Lessons from the 2009 Crop
As Indiana farmers slowly harvest 2009 corn crop, they are evaluating the performance of their hybrids and production decisions this growing season. With weather extremes, this year's crop will provide valuable information that will be used for next year's crop. Greg Luce, research agronomist with Pioneer, told HAT this is the kind of year that provides information on hybrid performance that will determinate future performance, "By stressing our genetics in extreme conditions, we can determine which ones will be kept for future research and which ones will be discarded." Luce believes corn hybrids will be better in the future as a result of this year's weather extremes.

2009 Crop 

Crop Production Seminar Looks Ahead to 2010
Farmers and crop consultants can get a jump on the 2010 growing season by attending the Kentuckiana Crop Production Seminar on Dec. 1 and 2 in Evansville, Ind.  The seminar is divided into four workshops, each targeting a different part of crop production and offering continuing education units and continuing credit hours.  "The seminar is designed to provide new research, address issues that participants have identified and help applicators maintain a knowledge base of industry issues," said Kenneth Eck, Purdue Extension educator in Dubois County.
Crop Production Seminar 

 
Indiana Native Named Director of Communications for ASTA

  The American Seed Trade Association recently named Julie Douglas, of Lafayette, Ind., as the director of communications. "We are very excited to have Julie join our team," said Andrew LaVigne, president and CEO of ASTA. "She brings great practical experience with the innovations and technology driving today's production agriculture. Julie will be a great asset to our organization."  In her new role, Douglas will be responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing ASTA's communications strategies to promote the policies and activities of the seed industry. Douglas will assume full responsibilities Jan. 4.

ASTA 

Dow AgroSciences, DuPont Agree to Cross License Next-Generation Soybean Herbicide Tolerant Traits
Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and DuPont announced they have entered into a commercial cross-licensing agreement that will enable the two companies to deliver expanded herbicide-tolerant soybean options to farmers in the next decade.  Under the agreement, Dow AgroSciences is licensing non-exclusively its proprietary herbicide tolerant trait technology for soybeans to DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred. In addition, Pioneer is licensing non-exclusively its proprietary Optimum GAT trait for soybeans to Dow AgroSciences. Both companies have given the other rights to stack additional traits with their respective technology. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.