Monsanto Co. and DuPont Co. each recently struck deals aimed at expanding “data-driven analysis of dirt for farmers,” according to a report by Jacob Bunge of The Wall Street Journal.

Much expense and many long hours go into harvesting and storing hay for winter feeding. So why waste it? There are many ways to reduce your hay losses.

Commercial drone use is illegal, but that hasn’t stopped a growing number of people from using them for commercial purposes. The issue puts the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the fast track to turbulence, according to a report by Kevin Robillard on Politico.

Gazing out across rolling hills gently veiled in plush grassland full of constantly roaming cattle, to many, is one of the most picturesque views imaginable. Cowboys, cattle producers and Americans alike are mesmerized by the concept of allowing livestock to graze wide-open ranges. Although this idealized fantasy of grazing is no longer a reasonable possibility, grazing cattle within moderately sized pastures is still a central form of agriculture in the U.S.

The California drought may seem a world away for most Americans in the eastern and central parts of the country, but the effects will be felt from coast to coast in 2014. Despite some light rainfall in recent weeks, much of the West Coast has seen an extremely dry winter, which makes many producers fret about the 2014 growing season.

Growers Edge has released a new iPad app, available for free in the App Store or by registering on the company’s website.

Severe drought in the western U.S. has left alfalfa as not only one of the victims but as a possible villain.

Robert Glennon, a water policy expert at the University of Arizona, said he was struck with “utter disbelief” when he first learned that the U.S. was exporting alfalfa crops that had been grown with limited western irrigation water.

The Agrievolution Alliance (AA) announces that Japan has joined the alliance and is the 12th member of this global coalition of agricultural equipment manufacturing associations. The alliance has a full agenda of cooperative projects, including a new “global impact statement.”

Winners in the first-ever Pennsylvania Forage Analysis Competition were announced at the 2014 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit, Feb. 12-13 in State College. Entries for the competition, which included six classes of forage analysis, were collected Dec. 1–31, 2013, with forage analysis and judging conducted in January. Three winners in each category were announced at the Dairy Summit, with the first prize receiving $1,000, second prize receiving $500 and third prize receiving $250.