A new online tool called COMET-FARM enables agricultural producers to calculate how much carbon their conservation actions can remove from the atmosphere. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the free tool in a June 5 address to the National Press Club in Washington, where he outlined a vision for modern solutions to environmental challenges.

Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is normally a process used by those in the metal industry, but a study funded by the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board is using the equipment to look at fertility issues in corn and soybeans.

Mark Bauer, strip-tiller in Faribault, Minn., talks about building confidence in strip-till with a two-pass system methodology and how it's allowed him to expand his operation to include grid sampling and potential cover crops.

Change isn't always an easy sell to farmers who have relied on the same methodology for years or even decades, especially if they've had success. Farmers tend to rely on the two T's -- tillage and tradition, Minnesota strip-tiller David Legvold told me during a recent visit to his farm. In my opinion, you need to shift away from the traditional, and from practices that are damaging the soil.

Sioux Falls, SD, June 5, 2013 Raven Industries, Inc. introduces the industry™ first, patent pending, multi-hybrid planter control solution. This new multi-hybrid system is an enhancement to Ravenâ OmniRow advanced planter control solution, and when combined with variable rate seeding, it will help increase yield potential and profitability.

Available both on new drills and for retro-fitting to existing machines, Claydon has developed a range of fertiliser placement systems for its Hybrid drill range. On the three-metre working width machine the system uses a split hopper capable of carrying 750kg of fertiliser and 750kg of seed, positioned forward on the drill for improved stability, says the manufacturer. Fertiliser and seed are fed through two individual metering units so varying rates can be applied.

McConnel might be best known for its hedge and verge kit, but the Shropshire firm is now trying its hand at seed drills with the launch of its strip-till Seedaerator at this year's Cereals event.

Strip-Till Farmer has announces the launch of its official Facebook fan page as a new platform to communicate with subscribers. Fans of Strip-Till Farmer will get quick access to the latest industry news, in-field updates, product launches and strip-till events. They'll also have a direct link to some of the contents of the bi-weekly Strip-Till Strategies e-newsletter.

This planting season, more than 150 farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota are trialing the first offering from Monsanto's Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) research platform - FieldScripts. FieldScripts will be planted on more than 8,300 acres in Illinois alone.

Orthman Manufacturing has added two new members to its growing dealer support network. Kyle Frazier is a regional product specialist for the Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Wisconsin; Paul Hartness has been named territory manager for North and South Dakota and Minnesota.