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Draft House Farm Bill Reflects Producer Feedback

By Tom Hance

Very early on May 24th, the House Agriculture Committee passed a farm bill proposal put forth by Chair Glenn Thompson (R-PA). The mark-up started at 11:00 am on May 23rd and did not conclude until after midnight. Most of the discussion and amendments considered were related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In the end, four Democrats joined all committee Republicans to pass the bill out of committee. The Democrats were Yadira Caraveo (CO), Don Davis (NC), Eric Sorenson (IL) and Sanford Bishop (GA). A couple of withdrawn amendments are of interest to #canola growers: Read More »

Precision Agriculture and Canola Production

By Courtney Meduna

Technology is being adapted for agriculture at a super speed, empowering farmers to be more targeted and precise in their operations. In fact, according to AgTech Digest, the precision agriculture market, valued at $9.4 billion in 2022, is expected to grow 12.6 percent by 2030.

Precision agriculture is a blanket term for anything that employs technology to improve crop yields and on-farm decision making. Many aspects of it are used on a broad scale today, such as auto-steer in equipment and GPS guidance. We also have section control across all types of equipment, allowing for better utilization of seed and chemistry, as well as more accurate data collection at harvest. We even now have satellite imagery, variable rate technology and (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) adaptations (drones) to help improve efficiency. Read More »

National Canola Research Conference 2023

By USCA Communications Staff

U.S. and Canadian researchers discussed their findings on diseases, integrated pest management, pollinators, climate-smart agriculture, agronomy, plant breeding and genetics related to spring and/or winter canola at the 2023 National Canola Research Conference (NCRC) Oct. 30-31 in St. Louis. Normally held every four years in conjunction with the American Society of Agronomy meetings, the last NCRC was in 2018 and delayed a year due to COVID-19. Here is a snapshot of reported findings by category.

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Unearthing Producer Stress and Solutions to Cope

Adapted from the Do More Agriculture Foundation

Agriculture is an industry that demands tremendous effort, resilienc, and adaptability. Farmers face numerous challenges, both external and internal, which can cause significant stress. Examples include:

  1. Financial uncertainty: Fluctuating commodity prices, market volatility and unpredictable weather contribute to significant financial stress. Farmers face immense pressure to maintain profitability while managing high input costs and factors beyond their control.
  2. Climate change: Farmers must grapple with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events, longer growing seasons and shifting precipitation patterns. These changes can disrupt crop yields, alter farming practices and intensify anxiety regarding the future of their livelihoods.
  3. Isolation and loneliness: Farming can be isolating, with long hours working alone in rural areas. The lack of social interaction and support networks can contribute to feelings of loneliness and emotional distress, particularly during challenging times.
  4. Workload and time pressure: Producers often work long hours, balancing multiple responsibilities, especially during  planting/seeding and harvesting. The relentless workload and time constraints can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, adding to overall stress.

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Gene Editing Brings New Canola Traits

By Jim Radtke, Ph.D.

Plant breeding has driven the development of canola as an edible oilseed crop. In the 1960s, Canadian breeders took an industrial oilseed crop called rapeseed and selected for an edible oil profile, significantly reducing erucic acid to create “Canadian oil low acid” (canola) with excellent edible oil quality. But they were not done. Further advancements were made to change the crop into high yielding hybrids and the use of biotechnology (integrating foreign DNA) added resistance to herbicides, allowing for better weed control and crop management. Read More »

Weed Control in Canola: Can we Keep up with Weeds?

By Brian Jenks, Ph.D.

It’s now been 24 years since herbicide-tolerant canola was first approved in the United States. The ability to control weeds in canola with post-emergence broadleaf herbicides revolutionized canola production. Prior to 1998, soil-applied herbicides Treflan® and Sonalan® were able to provide decent control for many weeds; however, many canola fields struggled to compete with tough weeds like kochia. With no post-emergence herbicide options other than Stinger®, growers had to save canola for their cleanest fields and hope the crop would outcompete the weeds. Read More »

Straight-Combining vs. Swathing Canola

By Anitha Chirumamilla, Ph.D., and Hans Kandel, Ph.D.

Producers traditionally have swathed rather than straight-combined canola. In recent years, the availability of new pod shatter-resistant varieties has made straight cutting the new trend for canola harvesting. However, both swathing and straight combining have their places based on harvest conditions. Timely straight cutting can save time and money and result in improved canola yields and seed quality (lower harvest moisture, less green seed and higher test weight). Heavier canola stands are better suited for straight combining than thinner stands because of the decreased likelihood of shattering from wind. In the absence of pod shatter tolerance, straight combining has resulted in yield losses of 8 to 54 percent, as reported by the Canola Production Center in Canada. Read More »

Productivity Doesn’t Define Your Worth

By Lesley Kelly, farmer and co-founder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation

Although our societal and cultural norms focus on to-do lists and being busy equates to being productive and provides happiness, this assumption can lead to devastating impacts on our mental health and self-worth.

We’ve learned over time that through hard work, our productivity is associated with who we are, a key factor of what drives our success on the farm and even acceptance. As part of running a successful operation, productivity needs to be a priority. But it shouldn’t be the only priority. In fact, if you google “agriculture” and “productivity,” what comes out of the search is economics, growth, technology, sustainability but nothing to the effects of the person driving the productivity – the farmer. Read More »

March 15 is Deadline to Enroll in USDA’s Commodity Safety Net Programs

Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2022 crop year have until March 15, 2022, to sign a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in crop prices or revenues. Read More »

The 7 Types of Rest Every Farmer Needs

By Lesley Rae Kelly

Have you ever tried to fix an ongoing lack of energy by getting more sleep — only to do so and still feel exhausted?

If that’s you, here’s the secret: Sleep and rest are not the same thing, although many of us incorrectly confuse the two.

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