Gypsum’s Role in Worldwide Rice Production Brent Rouppet, Ph.D., Agronomist Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most important human food crop in the world, directly feeding more people than any other crop. In 2012 (latest data) nearly half of world’s population, more than 3 billion people, relied on rice every day. It is the staple food across Asia where approximately half of the world’s poorest people live, and is becoming increasingly more important in Africa and Latin America. Ninety percent of the world crop is grown and consumed in Asia. Rice is the onl ..read more

AG COMPANIES WILL START TO LOOK AT THEIR INVENTORY LEVELS GOING FORWARD. With the recent closures of several meat processing plants (Smithfield Foods, JBS, Tyson, and Cargill, among others), what will it mean to the food supply system in America? It could mean a significant change in how companies look at inventory, says Jack Bobo, the CEO of Futurity, a food and agriculture consultant. “There’s going to be a need to rethink what inventory means,” Bobo says. Today, companies have evolved into a just-in-time inventory system, in order to reduce costs, they increase efficienc ..read more

Experts predict that advances in science and technology will keep farmers and agriculture professionals on their toes. By 2020 there will be an even higher demand for skilled people in the agricultural sector, with top careers including technologists, hydrologists, food scientists, agricultural communicators and precision agriculture technologists. While the spectrum of opportunity is vast, the role of soil scientists, particularly in Africa where farmers are faced with serious health issues, remains critical. The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) estimates that more than 50% of Afri ..read more

As innovation, technology, and data assessment advance agricultural production, and as our scientific understanding of plant nutrition, soil health, and climate increases, the fertilizer industry’s farmer-customers require our professionals to have the knowledge and tools that will help them be productive and profitable. The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), committed to being a resource for the industry by providing sound, science-based information to help fertilizer manufacturers and retailers serve their customers. TFI in 2019 acquired several resources from the former International Plant Nu ..read more

Nitrogen Management Practices to Improve Crop Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Minimize Nitrogen Losses to the Environment Basic recommended rates are determined based on your soil test report by looking at the planned crop and the expected yield for that crop. The amount of residual nitrogen in the soil must then be taken into account and subtracted from the recommendation. This includes previous manure applications and carryover N from previous legumes. Also, if fertilizer, such as a starter containing N, is applied regardless of manure applications, this N should also be taken into account. You ..read more

While farmers have used gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) for centuries, it has received renewed attention in recent years. This resurgence is due in large part to ongoing research and practical insights from leading experts that highlight the many benefits of gypsum. The latest information on gypsum has been covered in detail at past Midwest Soil Improvement Symposiums. The event — which has been held in conjunction with The Ohio State University’s Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference — typically includes presentations from industry representatives, scientists, consultants, and gro ..read more

NUTRIENT BUDGETING Budgeting is fundamental to BMP for nutrients. First, the budget must take into account the amount of nutrients a grower expects the crop to take up and, subsequently, leave the system in the crop biomass. This amount will vary among crop species as well as among levels of productivity within the same species. For example, a corn crop that yields 100 bushels/acre (5600 lbs) will export (meaning that nutrients leave the field in the harvested portion of the plant) approximately 80 lb/acre of N in the grain and 60 lbs/acre of N in the stover (which is above-ground bi ..read more

Nutrient management is among the most consequential decisions that a grower makes with respect to water quality and crop productivity. Because crops do not take up fertilizer with 100% efficiency, many growers apply organic and inorganic fertility in excess of crop demand to ensure that nutrients are not limiting to their crops. While this is often an economic decision, adding excess nutrients to the crop-soil system also creates an opportunity for nutrient losses from farms into the surrounding environment. One major loss pathway for excess nutrients is via nutrient-enriched water that drains ..read more

Nitrogen (N) makes up 78 percent of the air we breathe in the form of nitrogen gas (N2), but this form is unable to be used by plants. In fact, there are 34,000 tons of N in the air above an acre of land, but none of it can be used by crops. Nitrogen must be fixed in order to become available, which is done through the process of making industrial fertilizers or through nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with the roots of legumes. A significant amount of nitrogen occurs in the soil naturally (2,000–4,000 pounds per acre, lbs/A), but 98 percent of that nitrogen is in the organic form and also ..read more

A healthy lifestyle consists of a mixture of habits. Diet, exercise, sleep and other factors all must be in balance. Similarly, a sustainable farm operates on a balanced plan of soil, crop, and water management techniques. Soil moisture sensors aid in advanced irrigation scheduling and help measure water consumption on farm fields. Photo credit: Matt Yost The western United States is a region with scarce water resources. In this case, water management techniques make up a larger piece of a sustainability plan. There is mounting concern around the globe about water scarcity. This is due to urb ..read more