Ag Ed 532 Night Class blog 09

Seeing more leads to knowing more leads to planting perfection--Tiffany Sanders

2009-06-08T17:44:00.000-07:00

The 20/20 SeedSense has helped so many growers make more money that we want to make it easy for you to put the system to the test. Last year 98.6% of users said they would recommend it to their friends and neighbors. Now you can use the system with no risk. Just purchase the system through your Precision Planting dealer. Use it through the season and, if it doesn't make you money, you can return it for a full refund of the equipment purchase price. Just return the system to us by May 22. To find out more about this go to www.precisionplanting.com

Waste Not- Tiffany Sanders

2009-06-08T17:38:00.001-07:00

This article is about how this farmer is using paper to bed his farm of pigs. he is using paper that has been turned in to the recycling. The farmer then beds his farm with about 1000 pounds of paper a day. The paper is then cleaned from the barns once a week and then adds coffee grounds and yard waste to make organic matter for the future. This is one way to give back and not to waste what this earth has given to us.
to find out more about this article visit ourohio.org

Caffeine addicts REJOICE--Bethany Swinehart

2009-06-05T18:48:00.000-07:00

The genes in coffee have been identified that make good coffee good and bad coffee, well bad. The good part of the coffee is the sucrose levels. They are controlled by either the SUS1 or the SUS2 gene. This gene's expression is affected by the ripening and the picking of the product. For one reason this is determined is because certain blends of coffee beans are more bitter than others. This is due to the metabolism of a certain sugar during the growth and maturation of the bean.

Invasive Species--Bethany Swinehart

2009-06-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

Invasive species are a growing problem for countries across the globe. The problem is that a species thats invading an area has no real natural predators and therefore take over and squelch the native species into non-existence. There is research being done in Australia to predict where these species of plants and animals will move next. The research is also a part of determining which weeds , insects, and animals are becoming feral or overtaking an area.

sun powered train--Bethany Swinehart

2009-06-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

Growing up I was taught that trains were first run by steam, then by burning coal and fuels like everyday cars. Now there is research and designing being done to create a train that runs on two tracks like a typical train of today does. However there would be solar panels attached to a roof over the train to harness the ever abundant sunlight of the Arizona skies. The hope is that the train will be running by 2018 and adding more stops as the development continues. The estimates are that a trip from Tucson to Phoenix will take approx. 30 minutes.

safe three wheelers--Bethany Swinehart

2009-06-05T18:19:00.000-07:00

Current technologies and studies in Asian countries like China and Thailand, are leaning towards a vehicle that is safe for not only the passengers but the pedestrians around it. The Spira is just that, a foam bodied three wheeler that is road worthy and people safe. Weighing in at just over 300 pounds the Spira is durable enough to protect the passengers but soft enough to protect any pedestrians that get in the path of this giant sized twinkie mobile. The really cool thing about the Spira is that it is able to float with the passengers in it! With all of this could it really get any better, well it is fuel efficient with over 100 mpg!

amphibious 3-wheelers--Bethany Swinehart

2009-06-05T17:22:00.000-07:00

A new invention for travel in Asia, are foam bodied three wheelers. They are safe in a collision and better yet the foam allows them to float. Their light weight bodies allow them to be fuel efficient but the foam has such a large volume and abundance that they are protective. It weighs around 300 pounds and surpasses 100 mpg. One reason these automobiles are being tested in Asia and Thailand is due to the dense populations in their cities. These mobiles are being designed so not only the occupants are safe but also the pedestrians.

Larissa Hileman~ Mega Yields with Twin-Row Planting

2009-06-05T15:58:00.000-07:00

Twin-row corn and soybean planting is on course to achieve our expectations. We believe corn yields in excess of 300 bu/A and soybean yields in excess of 85 bu/A are well within our reach and will happen shortly. Not only will we reach these levels, but they will also be achieved profitably and with no adverse environmental impact. Most noticeable about twinrow planting has been stalk quality. It appears that with greater use of sunlight from uniform plant spacing, the stalks are substantially larger than conventionally planted corn and that the twin-row plants grow faster. Another observation was that 95 percent of the corn plants in the corn/soybean strips developed a second ear.Yield experiences so far have put those systems at 235 to 280 bu/A of corn, which is 60 to 80 bu/A better than 10-year averages on farms.

For more information, http://www.fluidfertilizer.com/PastArt/pdf/42P14-15.pdf

Also to watch a video on twin-row planters: http://www.greatplainsmfg.com/products/planter/ypvideotwinrow.html

Nicole Pleiman Easier to do one big one :)

2009-06-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

The biodiesel plant in Danville, owned by Blackhawk Biofuels, LLC boost America’s energy independence, keep people working, and spur economic development throughout east central Illinois.” “This project spurs economic development and energy leadership.”
Blackhawk Biofuels will partner with Renewable Energy Group to operate the facility. leading biodiesel producer and marketer, will operate the Danville facility and market the plant’s biodiesel. “Upgrades to the facility will further enhance the plant’s market advantages.”

http://www.il-fa.com/news/GOV_DCEO_Blackhawk_biofuel_opening.pdf

Even with a declining economy, the used combine market is still higher than previous years. Last year’s market was on the high side and this year’s market has declined. Looking at the provided tables, you can see that prices have been high the past few years in the combine market.

http://www.agriculture.com/ag/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/ag/story/data/1244135566147.xml

The EPA has issued a proposal using indirect land use claiming a larger carbon footprint from the increased production of ethanol. State Representatives are trying to keep the proposal from making it to the floor.

http://www.agriculture.com/ag/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/ag/story/data/1244148561254.xml#continue

This article illustrates the hard to tell truths that we simply seem to ignore. It depicts the short falls of the government and also the ways in which we lie to ourselves. In this article, you realize that sometimes the best policy isn’t always so pretty.

http://www.agriculture.com/ag/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/ag/story/data/1243365080298.xml

Twitter, Blogs, Online Forums, and Wikis [Tara Milliken]

2009-06-04T19:47:00.000-07:00

I know we've mentioned a lot of these in class, but we haven't went into elaborate detail about any of them . . . and so, in an effort to better understand some of these myself, here is my attempt to explain each of the following: Wikis, Online Forums, Blogs, and Twitter.

I would be willing to guarantee that each of us has used Wikipedia at some point in our life, and in fact, the majority of my definitions for this blog will probably come from there, but do we actually understand what it is? A wiki is defined as a website that uses wiki software, allowing the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages. They are most often used to create collaborative websites and to power community websites. A fun fact is that "wiki" is the Hawaiian word for "fast," and can also be expanded to stand for "What I Know Is." Pretty cool, huh?

Online forums, or message boards, are considered online discussion sites. Think of it as a modern equivlent to the traditional bulletin board. These forums are considered web applications managing user-generated content. People participating in Internet forums may cultivate social bonds and interests groups for a specific topic of interest.

I included blogs as a joke . . . I mean, seriously, if you are unsure as to what it is by now (i.e. week ten), we have much bigger problems to worry about. haha.

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates, know as 'tweets.' In February 2009, a researcher listed Twitter as the 3rd most utilized social network, with Facebook being the first, and MySpace coming in at number 2. Amazingly enough, this was only created in 2006 -- talk about a boom in popularity.

Take Action, Before It's Too Late [Tara Milliken]

2009-06-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not exactly sure if any of this would constitute as new agricultural-related technology, but I do classify it as something that will have a direct impact on each of us, and the more knowledgeable we are, the better off our industry will be in the future. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has decided to target Ohio as their next state in the battle of animal rights. If we do not want to end up in a similar situation as California with Proposition 2, our best bet is to start getting the word out now. I recently discovered some websites that are, in my opinion, excellent resources for promoting voter awareness prior to voting on major animal agricutural issues. The experts are saying that this will be the biggest issue the Ohio agriculture has ever had to face, so as students in the college, I believe it is our duty to at least work to present the public with accurate information. Technology has both worked to help and hurt the livestock industries in past years, with advancements of both concealed cameras and computers, information (whether accurate or innaccurate) is made available significantly more rapidly than ever before. And so, with this technology, there are now multiple websites that are working to shed light on these issues . . . they are listed below for you to browse and hopefully utilize in the future:

The Ohio Livestock Coalition http://www.ohiolivestock.org/index.html

Consumer Freedom http://www.consumerfreedom.com/

Farmers and Computers- Andrea Tholen

2009-06-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

The Hathaway family uses computers on their farm. Kim Hathaway describes the system. "It's a database system that we can use to go to the board of trades. We can go down and see what corn is trading for right now. We just got the upgrade system about three years ago that has the weather." The farmer's can use computers to get information on farm markets, weather, and other informaiton useful to them about farming. Researchers are currently working on incorporating more technology through computers into farming, and there should be many more technological advances in the near future wtih our world becoming so based around computers and technology.

computers

Television and Farming- Andrea Tholen

2009-06-04T17:34:00.000-07:00

Precision farming is one new technological development in agriculture, with this new creation they can pinpoint a farmer's location while in a field. It is similar to the way some television stations use satellite signals to send television waves. Television satellite dishes receive a signal from a satellite in space and transform it into the television show you watch. Farmers use an antenna to receive a signal from a satellite in space. The antenna is connected to a computer on the farmer's combine. The computer uses satellite signal to tell the farmer exactly where the combine is in the field. Precision farming allows the farmer to farm more efficiently and precisely.

TV Farming

One Plant Made Infamous By Comics-Emily Spahr

2009-06-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

This is a little different, not exactly agriculture related, but more along the lines of botany.

We've at some point in at least the past year, if not longer have been exposed to this crazy villain who's only goal in life is to make people laugh. Well not exactly, but he'll leave you with a smile plastered on your face. I hope I haven't stumped anyone- I'm referring to the Joker, Batman's arch enemy, who's been immortalized in the comics for his trademark poison which leaves a smile on the face of his victims. Scientists have recently discovered that such a toxin really does exist and has been used as a means for euthanasia, execution, and suicide for thousands of years. The plant,Hemlock water-dropwart grows in Sardinia, along the Mediterranean, and unlike other poisons which are bitter, is instead appeasing to the taste buds, causing many to not suspect the worst until it is too late.

The Joker would have loved to get his hands on something like this, however scientists have a different plan in mind for this toxin- botox. In the same way the toxin carves a smile on the victims face, researchers hope to develop a safe form to use as a botox treatment. Let's hope it doesn't form laugh lines around it's victims-I mean patients mouths.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/06/090602-smiling-death-potion.html

New technology for horse foot wear- Joe Zimmerman

2009-06-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

Horse lovers have been spending more time shoe shopping, but not for themselves. They have been for their horses. With new technology that has come about, there are different replacements for the old horseshoes. Horseshoes have gone through a number of changes in the last 10 years. This has been a long process as thousands of high-tech alternatives have been studied. The material that is being used in the new shoes, not only have a longer life time, but help to cushion the horse's foot too. Horses are now also able to spend days in the pasture barefoot. These shoes are being seen as away that allows for the shoes to be off, but when they are on they help to grow a strong, healthy foot.

Online Classrooms, More Than An Easy A- Emily Spahr

2009-06-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

We've become so accustomed to online classes that sometimes it seems we take it for granted. But for some, it's their only mode of learning. With the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, young students who have been displaced from their home- some even loosing their home completely, are finding online classrooms the only way to connect to their teachers, and fellow peers, all while still making progress toward a degree. In addition to this, schools in places like India are finding it easier to reach students via an Internet connection versus face to face contact.
While this seems like an easy class, and an easy way to connect with others, there are still downfalls, especially when dealing with third world countries. It can be difficult to place a computer in the hands of the students, especially in the most remote of areas. Add on top of that the possibility that there may not be a viable Internet connection. However, we are increasingly seeing people overcome such challenges to quench their thirst for knowledge.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/174539

Farming in the Sky- Joe Zimmerman

2009-06-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

As we all know, the worlds population continues to grow while land used for food continues to decrease. The choices that we have are that we need to rethink how we grow food, or starve.

The idea of tranplanting farms into city skycrapes continues to be talked about more and more. Doing this would use soil-free hydroponic farming to slash demand for energy and would produce more food. Farming on top of skyscrapers would also free up farmland and trees would not have to be removed. One of the biggest benefits of vertical farming would be that we would be able to grow food near where it would be eaten. This would help to cut both cost and emissions of transportation.

Sharp PG-D4010X ~ Larissa Hileman

2009-06-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

The Sharp PG-D4010 can project an image to a class, the advantage this projector has over many others is that the image is very bright and can be projected in a fully lit classroom.Pros: This projector is lightweight (only about 12 pounds), has a bright image at 4200 ANSI lumens, and has front access to bulb for easy replacement. The economy mode bulb can last up to 3000 hours. It features 1080p high-definition output. The lens is offset from the center for easy mounting. Controls are easy to navigate.

Overall evaluation: Even though this projector is more expensive than some other projectors, that extra brightness of the image and the almost 1000 hours addition bulb life make it a good value. Also the replacement lamps for this projector run about $500, where many of its lower-priced competitors replacement lamps run as much as $800.Price: MSRP $2,495 Street Price $1,749

New Holland H5270 Tedder

2009-06-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

In the haymakers race against rain, a New Holland H5270 six-roter, pull-type tedder provides the edge by fluffing heavy, damp crop and distributing it evenly for faster drydown. The new H5270 tedder has a large tedding width for high-capacity haying, yet easily folds to a convenient size for transport.

The H5270’s broad, 25’ 7” tedding width covers fields fast to boost haymaking productivity. Durability is built in with larger tires, heavy rotor gearboxes, and a heavy-duty frame. The tedder features six heavy-duty rotors, each with seven vertical tine arms, which provide reliable tedding at fast speeds.

The fully-articulated frame hugs ground contours so tines handle the entire crop without mixing soil into the hay. The hydraulic lift makes it easy to raise and lower the tedder from the tractor. A handy crank allows the operator to fine-tune the tine height in seconds without tools. The tedder folds hydraulically and can be conveniently changed from the 27’ 7” overall working position width to a narrow 9’ 10” transport width without leaving the tractor seat. A safety hitch chain and transport lighting are included as standard equipment.
A 35 PTO-hp tractor is the minimum required to operate the H5270 tedder.

PASCO EcoZone- Brandy Brinson

2009-06-03T11:35:00.001-07:00

EcoZone by PASCO allows the once qualitative study of ecosystems to become qualitative.The three chambers can each hold a separate ecosystem and can be interconnected or separate. The systems are completely closed off, so no outside influences can effect the data from the inclosed environment. With the three chambers conneted students can study the interaction of three different ecosystems, or the chambers can be disconnected to allow the study of individual ecosystems. Openings in the chambers allow water, air and ions to circulate through the ecosystems.

SPARK-Scienc e Learning System- Brandy Brinson

2009-06-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

SPARK is a mobile device that features a full color screen and integrates the power of probe ware with inquiry based assessment and content.SPARK can collect and analyze data, and provides both student and teacher embedded support and is easy to use. It includes 60 pre-installed labs that are standards based inquiry labs, that use an electronic notebook format.SPARK integrates background content, data collections and analysis. Students won't have to consult separate instructions, lab manuals or separate folders, everything can be found on the SPARK! Any other great way to keep your classroom interactive.

Qwizdom Q7 Tablet- Brandy Brinson

2009-06-03T09:18:00.001-07:00

The Quizdom Q7 tablet is a new technology that utilizes RF technology, presenter controls and response system interactivity. Used with the Quizdom student response system, the teacher can input a question on the tablet and see statics of the students answers; which are displayed on the built in LCD screen. This would be a great technology for teachers to create an interactive environment in the classroom.

Elluminate [Tara Milliken]

2009-06-03T07:26:00.000-07:00

Obviously, I am slightly more interested in classroom technology compared to the general agricultural technology, for the simple reason that I hope to utilize some of these tools in the future. Another amazing tool that I discovered is Elluminate, Inc. which provides provides proven, best-in-class solutions for real-time online learning and collaboration. The website lists various products which are used world-wide by educators who are on the cutting edge of digital education. One of the most widely used products is the Elluminate vSpaces, which allows for educators to meet in one fully functional room to teach, discuss, etc. This company's primary focus is on eLearning, and as distance education and technology continues to become more advanced, and with the demand for instantaneous communication, Elluminate will continue to be successful as they provide solutions for educators across the globe.

Classroom 2.0 [Tara Milliken]

2009-06-03T07:08:00.001-07:00

One of the coolest discoveries I've made while searching for technology in education this quarter is the online social network called Classroom 2.0. This site is for those interested in Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies in education. Basically, this network is full of teachers and tech support volunteers who are there to assist everyone from beginners to the most advanced on how to integrate technology into their classroom. It is focused primarily on beginners, as many teachers today are still struggling to convert to the digital age. Classroom 2.0 includes messaging forums, blogging, etc. And, one of the coolest features is that this website can be translated into eleven different languages by simply clicking a button, making it accessible all over the world! It also has published information or links to a variety of conferences or seminars available to teachers regarding technology. So, whether an educator is just starting out or if they simply want to remain in the know about what's new, Classroom 2.0 is a wonderful resource for teachers everywhere!

Modern Day Swiss Army Knife-Megan Mullet

2009-06-03T06:06:00.000-07:00

We have seen technology in tractors and trucks a like, now they are combining the two into one vehicle. This is cost saving for the farmer that is looking to purchase a truck and a tractor. This vehicle is very versatile and can do many things that both a truck and tractor can do. It can pull implements in the field, haul seed to and from the field, cut hay, or spread manure. It is being coined as the modern day Swiss army knife because it is so diverse in what it can do and it is one piece of equipment! If you aren't looking forward to purchase more than one piece of equipment for your farm, this is something to look into!

Performance Chips for Vehicles-Megan Mullet

2009-06-03T05:59:00.000-07:00

I feel that there is a strong stigma that goes along with performance parts for trucks and vehicles in general. Before I was further educated in this area, I too thought that chips and high performace programmers were for the younger generation that wanted their truck to "perform" better than any one else in the county. They wanted the loudest truck that went the farthest at the truck pull and blew the most smoke. Since beginning to date a diesel mechanic, I have seen a completely different side of this industry. People don't realize that these programmers can actually increase fuel mileage and strengthen the life of your vehicle. If your vehicle is your office, whether you are hauling equipment for a farm or just on the road consulting with farmers, these products are definitely worth the time it takes to look into them. These programmers can also be adjusted depending on whether you are hauling a heavy load or just wanted to ensure the best possible fuel mileage. This technology is definitely something I will look into after purchasing a newer vehicle!

Put to the Test: Qwizdom Q7 Tablet ~Larissa Hileman

2009-06-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

The Qwizdom Q7 Tablet combines RF technology, presenter controls, and response-system interactivity. Teachers can use this as they would any other interactive tablet, but if they are using the Qwizdom student-response system, they can enter a question into the Q7 tablet on the fly and see the statistics on that question on the tablet's built-in LCD screen.

The pro's of the Qwizdom Q7 Tablet include using RF to communicate with a computer and the RF session is specific to each tablet, so no cross communication can take place between tablets. The tablet has a nice ergonomic design. The keyboard template is built right into the top of the tablet. The buttons are organized into logical function groups (all drawing buttons are together, all Qwizdom buttons are together, etc). The tablet is customizable for use with any software application and has a large backlit LCD that can show speaker notes and student response data. The RF sender for the computer stores in the back of the tablet. The tablet can recharge using a USB port on computer.

Going Green?? Elisa

2009-06-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

It is hard not to get involved with "going green" with the whole "going green" craz sweeping across the nation and world and even being part of the most influcentional part of the renewable force behide going green...Agricultural. We as the next generation in our industry have to find a way to prospier or we will fail. Each passing year it gets harder to stay aflot it seems and our world is also suffering. Our way of life was changed with technology and we have become dependent on alot of these technological advances. Which has helped farmer advance their area of expierece greatly. But is there a way we can cut down the bad with out giving up the good., I think so while i was looking for a few ideas to cut my bill down i came across this web site, it is filled with ideas and new technologies about going green or at least being alittle greener. what really got me was when i opened my new DVD and realized it was almost totally made of recycled material. Iam not getting on a soap bix and preaching green but it is really easy to do little steps to help our area of life and that for the next generation !!

http://greentechnolog.com/

Hydroponics and Ohio State Elisa

2009-06-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

In 1999 the Hydroponic Vegetable Program began in the spring with a three-year USDA/CSREES grant and the additional funds coming from The Ohio State University Extension. this program has a huge varity of constant research and development using hydroponic technology. you can visit the following website and find tons of research infomation
and idea and concepts about hydroponics. there are even interavtive sites to get everyone involved and understanding Ohio States Hydroponics system. this would be a great source of infomation and activites for Ag teachers all over ohio adn even other states in my opinion. Check it out :)

http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/hydroponics/drake/index.php?option=frontpage&Itemid=22

Identification for your Pet ~Lynette Hamilton~

2009-06-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

The number one issue with raising a pet is often times owners loose their pets. With this new identification system you will be able to track your pet if it is lost! What looks like an ordinary dog or cat collar may contain a small USB drive. It can be used in the tracking of your animal, as well as, will allow you to store information about the dog on it, such as it's shot records, the dogs name, and owners name and address. Another neat feature of this would be it allows you to store photos of the dog and throughout the dogs life on the drive. The only down fall of this collar is the issue of it getting wet and the cost to replace it!

Solar Pot ~Lynette Hamilton~

2009-06-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

In today's society everyone is going "green," and this new environmental friendly solar pot will make it easier for people to charge their batteries and go green! This new battery charging device or Solar Pot makes use of solar energy to charge itself. All that you have to do is to place the discharged battery inside the stem of this charging device and then the place the charging device in the sun. The device then takes up the solar energy and begins to charge the batteries. This device helps in recycling the dead batteries the natural way, which otherwise is one of the biggest environmental hazard. Quite an eco friendly way to save environment and save money!

Colibri Food Dispenser-Brooke White

2009-06-01T09:02:00.001-07:00

Since there are many people starving in the big cities, this food dispender is to provide food for those people. According to this article, this piece of eqiupment is a "bridge" between the excess of foods and the underfed who are searching for leftovers. This box is made of steel, inside and out, so it will provide safety from vandalism and bad weather. For more information concerning the food dispenser, you can visit this website: http://www.tuvie.com/colibri-food-dispenser-for-big-cities#more-2641

"Save Water" Bottle-Brooke White

2009-06-01T08:48:00.001-07:00

Because metals always carry antibacterial and germ properties against polluting drinking water, this bottle was created to remind people to save water. It is a glass bottle which holds the water, and a metal body inside it which reads "save water". Again it's purpose is to make people aware of the effeciency of water and to save the planet. When water is filled to a certain extent, the "save water" will be in larger print because of the water. When the water level goes down, it's a lot easier to read. Oxidation will darken the words slowly which emphasizes the message more and more every day. For more information/pictures on this project, visit this website: http://www.tuvie.com/category/green-technology

Cloned Buffalo Calf- Andrea Tholen

2009-05-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

Scientists of Animal Biotechnology Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal have developed the landmark technique i.e. “Handguided Cloning Technique” and produced the world’s first cloned buffalo calf. The technique that scientists used was a new and improved technique to the one that they first used with Dolly, the first sheep to ever be cloned. The world’s first buffalo calf through the “Handguided Cloning Technique” was born on February, 6, 2009 at NDRI, Karnal. Dr. A. K. Srivastava, Director, NDRI, said that in India, we have the largest population of the best buffaloes in the world. However, the percentage of elite animals is very low and there is an urgent need to enhance the population of these elite buffaloes and the technology developed at our Institute has the potential to do so.

Cloned Buffalo

Enzymes in Cow Feed- Andrea Tholen

2009-05-31T18:24:00.000-07:00

This is an article about enzymes in cow feed. They have developed new enzyme formulations and they can make the cow produce more milk. For cattle diets, enzymes must bind specifically to feeds and be resistant to rumen degradation. Since the primary digestible components of forages are cellulose and hemicellulose, recent research has focused on enzymes specific to these nutrients. Cows fed enzyme-treated forage during the first 100 days of lactation produced nine to 15 per cent more milk and 16 to 23 per cent more energy-corrected milk than cows fed the control diet. If farmers implemented the enzymes into their feeding programs then it could save them a lot of money and allow them to actually make more money in the long run.

Cow Enzymes

Mail Catch [Tara Milliken]

2009-05-31T17:33:00.000-07:00

If you've ever had difficulty validating accounts because you don't want to give out your personal or business email address, MailCatch.com will solve that problem. It is a quick and temporary solution to your email accessibility issues. It also allows you to receive email using a temporary email address, and the best part is, no registration is required. All you have to do is choose an email name followed by @mailmatch.com. No email can be sent from the site, making is safe to use when students need an email access verification to create an online account. MailCatch disposable email is very useful for teachers in the classroom setting!

Methods of Making Butter from Camel Milk [Tara Milliken]

2009-05-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

There is now being research done to discover the best methods of making butter from camel milk. While here in the United States this may seem almost humorous, the truth is, camel milk can certainly play a bigger role in the prevention of human malnutrition than it does today. Growing and raising foodstuffs for a rapidly increasing human population is especially difficult in the hot and arid zones of the world, which just so happens to be the locations that a camel not only survives well in, but is also able to benefit man. Researchers have now come to the conclusion that camels can produce an adequate amount of milk in drought areas where other domestic animals have very low production. While camel milk has already taken off in many countries, the technology involved in the production of the butter is both complicated and still undergoing more study, but it is the hope of researchers that it will soon be perfected in a way that it is available for small farmers in these various locations of the world.

TECA Works to Bring Agricultural Technology to the World [Tara Milliken]

2009-05-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

TECA is a Food and Agricultural Organization for the United Nations, and its aim is to provide access to information about available proven technologies in agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and forestry, which contributes to food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable devlopment. While TECA contains many articles surrounding technology in the field of agriculture in its own right, the purpose of my blog is to elaborate on how this website functions to bring crucial information to small farmers around the world. The fact that smaller, less stable countries now are being provided with the opportunity to access this resource is a significant step in ending world hunger and coping with a booming population.

TECA is striving to provide others with reliable and proven technologies, and a shared database on the website makes it easily accessible to others around the world. TECA works under the following guiding principles:

The validation of technologies facilitates their dissemination, adaptation and adoption across broadly similar biophysical, social economic and human environments and farming systems.
Technologies must be economically and socially acceptable, easily adaptable to the biophysical environment and environmentally friendly.

So often we only consider how technologies is impacting agriculture in our own country, but this initiative explains how it is helping to create more stability around the globe. TECA is another example of how agriculture is quickly becoming even more globalized through the use of technology. To view this website and learn more about TECA and its mission visit http://www.fao.org/sd/teca/index_en.asp.

New technology detects lameness in cattle--Tiffany Sanders

2009-05-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Lameness in dairy cattle have hurt the industry for many years and has been one of the main reasons why the cows are culled. However, there is not a new device developed by researchers at UD and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) to help detect the very painful condition of lameness in cattle. The device is called the StepMetrix and is sold to dairy farms in the United States and also in Europe and sold by the farm equipment company BouMatic. The system uses a computerized system of force plates that are installed on the ground outside the where the cows are housed. Then the cows are fitted with electronic sensors that can be read by the system.

“Every time that a cow walks over the force plates on her way to milking, the plates detect the forces up and down each of the legs,” Dyer says. “It looks at each individual foot as well as the left half of the cow versus the right, the front versus the back.”

The software analyzes the data collected by the force of the plates and then the information comes up with the lameness index for each animal and then tells if each cow is sound or lame.
This technology will help farmers in the long run because they will be able to determine if they are lame sooner just because on the way the cows walk.

plastic and fuel orchards-Bethany Swinehart

2009-05-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

Thats right, plastic and fuels being grown in orchards. Well, almost. There is new research being done to decrease the time and cost and increase the efficiency of producing biofuels.

Biofuels are made by converting fructose and glucose into a product called hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) which is the material that is converted into plastics and fuel. The final step is simple however the initial step to create the HMF is a time consuming, and expensive endeavor. According to reasearch at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory(PNNL) the catalyst used originally was of an acid base and was not quite as efficient as planned. The new catalyst liquid is comprised of metal chlorides and under extreme heat. This process allowed for better than 90% recovery of formed HMF and the formed product was higher in purity, and worked up to 10 times faster.

"green" cell phone chargers-by Bethany Swinehart

2009-05-27T20:26:00.001-07:00

There are two major renewable energy corporations teaming up for a new product. This product is a green energy outdoor power source to as of right now just recharge your cell phone. It is set for a prototypical release in time for the biggest open-air music fesstival in the UK.

The pump is nothing more than a typical bellows style camping pump that has a turbine attached to it that converts kinetic energy created by the wind resistance against the turbine into electrical energy that will create enough power to recharge your cell phone. Check out http://www.gizmag.com/ Keywords: green energy charger.

COW POWER - ALTERNATE ENERGY FROM COWS- Joe Zimmerman

2009-05-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

Fair Oaks Farm is doing what it can to save money where ever it can. They are also doing more than just raising dairy cattle. Turns out they are also in the electricity business too. Using thier manure management system, they are now biorenewable enegry in action. By using a methane digester, they are able to turn cow manuere into fertilizer for crop fields and electricity for the farm and community. This also kills odors in the process too. This transformation is an eco-friendly system which produces enough electricity for 500 homes.

Masser Potato Farms- Joe Zimmerman

2009-05-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

While much of the way that the Masser family raises potatoes has remained the same for the past eight generations, new advancements have taken place too. The Masser Potato Farms has developed and implemented various ideals, technologies and programs in order to help advance their campany. One of the biggest adcancements that they have made is the use of computer-controlled sprayers and planters. They now also use center pivot irrigation and a bruise reduction program in there everyday operations. All of these technologies and programs advancements have helped to keep this family business going.

Beef Cattle Ultrasounds- Joe Zimmerman

2009-05-27T13:27:00.001-07:00

Ultrasounds are now finding there way to the beef barns. Development and application of real-time ultrasound to improve body composition traits in beef cattle has been looked at for a long time at Iowa State University. With this technology farmers will be able to measure intramuscular percentage fat (marbling) in both live cattle and carcasses. Some programs that are taking place include supporting technician ceritification programs in cooperation with the Beef Improvement Federation, and hosting training programs for potential technicians from around the world. A number of other program are also being looked. Other possible programs include assist breed associations in the development of expected progeny differences (EPD) using ultrasound measures in conjunction with the more conventional carcass traits. One of the biggest benefits to useing ultrasounds is that it will offer the beef cattle industry a tremendous opportunity in terms of selecting superior seed stock animals and in optimal marketing of feedlot cattle.

Interactive Games In The Classroom- Emily Spahr

2009-05-27T10:31:00.001-07:00

Interactive games are everywhere, and at some point in time it's safe to say we all will try them at some point in our lifetimes. I remember a fun little game we played in my high school physiology class which allowed us to make decisions about how to handle an infectious disease outbreak. We were forced to make educated decisions based on the information presented in class and enter them into a web based model to attempt to control the simulated out break.

It was a great tool because each student got to use the knowledge they had been presented and then turn around and apply it to a scenario that was a close to real life as you could get.

Although I can no longer find that particular game, there are several now available on the Internet, and while this one was specifically for infectious diseases, there are other computer simulations available for a variety of topics. It's a great way to gauge student's knowledge and help them to realize the importance of such knowledge in a fun way.

Disease Detective

CDC Science Mystery

Using Carbon Dioxide Lasers in Veterinary Medicine ~Larissa Hileman

2009-05-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, lasers are now changing the options available to horse owners whose animals need surgical procedures. By using LASER, which is abbreviated for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission Radiation. The amplified light of laser is caused by energizing molecules to emit light at a certain wavelength. There exists many different kinds of lasers, each of which creates a specific tissue reaction depending on the wavelength. The CO2 laser is one of the most widely used medical laser in the world. CO2 lasers deliver an intense beam of infrared light with 10,600 nanometers wavelength. This specific wavelength has a great effect on soft tissue which is why it is used in dewclaw removal, ear hematomas, skin tumors, amputations, and the neuturing of dogs.
To read more about the use of the laser on horses, follow this link:http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/articles/0/5/1072

SPARK Science Learning ~Lynette Hamilton~

2009-05-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

The SPARK Science Learning system learning assessment system used in the learning of scientific information such as data collection. The system then can be connected to your computer with a USB cable. The teacher can assign an experiment to the class and the students can use their SPARK units and probes to develop hypotheses, collect data to prove or disprove the hypotheses, and then draw conclusions. Some advantages of this program is it is rugged enough to be taken out doors and can be handled by any age student from elementary to high school, and has the ability to be displayed on a computer screen. Overall the system allows you to collect and put together scientific information and then upload them unto the computer for print out. The cost of this system is $329.

Pain Beam-Brooke White

2009-05-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

This is a non-lethal weapon is under the development by the National Institution of Justice. It's goal is to inflict pain from a distance using beams of laser light or microwaves which causes the skin to get hot. It will be used to capture suspects. This tool is a modified version of the laser rifle that was created by the U.S. Airforce. Some Human Rights groups are controversial about this non-lethal weapon. To learn more about it, visit this website: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16339-us-police-could-get-pain-beam-weapons.html

Classroom Friendly Search Engines- Emily Spahr

2009-05-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

I ran across this website and it looks promising. It is a search engine powered by google, so it has the full force of the web behind it, however it appears to be more user friendly and topic oriented. This search engine uses a puzzle piece feature which allows you to fit the pieces of your topic together in order to find information relevant to your topic of choice. And an even better function is that a teacher can monitor the students searches with a glance because the search criteria is displayed much larger on the computer screen, so a teacher can quickly glance at student's progress.

However, as with all search engine, this one is not exactly perfect or a guarantee. It simply narrows the results by allowing one to pick criteria such as "or, not, and" to attempt to narrow the field. Each time I tried this I never got within a reasonable list of results.

This is a great resource for younger children and a great way to teach them how to better search for information on the Internet.

http://boolify.org/

Its Your Call-Cell Phone Safety Game- Brandy Brinson

2009-05-19T20:02:00.001-07:00

Web Wise Kids, in partnership with Verizon, ESA Foundation, and Will Interactive; have created a program that allows middle school children to play out situations in the safety of cyberspace before the teens are confronted with these situations in real life. The program teaches students about safe cell phone use and how to use other devices to protect yourself. Students become live action characters in an interactive film, the student's characters are presented with difficult descions. Once they make their choices the students face the consequences of their actions.

Drought Tolerant Crops- Sarah Ervin

2009-05-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

It is currently being developed and is a tough gene to isolate. Seed geneticists are working overtime to get this done, and the first company to do it will have high demand for this product. The outlook is to have this drought tolerant crop developed in the next decade. For mor info on new ag technologies, click here.

Autonomous Tractor-Sarah Ervin

2009-05-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

Autonomous tractors are exactly as the name sounds, driverless. They will soon be around for purchase. A lot of equipment manufacturers have experiment with this equipment, but have not took it past the research stage. It hasn't came about yet because it mush be perfect to sense when a person, animal, or object is around. For more info, click here.

Active Rollover Protection Systems-Megan Mullet

2009-05-19T15:58:00.000-07:00

While I could not find a lot of information on this topic-I found it very interesting. This technology is still in the making but in the future they hope to have tractors that can detect a rollover coming and be able to prevent it despite what the operator is doing. This technology is developing much quicker with the automotive industry but is quickly approaching in agriculture as well. I almost feel that it is more important in ag, just because of all the tractors that are now capable of running on autopilot. The technology is able to measure the slopes of the land and completely disables the equipment when it reaches a dangerous level which prevents a rollover accident from occurring. I find this especially important in tractors because of the number of operators I know that disregard their safety belts. This technology has the ability to decrease agricultural related accidents drastically.

Out with ATV's and in with UV's-Megan Mullet

2009-05-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

Many of us grew up on farms with ATV's or 4-wheelers and those of us that didn't always wanted one! I know that I asked for one for Christmas every year (and never got one)! Now many farms are going to Utility Vehicles. These vehicles were once labeled as "glorified golf carts," but they are now taking over many farms. They are very much like a pick up, except smaller and usually very fuel efficient (or ran on electric). These vehicles typically have beds that common ATV's do not. It is easier for the older generations to hop into an UV, than it is to sling a leg over an ATV. These vehicles are capable of pulling heavy loads and many companies even offer full cabs that can have AC or heat depending on the weather. In the next decade these vehicles will over take ATV's in many agriculture settings because they are becoming easier to use and just as versatile as an ATV.

Chiron-Brooke White

2009-05-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

This means of transportation is called a chiron. It's designed to reduce ecological dammage unlike the current railways. The engine is algae powered which will increase the business effeciency because it is a lot cheaper than fuel. It also includes a satallite teacking system which navigates the supplementary dimensions of the road. This is obviously a transportation concept meaning that we may see it for real in the future. To view more pictures, visit this website http://www.tuvie.com/chiron-transportation-to-minimize-ecological-damage#more-2737

SSU Clark Planetarium ~ Larissa Hileman

2009-05-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

Though this is not necessarily a "classroom technology", it is a visual tool that can be used to reinforce information about the solar system. I have been fortunate enough to go when I was in elementary school and forgot that Portsmouth, Ohio does have some neat stuff to do.
Shawnee State University (SSU) has some of the world's most advanced planetarium equipment, and has free shows on Mondays and Fridays. The planetarium itself is ran off of five computers. It uses a state-of-the-art Digistar II projection system.

Clark Planetarium was one of the first single lens digital systems in the United States. Other planetariums around the country have began to install the technology. During the week, the planetarium is open for school groups with special children's shows. A new show called "The Little Star That Could" will be previewed by teachers, and will follow the life cycle of stars.

Schools, education institutions, and university groups are free as well. Monday and Friday night shows are open to the public at 7 p.m. each night. Group reservations can be made, though the planetarium holds a maximum of 66 people, so it would be wise to call ahead to reserve multiple shows.

Teachers Connecting Other Teachers To Resources- Emily Spahr

2009-05-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

As I was searching for a topic to write about I came across several websites which were geared towards helping teachers discover the Internet and what it has to offer the classroom. This is a great resource which puts the links and downloads conveniently on one page and is most often categorized by the subject, and sometimes even by difficulty. The pages are usually developed by other teachers and helps organize material in such a way that it fits teaching standards.
There are several pages out there, each with a theme surrounding it, such as technology, farm animals, math and science, and so on. Each page offers a variety of activities for teachers to implement in the classroom, including math worksheets, coloring pages for the younger grades, spelling pages, fact sheets, etc. Often a teacher borrows the work of others, and adapts it to his/her classroom, and pages like this make such process a little easier.
http://www.edzone.net/~mwestern/stuff.html

Robotic cleaners-Sarah Ervin

2009-05-12T17:26:00.001-07:00

Robotic cleaners are among the new robotic technologies being used on dairy farms. These cleaners run constantly (if turned on) and scrap the manure from the barns and other walkways. This is one less chore for farmers to do. The picture is of a DeLaval cleaner. This cleaner is silent and most importantly, animal friendly. For more information, click here.

New technology good for progress, bad for skills-Sarah Ervin

2009-05-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

New agricultural technologies do add to the progress in ag industries. They make jobs easier and those jobs can be completed easier. However, those positives are also downfalls. It leads to less skill being needed to complete a job and deskills the normal hardworking blue collar class of people. I think new technologies are great, however, how much is too much. When will the day come when real people are no longer needed, and computers and robots do everything for us. For more information about this topic, visit here.

Dweeber.com- Brandy Brinson

2009-05-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

Dweeber.com is a social networking site developed by smartwired, a group that dedicates themselves to helping young people see their own strengths and talents. The site was creates in 2007 and uses social networking to allow students to learn, study, and do homework; instead of letting social networking get in the way. The made sure that their website appealed to students and would provide them with the tools they need to learn. They have 5 principles:

Everyone has their own unique brilliance.
Think of differences as resources rather than disorders
Track assets rather than deficits
Think of mistakes as experiments rather than failures.
Everyone has an inner Dweeb, a geek part of us that is passionate about something important.

This site could be used as an educational tool by educators to help students or have other students help students learn.

Monsanto's New Corn technology-Brandy Brinson

2009-05-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

Farmers in the southern United States are planting Monsanto's Genuity VT Triple Pro corn. This second generation corn technology will be sampled by 100-200 farmers as a limited commercial demonstration.These seeds provide the first ever dual modes for controlling insects above ground.This technology provides farmers with hide yield potential by controlling ear feeding insects and in turn can reduce the level of myotoxins. This break through helps protect corn from the corn borer and two previously uncontrolled pests-the corn earworm and the fall armyworm. Because it offers dual modes of protection, it has been approved for reduction in the refuge requirement for the corn borer from 20-50% in the South. The seeds also contain Round- Up Ready 2 weed control. Farmers will observe their feilds this summer for the corn borer and sendkernel samples to Monsanto.

Crops For Fuel- Andrea Tholen

2009-05-12T06:44:00.001-07:00

Today, certain crops are providing fuel for American consumers. Biodiesel made from corn, soybeans, or other crops is one of many renewable fuels. Renewable fuels contribute to a cleaner environment, reduce pollution and reliance on foreign oil, and contribute to the rural farm economy by creating commercial markets for crops. With a record production of 2.81 billion gallons of ethanol in 2003, one billion bushels of corn and 12 percent of the grain sorghum crop were used to produce fuel for our vehicles. In addition, some crops are being bred specifically for use in pharmaceutical production. Of course, these crops are not intended for the food supply, and strict regulation is designed to keep them separate from food uses. I think this is great, the world needs to start thinking about alternate ways to fuel our cars because pretty soon we will not have any gasoline left in this world!
Crops for Fuel

Tomatoes Reduce Cancer Risk- Andrea Tholen

2009-05-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

There have been several studies conducted around the country and here at Ohio State that have found that tomatoes help reduce the risk of getting cancer. Researchers have found that the red color in tomatoes (lycopene) which occurs naturally in tomatoes is actually an anti-carcinogenic. Dr. Edward Giovannucci of Harvard Medical school concluded that intake of tomatoes and tomato-based products, has been consistently related to elevated blood lycopene levels and a lower risk of a variety of cancers. Last night at the state of the college address for CFAES Bobby Moser discussed this and how other foods that is being reserached in our college is helping to prevent cancer!

Read more: "Study Finds Tomatoes Lower Risk of Cancer" - http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/tomatoes.html#ixzz0FIbvSJRX&A

Farming in the Sky---Tiffany Sanders

2009-05-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is called The AQUAPONIC MERRY-GROW-ROUND. The ideas of environmental scientist Dickson Despommier was to transplant farms into the cities skyscrapers. They are soil-free hydroponic farming that will be cheaper and safer for the environment and most importantly produce MORE food. Also by doing this they say that you can plant more trees in the farmland and that will increase oxygen and decrease the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They said that it would churns out nearly 14 percent of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions by having the food grown closer to the consumers and reducing the transportation of the food decreasing the pollution of trucks and cars.

Vortex Mini Car-Brooke White

2009-05-11T11:43:00.001-07:00

The basic idea is to create a mini car that has security just like a big car. It's created based on the structure around the passenger and by the way it reacts in time when danger occurs, such as being in a wreck. They studied this car by examining how it reacts to different damages. The outside of the car is made out of exagonal polyfoam which reacts to any impact by absorbing the crash with the air inside of the car. The goal is to prevent the passengers from any harm when a crash occurs. This concept is expected to be on the market by 2045. To learn more about it and see more pictures, go to this website http://www.tuvie.com/vortex-mini-car-concept-with-security-of-a-big-car.

Chicken Electronics: A Technology Plucked from Waste--Tiffany Sanders

2009-05-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Richard Wool of the University of Delaware, he has found a way to use the feathers from chickens to make feed for other animals. This feed would be a lower grade quality feed but the feathers would need to require water and energy to make. Wool’s solution to the overwhelming amount of wasted feathers is to have collaboration with poultry giant Tyson Foods to explore manufacture of another resource-depleting necessity—the circuit board—using chicken feathers. The idea is to have a renewable resource and not to use or depend on other resources as much since the feather are wasted it would not hurt anything to make them into feed i think.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1247399

Automatic Cattle Sorting--Tiffany Sanders

2009-05-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

Many cattle producers are looking for more and better ways to monitor the feeding efficiency of cattle and one way to do this is by buying an automatic cattle sorting system. The way that this system works is very simple. This technology is completely automatic and it continuously monitors and measures animals performance individual in a given pen. The monitor is located at every watering spot. The unit included equipment for six spots and this can monitor in the range of 40 to 300 animals. The calves each get an electronic ear tag when they come to the feedlot which is read by the system by stepping to the water. The system converts partial body weight to full body weight. Data acquisition is continuous and is sent by a wireless system to a data acquisition computer, with up to a 30-mile line-of-sight range. The system analyzes the data and it also determines poor performance and it even marks these animals by spraying paint on them when they come to the water so they can be treated. I think this is very smart because you can monitor the animals without really monitoring them, all you need to do is take out the sick ones and treat them instead of the whole group which saves money. This will also help with telling which animals perform the best and only take the best genetics. To learn more about this article and system you should visit this website: http://www.growsafe.com/feedlot.cfm.

Learning Agriculture In A Creative Way- Emily Spahr

2009-05-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

Urban Agriculture is not necessarily a new concept, but it has gained popularity and attention in the wake of global warming. In an effort to increase awareness and provide an incentive to participate in Urban agricultural projects, one school is exchanging free lessons for help in their latest agricultural endeavour. King Karate is offering students a chance to participate free of charge in karate classes in exchange for help in converting vacant lots in the Flint, Michigan area into green works.

Karate has become a popular activity for young kids and I think this is a great opportunity to mix agricultural concepts with those that surround martial arts. The two work hand in hand with the idea of responsibility, hard work, and respect for your surroundings and self.

Article

Dream Box Learning Math ~Lynette Hamilton~

2009-05-07T06:53:00.000-07:00

A new program that is available to youth ages kindergarten through second grade is DreamBox Learning. This interactive math curriculum is made to help teach the youth based on the standards-based mathematics's curriculum. However this program is a fun interactive and adventure style game. This is a great way for the child to play while learning so they will be more willing to sit down and actually do it! The program present an in-depth math lesson that utilizes the child's understanding as well as lets them use their problem solving skills. The program can be customized for each individuals own learning ability and shows their progress through its tracking ability. The program has enough attractions, including the graphics and the music to keep the youths attention while learning. The new program also provides positive encouragement for the youth while they are playing. This program is a great web based learning tool that youth can use to improve their math skills and help them prepare for their proficiency test! The retail price for this game is $12.95 per student, per month, and if you purchase more than one you can receive discounts. This program in my opinion would be worth the money to help students learn their math skills!

National Animal Identification System-Sarah Ervin

2009-05-06T17:26:00.000-07:00

New technology in animal identification has been implemented by the USDA. It is known as the 'National Animal Identification System'. The US does not currently have a mandatory animal ID program, but are trying to start one with this system. This system will be mainly for tracing disease outbreaks back to the host. It will help to find which animals are in the outbreak, where they are located, and what other animals may have been exposed. For more information, visit the USDA website here.

Computer use on farms-Sarah Ervin

2009-05-06T17:21:00.000-07:00

Today, farmers are using computers in a totally different way than you and I use them everyday. There is software available now for farmers specifically that allows them to check the prices of agricultural products across the US at anytime. They can also check the weather as it happens minute by minute. To see more, visit here.

Vegetable-Oil Engine ~Lynette Hamilton~

2009-05-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

I bet you have never thought about putting the oil you cook with in your tractor! This new engine allows you to use vegetable oil instead of the common fuels. This engine was created in Europe as the first diesel engine that can be run on rapeseed canola oil. This engine allows farmers to raise their own plants, run the plants on their farms mills and then put the oils back into their tractors! Current testing is be done on for creating a tractor engine that would run off of soybean oil!

On-the-go SensorsExpect ~Lynette Hamilton~

2009-05-06T15:09:00.000-07:00

A new technology that is used to help farmers with the application of seeds, fertilizer and chemicals is an "On-the-go sensorsExpect." These devices can be mounted on a vehicle, tractor, or 4-H wheeler. This technology will test the soil pH level every few feet and change the rate of the lime application as the spreader passes over the field. Another aspect that is included on this equipment a nitrogen censoring test, to help increase or decrease the fertilizer levels. This technology is not overly expense and there are some similar equipment that only test one or the other, not both!

Implement Steering-Megan Mullet

2009-05-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

I know that many of us already know about tractors that have automated steering, and quite frankly I think they are pretty cool. But now they have implement steering. Farmers have quickly began to recognize that just because their tractor is driving where it is supposed to, does not mean the implement is following. Prior to tractors with automated steering, I'm sure the farmers just thought they weren't driving straight enough for their implements. But now it is being seen that on hill sides the implement is not following right behind the tractor. They have put sensors and actuators on the implement wheels so that it follows directly behind the tractor pulling it. It is most important when doing strip-tillage and drip-irrigation-that's where the fastest pay back comes into play. It is said that once farmers get a taste of the new technology-they won't want to give it up, so it will most likely be incorporated into much more than those two practices.

E Premium Tractor-Megan Mullet

2009-05-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

The E Premium tractor is a John Deere 7430. This tractor is unique because it doubles as a generator. Not only can this tractor hook up to implements that are designed with electric motors, but it can be hooked up your home's furnace or freezer when your power goes out due to a blizzard. This tractor will become convenient for farmers that need the tractor and don't want to buy that extra heavy and costly generator too. Problem is, this tractor is currently only being sold in Europe; Will it hit the US or not?

Talking to the radio?? Elisa Marie

2009-05-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

Ok now I have seen it all!! there is now well i just came across a device that plugs into your cars 12v plug and connects your phone to your speakers. You can actually talk to someone driving down the road thought you cars radio. I guess i should have seen this coming with the increase in accidents when people are distracted by their phone I know we all have been. it has gotten to the point that many states have a baned that will most likely spread to all states soon. anyhoo this little thing plugs in and you set the radio to a station like you do with ipods and talk away. good thing it only has a 25 ft transmit zone or everyone could hear you lol :) em

http://www.parrot.com/usa/products/plugnplaycarkits/parrotpmk5800 check it out

New Agriculture website Elisa Marie

2009-05-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

I know this is all about the coll technologies with in agriculture but this week while i was searching i came across this website with all kinds of cool articles about the agriculture world around the great lakes. that articles range in discussion but most are super interesting if you get time go and check this website out. my favorite article is the one about organic farming and research not that i am all about this "organic" way of life but i still find it all very interesting and the fact that $224,000 was awarded to 12 organic research and education projects is really something all agriculture persons should pay attention too.

http://www.new-ag.msu.edu/

One-Pass Weed Control - Emily Klein

2009-05-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

Bayer CropScience introduced Corvus herbicide for the 2009 growing season. It is a one-pass weed control product that is consistent and lasts the full season for corn. It is able to control more than 50 broadleaf weeds and grasses through early emergence stages. The product is recommended to be applied at a rate of 5.6 oz. per acre. Coarse soils with less than 2% organic matter should have 3.3 oz. per acre.

New Storage Bags - Emily Klein

2009-05-05T16:14:00.000-07:00

Delta Grain Bag Systems introduced a new polyethylene grain storage bags. It allows producers to store grain temporarily for an average cost of $.07 per bushel. The bag is filled with a specially made bag filling machine that can be used from the combine or the grain cart to load up to seven thousand bushels of grain per hour. A study at Texas A&M showed that grain stored in the bags for five months did not change the quality of the grain. The bagger is priced at $18,000. The one-time use bags start at the cost of $700.

New Series of New Holland Mowers - Emily Klein

2009-05-05T14:39:00.001-07:00

New Holland came out with a new series of commerical mowers. The new series, G5000 are zero-turn-radius mowers. They provide smooth and fast mowing. The deck is not mounted on the frame, but on the front axle. This allows for the mower deck to glide over the changing ground. The mower has a 149 inch discharge opening to allow grass clipping to be spread out evenly without clumping or bunching up. The blades overlap by 1 ½” to prevent streaking in the grass. The mower is powered by Kawasaki gas engine and has a six gallon fuel tank.

Click here to read more about this.

SPOT-ON Screwdriver - Emily Klein

2009-05-05T14:27:00.001-07:00

SPOT-ON is a new screwdriver with a LED light on the tip that helps seeing the screw head in a dark or hard to get at place. The screw driver has a button to push for the light to shine. The screwdriver is a ¼” flat head or Phillips head. The screw driver features a sure grip handle with a 4 inch length blade. This tool is highly recommended in working in automotives, electronics, appliance repairs, or small engines. Can be purchased at hardtofindtools.com for $24.95.

Bi-Directional Tractor - Emily Klein

2009-05-05T08:15:00.001-07:00

New Holland came out with a new tractor, TV6070, that provides speed and versatility which can be operated from the engine-end or cab-end first. It is a bi-directional tractor that has a turnabout console that the seat rotates 180 degrees. The tractor has 3 point hitches on the front and back ends. Jobs can be finished in a decreased amount of time because two tools can be attached at one time. For example when removing snow, a snow blower can be on one end and a blade on the other end.
The tractor has a 6.7 liter, fuel-efficient diesel engine and a 105 PTO hp. The transmission operates with eight ranges from 0 to 19 mph. If the tractor senses a steep hill or resistance, it can automatically downshift. Then when it senses it is out of the resistance it returns to the original setting. The price on the TV6070 is $91,500. A model with a front end loader costs $101,200.

New Seed Treatment - Emily Klein

2009-05-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

Poncho 500 is a new seed-applied insecticide by Bayer CropScience. Poncho 500 is said to increase yields on an average of 10 bushels per acre. Poncho 500 is improved from the Poncho 250. Poncho 500 is supposed to protect early-season seeds and seedlings. Protection is against damage caused by black cutworm, wireworm, and other early-season pests. Poncho 500’s price is expected to be around $13 to $14 per acre.

Inwrite Mobi Tablet ~Lynette Hamilton~

2009-05-05T06:56:00.000-07:00

The Interwrite Mobi interactive tablet is a new student and teacher interactive piece of technology. When using the tablet the instructor has the capabilities to do many different functions, if they set the tablet to sandbox mode then the entire class can work together on a project and if the tablet is set on “split screen” mode, the instructor might have several students or several groups of students working on the same problem and displaying the progress on the screen. Some positive aspects of these tablets is they are great for working in groups and checking on the progress of the students and they are light weight, compact and rugged enough to stand up to hours of classroom use! They are also very easy to recharge. The pen is also a rechargeable pen, which can have its down falls as if the pen would run out in the middle of a lesson plan! Some disadvantages to this technology would also be it's cost! Here are the current cost:

Teacher tablet, $399;

student tablet, $349;

mobi learning system (one teacher tablet, two student tablets recharging station and software), $1,150

So to get this product for multiple children and groups in a class room could be costly! However it would be a way to incorporate technology in the lesson and would help save on paper!

EduCast USB Duplicators ~Lynette Hamilton~

2009-05-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

The new EduCast USB Duplicator System has many exciting features. To begin it copies audio lessons or class assignments from a single flash drive to 15 units instantly, collects assignments and information from 15 drives and consolidates into one for teacher’s review of student projects, and provides a re-usable and low energy solution to storing and distributing classroom material. This product is easy to use and convenient and fast! It is a good idea especially in college as some professors don't have you purchase the book but instead puts all their power points online for you to print out or tell you where you can go to make copies of the book, now books could be shared electronically from student to student. The negative aspects to it is that is so costly! It currently has a retail price of $1,399, with 16 MP3 USB drives. Another negative factor would be that copy right issues, of people just scanning information without giving the recognition to the authors of the material.

Remote Diagnostics- Joe Zimmerman

2009-05-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

For those of use who rely heavily on OnStar in are cars, can now have that same help and support in our tractors. Leica Geostystems has come up with its own type of immediate service response for your tractors. It has made a remote diagnostic system called the Virtual Wrench. This device allows for folks at Leica to tap into systems 24/7. Problems will be able to be fixed at the touch of a button. This will allow farmers who are in their cab to push a button on the system's small console and will connect them with a live technician to help them with their problem.

Windmills- Joe Zimmerman

2009-05-04T22:08:00.000-07:00

A recent trend that has made a strong come back is windmills. Windmills and winder powers has become very common once again. There are a number of farms with enormous steel windmills appearing all over the Midwest. This is becoming very trendy for eco-friendly colleges and businesses. These places are now putting up their own windmills to produce power. However, very few individual farmers have put one up. Before farmers get on this bandwagon, it needs to make a lot of sense.

Xerion- Joe Zimmerman

2009-05-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

This piece of equipment is in a category of its own! It was brought to the U.S. in 2007 from a German harvester family Claas. Some call this "tractor" a superman tractor. It primary purpose is geared to very big crop operations or municipality that needs snow removal, road excavation and any other big utility jobs. Its entire cab moves to face behind and run implements from the other direction. It is a crosses of many pieces of equipment.

Classmate PC ~Lynette Hamilton~

2009-05-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

The new Classmate PC is a new laptop that is being introduced to the classroom. This computer is the most latest version of the notebook computers. The notebook allows the students to get a more user friendly experience and work more one on one with the students. This notebook has a rotating display screen that can turn 180 degrees and fold up as well. It also is a touch screen computer that allows students to adjust the screen to either landscape or portrait. Another neat feature is the web cam and microphone included in it and can be used either way you have the computer whether portrait or landscape. One other great aspect that this notebook has is it has a rugged casing so that students will be less likely to damage it. This is a great learning tool for the students to help bring technology into the learning environment.

Solar Farms-Brooke White

2009-05-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

Solar farms are farms that have rows of solar panels to ather sunlight energy to provide clean "green" electricity for nearby residents. Something I found interesting in this article was that they mentioned if they sahara was covered with solar panels, it would create enough energy to generate the entire world.

Also, here in the U.S. they are planning to construct a solar field in toledo ohio. It's a 5 million dollar project that would provide electricity and create jobs. They are estimating that they would save atleast 12 million dollars a year in utility bills.

Here is a link to a video where they are talking about the solar fields in toledo ohio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqMaijs0goU

Moonlight dual screen Laptop concept-Brooke White

2009-04-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

This is a laptop that has a touch screen display on the lower segment that doubles up as a mouse or can carry out the operations system in the background. You can also use it as an extension of the screen. The frame is sensor controlled and lights up in the dark. This laptop is still currently being established, so it should be coming out in the near future. They don't have much of a description of it other than what I have mentioned, but I just thought this would be neat to see because it's coming out soon. I got this info from http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2009/04/moonlight_dual_screen_laptop_concept.html

Alert system guards against metal theft~ Larissa Hileman

2009-04-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

In reading last month's Buckeye Farm News, there was a section about a new Website www.scraptheftalert.com that broadcasts descriptions and photos of metal materials that have been reported stolen and also provide the contact information of the investigating law enforcement officer.
The article states that OFBF is continuing to explore ways it can work with the scrap metal industry and local law enforcement to address farmers' concerns over metal theft. OFBF has met with the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries considering the above mentioned web-site. Although it is widely used by scrap dealers, many communities are unfamiliar, farmers and Farm Bureau members can educate and be helpful by making law enforcement officers aware of the resource.
Being a Farm Bureau member myself, education serves many purposes in opening peoples eyes and ears and to be aware of situations. I see using web sites such as this as a resource will provide communities with the education to become proactive.

Helping Cows Make Less Methane- Andrea Tholen

2009-04-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

The U.S. dairy industry wants to make the cow of the future by the year of 2020 to pass less gas and as a result prevent global warming. The cow project aims to reduce intestinal methane, the single largest component of the dairy industry's carbon footprint, said Thomas Gallagher, chief executive officer of the U.S. Dairy and Dairy Management Inc.'s Innovation Center in Rosemont, Ill. If researchers change the ration they feed to their dairy cows they found as a result that they can ultimately get the cow to produce less methane gas. After all the cows are the ones responsible for most of the methane gas produced on a dairy farm. Another way they are looking to change the methane production is to change the microbe bacteria in the cow's rumen, but there is still lots of reserach to be done. I think this is a really good idea and hopefully it will stop methane production in the future and limit global warming.

GPS Farming- Andrea Tholen

2009-04-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

Farmers use tractor-mounted GPS receivers to record location. This information helps determine how much fertilizer, weed control, and water is needed in various locations of the field. Additional soil analysis combined with market information about predicted crop prices helps farmers decide what is the best crop rotation. I thought this article was really cool and I think it will help farmers obtain a better crop output if they have that detailed of information about their fields.

Seasoning Made Easy-Emily Spahr

2009-04-28T12:38:00.001-07:00

Gone are the days when cooking took hours to complete from refrigerator to the dinner table, and as such, the days of marinading may soon be a past time. Students at Virginia Tech have discovered a new way of adding flavor quickly and efficiently to a piece of unseasoned meat. The product is called "Spice n Easy" and is a small nugget of seasoning which when inserted in the middle of a piece of meat will dissolve completely, releasing flavor throughout.

The nugget is created by following a hard candy approach to develop the flavor releasing object. The main ingredients are comprised of sugar and water heated and then spices are added. Once the mixture has cooked long enough, it is folded to ensure uniformity and then cut into small pieces to be used in meat. Currently there is only two flavors in the works: Cajun and Italian.

Another plus side includes the ability to be used in a variety of meat from beef to chicken to fish. However, don't expect to find it on your grocers shelves just yet- it's still in the development phase, but they are looking for an industrial partner to produce Spice n Easy on a larger scale.

Full Article

Bovine Genome Decoded- Emily Spahr

2009-04-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

Genetics as it is known is recent years has not always been so technical and well understood. In the past, the practice was at best an estimated guess to try and produce favorable outcomes. On top of that, little was know why the animal turned out the way it did. With recent advancements in DNA technology and the genome project, scientists now better understand how and why an animal is "built" the way it is.
Several hundred researchers from various countries were able to isolate individual genes and determine how they code for specific functions. Scientists were able to isolate the specific cell markers which code for the digestion process in the four chambered stomach and also the cells which code for milk production.
With a better understanding of this, scientists and geneticists alike can now more closely and carefully determine favorable genes in order to further improve herd qualities which could soon translate into improved meat and milk production.
Article

Bayer uses sheep to manage Landscape- Brandy Brinson

2009-04-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

Biotech company Bayer, recently launched a unique two week long green initiative. The company brought 1, 450 sheep to its Richmond California to graze on the 17 acres of grass there. The sheep are managed by Living Systems Land Mangement. The sheep are expected to eat around 115,000 pounds of vegitation during their stay. The sheep will help reduce the chance of fire and encourage native plants to grow. THe razing animals also reduce the need to mow the grass, which will cut out gas powered lawn mowers and other landscaping tools as well as pesticides and herbicides.

algae as a biofuel-Bethany Swinehart

2009-04-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

I was reading the April edition of Ohio's Country Journal when I stumbled on this article. There is research being done at the University of Illinois, where algae is among the top new raw materials for biofuels. One of the qualities which makes it in the top is the fast reproduction that it has. There are millions of pounds of algae growing in the worlds water sources from the oceans to the creek out in the back 40 at your grandma's there is algae.
The way that algae is being processed now to create algae-diesel is similar to that used to make soy-bio diesel. However the cost to gain the algae oil is still too high for mass production. The process used now is call transesterification, however there is work being done to with thermo-chemical conversion. This process puts the product in a sort of pressure cooker which as it is heated and with the help of pressure creates a biocrude oil.
According to a researcher this is how the earth formed its petroleum reserves back in the day, man-kind has just speeded the process up!

Robotic feeders-Sarah Ervin

2009-04-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

Automatic feeders are another new technology designed to make life on the farm a little easier. These automatic feeders can be used with any specie, this website is dedicated to horses. The feeders that I have seen work by scanning an animals neck band and distributing feed exactly how the farmer has designed it to, in the perfect mixture and measurements. Rations are changed by the farmer, and the machine distributes the rations according to it's programming.

These horse feeders work by filling the feeder with a bag of feed, setting the timer, and the feeder with distribute the feed in the correct amount at the correct time. For a more detailed explanation and more information, visit here.

Cargonaut-Brooke White

2009-04-22T09:52:00.001-07:00

First off, I like to look up weird stuff and this is difnitely proof!

This thing is called a cargonaut. It's a "humanoid" flight robot that carries you luggage to your desired location. It was made to relieve peoples stress about hauling luggage around during traveling. The cargonaut can deliver your luggage within minutes. Sometime in the future, they will be available in certain public places. All in all the goal is to relieve people from taking transits and the burden of carring luggage around.

*The red and white part is what your luggage is put in.
There are more pictures located at this website http://www.tuvie.com/cargonaut-humanoid-flight-robot-that-carry-your-luggage#more-2094