Hop in the cab with South Dakota Corn Utilization Council president Brian Smith, a farmer near Montrose as he talks about the advantages of no-till planting and the technologies he uses to increase his efficiencies as he grows the next supply of food, feed, fuel and fiber.

After nearly a year of dormancy, debate on the next farm bill is alive and well once again in the halls of Congress. The Senate Ag Committee took action Tuesday morning and passed its version of the farm bill, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, moving it onto the Senate floor.

 The CBO score shows that the Senate bill would reduce federal spending by more than $24 billion over the next ten years. You can view a summary of the bill at: http://www.ag.senate.gov/issues/farm-bill

“There is still plenty of work left, but yesterday’s action on the farm bill is a significant step in the right direction as it continues to support crucial programs like crop insurance and risk management for farmers, while also making responsible cuts to federal spending with the elimination of direct payments,” said South Dakota Corn Executive Director Lisa Richardson. “With only a short-term extension in place, we hope this positive momentum will carry forward and bring our farmers the certainty they need with a long-term, common-sense farm bill.”

Action on the farm bill began today in the House Ag Committee. The House draft, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 is expected to reduce spending by approximately $40 billion over the next 10 years. For more on the House version, visit: http://agriculture.house.gov/press-release/lucas-peterson-release-house-farm-bill-saves-nearly-40-billion

Have you ever wondered how a corn planter precisely places millions of seeds into exactly the right spot? Learn that and more by watching  Dell Rapids farmer, Bruce Burkhart explain the technology and mechanics of his corn planter and tractor in this “Adopt a Farmer” video.

With much of South Dakota facing a nasty mix of snow, ice, freezing rain, wind and power outages, many schools are closed and roads are slick. When the kids are done playing outside have them pass the time with the “Corn on a Mission” matching game. This fun and interactive game allows you to match products made from corn and provides interesting facts about South Dakota agriculture as you play. The “Corn on a Mission” matching game is also found in our Amazing Corn Adventure trailer.

Stay warm and stay safe out there folks.

http://sdcorn.org/page/Education/sub/agrules

Did you know that farmers care about clean water? Farmers are implementing practices on their land to improve our water quality, which we all depend on. Those practices include the planting of riparian buffers, grass waterways, cover crops, reduced tillage and the application of nutrients with precision technology just to name a few.

Buffer strips or grass waterways along the edge of fields and through low spots are crucial to the removal of nitrates from running water after excess rain fall.

Reduced tillage and cover crops also reduce the amount of nutrient runoff and soil erosion from fields.

More and more famers are now precisely applying their nutrients to the soil, allowing them to put exactly what they need where they need according to soil sampling, soil type, yield maps and other on-farm data. These practices allow farmers to save money and prevent them form over-applying.

Beyond that, farmers are also researching and participating in different water quality projects like saturated buffers, two-stage ditch design, proper nutrient management and organized watershed districts.

Farmers, university extension services and commodity organizations are also investing research to improve water quality. An exciting project going on in South Dakota is the work being done on denitrifying bioreactors. These bioreactors are basically giant filters made of wood chips which are buried underground at the end of a tile line. Past research shows that these filters can capture as much as 50-70% of the nitrates carried in the water.

The research on farm drainage is expanding rapidly in South Dakota as farmers and professors work together to help establish best management practices when it comes to land and water stewardship in the state and region.

Why do farmers invest in these things? Because they have a moral obligation to care for the land and water, which enable them to meet the growing demand for food, feed, fuel and fiber year after year, things that life depends on.

Products made from corn are improving lives, the environment and even your Valentine’s Day.

Whether it’s chocolate, those irresistible candy sweethearts, a greeting card or a delicious beef or pork dinner, chances are those items were made from corn.

• Chocolates in the heart-shaped box have been sweetened by corn sugar.
• The candy sweethearts are made from corn sugar and starch.
• Some greeting cards are made from fiber, another domestic product made from corn.
• When you sit down to eat that beef or pork, most likely the animal was nourished with corn.

Now it’s no secret that by the time you add in flowers, expenses can really add up on the day of love, so save some money by filling your car with clean-burning, American-made, corn ethanol before heading out on your date.

These are just a few of the ways that corn enhances not only your Valentine’s Day, but everyday as literally hundreds of products have been enriched by this abundant, renewable and affordable crop that the world has grown to utilize and depend on.