Farmers Save Big with New Clemson Sensor-based Nutrient Management Plan
Clemson University has made available to cotton growers a new sensor-based nutrient management plan that can reduce expenses and environmental impact. In an on-field trial they saved up to $60 an acre. Farmers participating in the trials were surprised that the use of sensors and mathematical calculations could out perform farmers' time-tested rules of thumb.
Doctoral student Phillip Williams conducted the on-farm trial with a farmer who agreed to cut his nitrogen applications in half on about eight acres of cotton. They used a sensor to read nitrogen content in the plants and an algorithm created by a team of scientists at Clemson’s Edisto Research and Education Center.
Cotton growers can take advantage of the nitrogen calculator by visiting or by contacting their local Clemson Cooperative Extension Office. Williams has supplied several Extension agents throughout the state with handheld optical devices that will allow them to assist growers with the program. Just a 20 percent reduction in nitrogen usage would save U.S. cotton, corn, and wheat growers more than $1.8 billion annually. NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative funded this project under Grant Award No. 2017-67011-26071.
News for Your
Secretary
Perdue Announces New Forest Service Chief
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Tony Tooke as the new Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Tooke has worked for the
Forest Service since age 18 and currently is the Regional Forester for the
Southern Region.
 'The IPM Toolbox' Webinar Series
The Northeastern IPM Center has the answers with the Fall webinar series
“The IPM Toolbox.” They have asked the experts to join them online for an hour of
dialogue about an effective integrated pest management (IPM) practice, method, or effort.
It can be challenging to know how to implement IPM, whether you're a beginner or an advanced gardener, grower, or commercial operator. The IPM Toolbox webinar series will share IPM tools that improve environmental and social health and maintain profitability.
Three webinars are scheduled for September.
- New Director Talks about the Latest on Vector Borne Diseases. and Answers Your Questions Too. Sept. 11. 11 a.m.- noon
- The integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education or iPiPE – What It Is and Why You Should Care. Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-noon
- Learn about Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and the Latest IPM Techniques. Sept. 25, 11-noon
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 U.S. Ag Secretary Gets Emergency Training
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue sweated under full fire department gear as he assisted in a mock rescue of a "farmer" pinned under an overturned tractor at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.
The demo was on the last day of this year's Mississippi Valley Fair. The firefighters showed the Secretary the complex process of rescuing someone from beneath an overturned 18,000-pound tractor with the help of chains, wood blocks, wedges and air bags (pumped on site) that have the ability to lift up to 80,000 pounds.
"Farming is a very dangerous occupation for most people," he said after about 45 minutes at the demo. "We always have to be vigilant and careful."
The ag secretary came to the fair -- where he met local farmers, kids and some horses -- on the last day of a five-state Midwest RV tour called “Back to Our Roots" where he gathered input on the 2018 Farm Bill and increasing rural prosperity. During the tour, he met with farmers, ranchers, foresters, producers, students, governors, members of Congress,and U.S. Department of Agriculture employees.
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FSIS Announces Additional Educational
Meetings on the Implementation of Siluriformes Inspection
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding two Siluriformes fish
educational meetings this week. The first meeting will take place on Aug. 24, in Memphis, Tennessee, and the second meeting will take place on Aug. 25, in Webster, Florida. The meetings will cover the
implementation and enforcement of the Final Rule on the
“Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the Order Siluriformes and Products Derived
from Such Fish.” As with the previous meetings in Virginia and Maryland, the
meetings’ will provide updated information to stakeholders
and to encourage dialogue between FSIS and the Siluriformes fish industry. Siluriformes
are catfish-like fish known for their "whiskers." FSIS
is particularly interested in soliciting participation from representatives
from domestic wild-caught operations that process Siluriformes fish and fish
products. Affected industry and interested individuals, organizations and other
stakeholders are invited to participate in the meetings.
Advanced registration is encouraged. The meeting on Aug. 24, will be held
from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. CT in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Holiday Inn Memphis
Airport and Convention Center, located at 2240 Democrat Rd. On-site
registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.
The meeting on Aug.25, will be
held from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. ET in Webster, Florida at the Florida Bass
Conservation Center, 3583 CR 788. On-site registration will begin
at 9 a.m.
Contact Evelyn Arce, Outreach and Partnership
Division, Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training via telephone at
(202) 418-8903, fax (202) 690-6519, for pre-register, more information about these meetings, or to arrange for special
accommodations.
Please feel free to
distribute these meeting announcements to individuals or organizations that you
think would be interested in attending, or participating.
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