Just as she’s done the past four summers, Kelsey Regan, who graduated with her masters in agricultural engineering last year, plans to pedal one leg of next week’s RAGBRAI — the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. She initially purchased a bike five years ago from Healthy Habits in Bettendorf to participate in the weeklong event, …Continue reading “Ag engineering alum treks across Illinois at record pace”
Before Allamakee County livestock producer Ryan Collins, a 2009 graduate of the ag systems technology program at Iowa State University, purchased his own farm in 2011, he knew the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service could help him plan a rotational grazing system through previous experiences with the agency on land his family rented.
The Toro Co., a manufacturer of mowers and other gardening equipment, today announced that Rick Olson will be its next CEO. Olson, 52, joined Toro in 1986 as a manufacturing process engineer. He was promoted last August to chief operating officer from his previous position as group vice president of international and micro-irrigation businesses. He joined …Continue reading “I Tec alum promoted to CEO of Toro”
Harvest equipment can have a lot to do with how much yield loss you experience. Being attentive to both equipment and field conditions is critical in minimizing yield loss. Research shows during harvest, 60% of yield loss typically occurs at the corn head, according to Iowa State University Extension agricultural engineer Mark Hanna.
Speaking at the field day is Matt Helmers, professor and extension specialist in ag and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University. He will highlight practices and ongoing research efforts to meet the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Mark Hanna, extension agricultural engineer, will share tips on adjusting planter settings for strip-till and no-till …Continue reading “Strip-tillage and cover Crop field day planned for July 28 in Webster County”
The event will begin with a discussion of agronomic considerations for strip-tillage. Sessions on fall versus spring strip-tillage and the use of UAV technology for crop scouting will follow. The day will conclude with lunch and an optional field tour of strip-till research at Iowa State. Matt Darr and Mark Hanna will make presentations during the …Continue reading “Strip-till technologies focus of ISU field day, July 13”
Cover crops, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program wetlands, saturated buffers and bioreactors all successfully reduce nitrates, said Matt Helmers, Iowa State Extension ag engineer. The Nashua research farm has replicated subsurface drainage plots to evaluate the performance of various in-field management practices. It also has one of the first bioreactors built in Iowa. “It’s possible to meet our …Continue reading “Helmers: Soil erosion can wash out profits”
Iowa State University (ISU) in May welcomed seven Cochran fellows from Ukraine for training centered on improving post-harvest grain logistics and decreasing trade barriers between the U.S. and Ukraine. The director of the training program, Dirk Maier, is a professor and post-harvest engineer in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at ISU. Maier, who is …Continue reading “Ukrainians study grain logistics at Iowa State”
By Dr. Hongwei Xin Special to Poultry Times AMES, Iowa — The number of food service retailers, grocers, chain restaurants and tourism companies that have pledged to source only cage-free eggs by year 2025 translates to more than 160 million laying hens needed to meet the demand. This quantity exceeds half of the current U.S. …Continue reading “Xin: Opportunities and challenges of going cage-free”
“In a day and age when you get excited about what’s happening with autonomous vehicles and folks like Google are making strides, we’re proud that agriculture has been using it in food production in the US for going on two decades now,” said Matt Darr, an associate professor in Iowa State University’s Department of Agriculture …Continue reading “Darr: How today’s farmers got a head-start on tomorrow’s tech”
A common issue with any machinery stored for long periods of time can be especially damaging to electronic components, wiring and sensors, says Iowa State University Extension agricultural engineer Mark Hanna. “It’s probably been 10 or 11 months since you’ve run that machine, so it’s important to watch for rodent damage.”
6th place overall; 1st place – written design report; 3rd place – team presentation; winner of safety category, winner of sound level category.
The series is authored by Iowa State researchers Greg Brenneman, agricultural engineering specialist; Steve Johnson, farm management specialist; Erin Bowers, postdoctorate research associate in agriculture and biosystems engineering; Charles Hurburgh, professor and extension ag health and safety specialist in agriculture and biosystems engineering; Alison Robertson, associate professor and extension specialist in plant pathology and microbiology; …Continue reading “Modules provide education on grain handling, storage safety”
In the Retaking the Field report, Iowa State researchers Lisa Schulte Moore and Matthew Helmers outline efforts to protect soil and water by interspersing strips of native prairie in corn and soybean crops. The practice of STRIPS — Science-based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips — helps to improve water quality by reducing sediment, …Continue reading “Iowa State University joins 12 public and private universities calling for increased federal investment in agricultural research in response to modern challenges”
The Fluid Power Educational Foundation (FPEF) Board of Trustees awarded Eric Herbers of New Vienna, Iowa a $2,000 scholarship. Mr. Herbers is a senior in agricultural systems technology and was awarded the prestigious scholarship underwritten by Danfoss. “A minimum GPA, an essay, and three letters of recommendation were required from each applicant. The Board of …Continue reading “FPEF awards scholarship to AST senior”
