The Future of Drone Technology

Drones are very useful, especially for data gathering. They can capture real-time data, can cover areas not feasible with ground methods and capture data not available through remote-sensing methods. It is possible to fly a drone in the morning and get data to evaluate issues to be addressed in the afternoon, limiting down time for…

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September 22 Soybean Rust Update

  From Jim Dunphy, Crop Science Extension Specialist (Soybeans) and Lindsey Thiessen, Extension Plant Pathologist Although Asiatic Soybean Rust may be moving up the Mississippi River valley pretty rapidly, it seems to be moving more slowly up the east coast.  This week, rust was confirmed in Arkansas County, AR, Caldwell County, KY, and Williamson County, IL,…

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Fall is the Time to Sample for Nematodes

As we move into September, preparing for harvest is on everyone’s mind, but now is also the time to think about nematode numbers in your fields. Nematodes are microscopic roundworms which may feed on the roots of plants. There are hundreds of different species of nematodes, but most are not economically important. Two that are…

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Donate Deer to Feed the Hungry and Help Farmers

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission have partnered on a program to help farmers manage whitetailed deer through hunting and to help local food banks through donations of venison.  The program works through local civic organizations, youth groups and hunt clubs that seek to encourage donations of venison to…

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Harvest Looks Promising Compared to 2015

Remember the wet weather and ensuing problems with the soy crop this time last year?  This year’s situation for soy growers is much more promising in comparison.  Back of the envelope calculations show that N.C. soy growers failed to realize at least $40,000,000 in sales last year. The 2015 crop was adequate in terms of…

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September 15 Soybean Rust Update

From Jim Dunphy, Crop Science Extension Specialist (Soybeans) and Lindsey Thiessen, Extension Plant Pathologist Asiatic Soybean Rust has been confirmed on soybeans in Bamberg County, SC, which is a little closer to some of our NC soybeans than had previously been confirmed.  This find is approximately  140 miles from Charlotte, 345 miles from Elizabeth City, 175 miles…

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Soy Biobased Fluid Powers Olympic Village

Did you spot the use of soy while watching the Olympics? The 17 days of competition took place in host city Rio de Janeiro, where the three electrical transformers powering the games were built with Cargill’s Envirotemp® FR3® natural ester fluid, which is soybean-oil based. Power utility company Light, which already uses FR3® in its…

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Be on the Lookout for Asiatic Soybean Rust

With Tropical Storm Hermine coming through North Carolina last weekend, Dr. Jim Dunphy warns there is a good chance of rust spores coming into North Carolina. As the storm crossed the Florida panhandle there is a chance it picked up and carried rust spores to our state as it passed through. In the next two…

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Soybean/Cotton Field Day a Success

Over 50 farmers and sales reps gathered in Scotland Neck yesterday for a Soybean/Cotton Field Day.  A foggy morning turned into a hot day but that didn’t stop us. For the soybean part, Dr. Jim Dunphy discussed variety selection and planting date. Fifteen different RoundUp Ready varieties were on display for folks to look at.…

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