Cloned Buffalo Calf- Andrea Tholen

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

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]

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]

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]

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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Beef Cattle Ultrasounds- Joe Zimmerman

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

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

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~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More On Urban Agriculture

Dream Box Learning Math ~Lynette Hamilton~

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

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

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~

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~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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SPOT-ON Screwdriver - Emily Klein

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

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.