The Beginnings State Farm insurance began in 1922, the invention of a man named George J. Mecherle. Mecherle thought that he could come up with a better insurance company than the rest, offering better coverage and great rates. So he did. Something about Mecherle’s vision was right – more than eighty years later, State Farm [...]

Is organic farming a niche fad, or is the way of the future? There are many advocates who claim that the environmental, nutritional and health benefits of this type of farming makes it the preferred method of farming. Others believe that the benefits are exaggerated and the lower yields and higher costs make it impractical [...]

There are 117 groups on Facebook dedicated to FarmVille, and another 106 groups dedicated to Farm Town. In these groups you can find groups of players that hate FarmVille, and a group of players that hate people who hate FarmVille (titled “Anti-FarmVille Groups Suck”). And of course there are groups dedicated to bashing both games [...]

Why is organic farming bad, if it is? We have been told that organic farming is good for our health. Proponents have trumpeted the message that organic farming is good for the environment. How could it possibly be bad? It seems that, increasingly, life is being divided into traditional and alternative. Each side claims their [...]

Dow AgroSciences has been granted a a new royalty-bearing, Roundup Ready 2 Yield license in soybean technology from Monsanto. The new agreement expands Dow AgroSciences’ trait stacking and existing licensing rights across its soybean seed brands and licensing partners. Under the agreement: * Monsanto grants Dow AgroSciences a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing license in the United States [...]

Summer Heat Arrives As the wheat harvest continued across Oklahoma last week, temperatures continued to rise throughout the State. Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees in the West Central, North Central and Southwest Districts with averages in the high 70’s and low 80’s. The heat was accompanied by minimal rainfall with only the Northeast District receiving more [...]

Soybeans SOYBEANS are teetering on the abyss. The last several weeks, soybeans have tested key support time and time again only to hold and make a brief rally. It’s clear a tight old-crop supply situation is providing a buffer (unlike with corn). What’s not clear is when this year’s crop will be far enough along [...]

General During the first week of June above normal temperatures were prevalent across Arkansas. Temperatures were 4 to 8 degrees above normal. Highs ranged from 89 degrees Fahrenheit at Fayetteville to 98 degrees Fahrenheit at El Dorado and Eudora. Low temperatures ranged from 60 degrees Fahrenheit at Greers Ferry to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at Blytheville. [...]

The Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera), is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family). It is the only species in the Genus Cocos, and is a large palm, growing to 30 m tall, with pinnate leaves 4-6 m long, pinnae 60-90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly leaving the trunk smooth. The term coconut [...]

1. Soil Preperation: Cucumbers require a sunny spot protected from strong winds for the best results. The soil should be rich and well drained. Dig a hole approximately one foot square and fill the hole with a mixture of compost or rotted manure and soil. Raise the soil into a mound. Each mound should be [...]