exceptional rain and snowfall that soaks into the soil between now and next planting season, 2013 crop yields could be negatively affected, according to Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University meteorologist. He said there are reasons to expect a prolongation of the drought that began in late 2011 and hit hard in 2012. Two insects of concern after drought http://www.porknetwork.com/editorial/rich-keller/Two-insects-of-concern-after-drought-173568431.html Japanese beetles and corn rootworms had big populations in 2012 that could cause problems for 2013, said Brent Wilson, DuPont Pioneer technical services manager. Drought years are high insect years, he explained.