Equipment & Technology

Precision Planting LLC has introduced two seed placement optimization technologies that provide growers with greater seed placement precision, improved crop emergence and stand uniformity, and increased yield potential —all from the comfort of their tractor cab. The new SmartDepth technology uses a proprietary calibration process to ensure  every row unit is planting at the same depth, removing row-to-row variability, according ... Read More »

John Deere has added two models of X Series combines to its 2021 harvesting lineup to help large-scale farmers thresh, separate and clean more bushels per hour or harvest more acres per day without risking grain loss or quality. The X9 1000 and X9 1100 Combines represent the next level of John Deere harvesting performance and bolster a lineup that ... Read More »

Kinze Manufacturing plans to add a 16-row 4905 True Speed planter model to its offerings for 2021. This follows a previous announcement that the company planned to introduce a 24-row 4905 planter for 2021. “The 16-row configuration was originally planned for 2022, but testing went so well, we’re pleased that we are able to move up our timeline and make ... Read More »

The Tassel Count analytics product will be available to all Sentera FieldAgent customers in March 2020. Instead of forecasting yield with a few spot samples, Sentera Tassel Count analytics tool allows users to more precisely calculate yields using tassel population data gathered across the entire field. Understanding tassel population can also help to more accurately time the application of certain ... Read More »

A small, handheld device may soon have a big impact in farming. The device is a Raman spectrometer. Raman spectroscopy measures how molecules scatter harmless laser light and has been found by Texas A&M AgriLife research scientists as a quick, accurate, nondestructive, and portable way to scan produce for its nutrient content. Dmitry Kurouski, assistant professor of biochemistry and biophysics, ... Read More »

Stored grains can be heavily damaged by insects if they are not properly conditioned and protected. Small grains, including wheat, are harvested in spring and stored through the hottest and most humid months of the year. Reducing the likelihood of insect problems in stored grain begins with cleaning equipment that will be used to harvest, handle and store the grain. ... Read More »

Editor’s Note: Reports in this month’s Corn South Market Outlook are from Mark Welch, Texas AgriLife Extension economist, with Regional agronomist, Brandon A. Dillard, of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, offering four points to help producers increase efficiency and profitability in 2015. The opinions and recommendations expressed are solely those of the authors and are intended for educational purposes only. ... Read More »

I read a quote that describes the business of farming: “It’s funny how day by day, nothing changes. But when you look back, everything is different.” Year by year, you seem to do pretty much the same thing – acreage and crops may change with rotations, weather is always a questionable factor and farm policy changes every few years. Otherwise, ... Read More »

Last year, in some cases, corn that was harvested in Mississippi was what could generally be considered highmoisture corn. Some farmers received a premium by harvesting high-moisture corn and taking it straight to the elevator. However, managing high-moisture corn is not easy since corn that goes directly into on-farm storage needs to be quickly dried to less than 15 percent ... Read More »

I’ve always been intrigued by quotes that contain the words “dawn” and “dusk.” Just a personal quirk, I suppose. I lean more toward dawn, with its promise of a new beginning, although dusk does not necessarily signify the beginning of the end. Instead, perhaps it serves as a precursor to the dawn, or the starting over. Following are a few ... Read More »