Grain Sorghum

Pictured above is a grain sorghum field aka "milo". It is harvested primarily for livestock feed - chickens love it. When the crop is growing there are beautiful red and gold colors decorating the field.

The left picture is young grain sorghum and the right picture displays mature milo.

Above is a picture of the grain. I'm sure you can see a difference in health from one side to the other. The darker colored sorghum is the result of midge damage. Sorghum midge is an insect whose larvae feed on the seed ovary. This prevents normal seed development; infested heads appear blasted and produce small, malformed grain. To solve this problem I would recommend using Mustang Maxx(R), but of course you should talk with the FMC representative nearest you before making any final decisions. Mustang Maxx(R) is a fabulous insecticide we are pushing in the south for anyone up against worms, stink bugs, weevils, loopers, or aphids.



Honey Bees

“If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live.” -Albert Einstein

(picture from Google Images)

Today there is great concern about the endangerment of honey bees. Honey bees may seem like a nuisance on your back porch, but they are extremely important for anyone who plans to eat dinner tonight. Honey bees are responsible for pollinating over 90 different crops! www.pbs.org states,

"Indeed, one-third of the total U.S. diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants, so their survival, which is threatened by parasites, pesticides, habitat loss, and grazing practices, is incredibly important to maintain high levels of food production. Parasites are the primary reason honeybees are endangered."

These mites, Acarapis woodi, live in the trachea walls of the bees - they block oxygen flow and suck blood from the inside.

There are some other theories to explain the species loss. http://animal.discovery.com suggests that electromagnetic frequencies from cell phone towers are disturbing the communication among bees. Also I have seen several fingers pointed at genetically modified crops. Perhaps these GMOs provide poor nutritional value and affect the bee life cycle?

Whatever the real reason for the decline of the honey bees, it is something that should concern us all! Many people like to put all blame on pesticides, but it seems that most chemical companies are trying to help the situation. Working closely with EPA ensures that chemicals are safe for humans and the environment alike. Some companies provide miticides; a composition that could possibly kill the mite that kills the honey bee!

There are some suggestions on http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/13/wildlife.endangeredspecies
for what we can do to help honey bees.

1. Become a beekeeper
2. Help to protect swarms
3. Plant your garden with bee-friendly plants 
4. Buy local honey
5. Encourage local authorities to use bee friendly plants in public spaces
6. Learn more about the honey bee and inform others about this fascinating and endangered insect!

Making a Difference

Last week I was on the road in a new place each day. I spent Monday in Tunica, MS with a sales manager looking at soybean fields sprayed with Marvel^TM. The fields look healthy and productive which is what everyone wants to see this time of year.

Tuesday I was in Memphis at the Agricultural Research Center to participate in FMC plot tours. There was also a lunch conference that included many growers and retailers from the surrounding area. You can look at the untreated corn below and compare it to the treated corn to clearly see the difference. I don’t think it is any surprise to validate that the chemicals work wonders for high yields and healthy crops.

For the rest of the week the southern region team was in Kansas City, Missouri for a meeting and Driver Dynamics class. The driving class taught me about responsibility, defense, and safety. It was fun for the entire team; there were drills when we would speed the trucks up to 45 mph and slam on the ABS brakes between cones. Did you know that when your passenger puts their feet up on the dashboard they are in danger of an airbag taking their ankles past their earlobes? Not trying to frighten anyone…but let’s be safe on the road!

Kudzu Bugs

Pictured above are Kudzu bugs on a soybean plant at the agricultural research facility of the University of Georgia. Kudzu bugs migrated to the American southeast in 2009 and they are considered a major problem in crop production. They rob plants of nutrients and water with their piercing-sucking mouthparts; this causes significant yield loss. Kudzu bugs primarily feed on legumes such as kudzu or soybeans. According to the North Carolina State University Extension, these pests can cause up to 75% yield loss!!!

Georgia was a fun territory because of the diversity in crops. Most states I've been to are focused on corn, soybeans, rice and cotton. Georgia had pecan and peach trees, tobacco plants, vegetables such as cucumbers, squash, and onions, and fruit fields of cantelope. Everyone I met at different distributors was friendly and welcoming. I learn something new from every person I meet - one of the many reasons I love the South!

Texas

Last week I was in Texas traveling around cities like Dallas, San Antonio, and Abilene. It was a different territory because there are more cotton acres and sunflower fields (I've primarily seen corn, soybeans, and rice). For anyone who has never been to the great state of Texas - it is just like the movies. Tumbleweed flying across the highway, interstate speeds at 80mph, catus on the side of the road, cowboy hats, and it's about 103 degrees.

This internship has allowed me to explore beautiful places across the southeast. I have learned more about the agriculture business in a month than many students learn in a semester of college. I still have so much to learn! In this business it is helpful to know a little bit about everything including economics, soil science, entomology, plant science, business, sales and marketing, chemistry, basic measurements, farming practices, manufacturing, and agriculture news.

The communication among FMC representatives is both vital and impressive. The guys in different territories are consistently calling, texting, and emailing each other pictures, data, and information. Also, there is strong contact between corporate headquarters and the sales managers actually out in the field. This is so important because product makers need to know about customer needs.

I've realized that if you don't see purpose in what you are doing then you will probably lack a sense of direction or enthusasiam for each day. Everything is connected. We go to work each day to receive a paycheck to pay for the grocery bill that wouldn't exist if there wasn't an agriculture business.