USGC Introduces Conversion App—The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recently released a grains conversion calculator app and a U.S. grains-in-all-forms exports portal to help members of the global grain trade access critical information more easily. The Council’s grains conversion app converts English units to metric units and vice versa for grains and related measures. The app is available to download for free in the appropriate app stores for Apple, Android and Windows platforms. It also includes an option to switch between multiple languages including English, Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, French and Korean. To view the app on iTunes, please visit https://itunes.apple.com/am/app/u.s.-grains-council-conversion/id1078739553?mt=8.
$1.6 Million EQIP Fund Available— Through a partnership agreement by the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District and the USDA’s NRCS, an estimated $1.6 million in funding through the EQIP has been setup to support the new Master Irrigator Program. Participants who complete the course and receive their Master Irrigator Certification will have priority access to the North Plains GCD EQIP funding. Applications are due by April 6. Additional information can be found here. The Master Irrigator program is an irrigation management curriculum made up of 32 hours of intensive irrigation education conducted over three one-day sessions and one two-day session to show producers how to maximize advanced conservation irrigation management and conservation practices that work together to save water, conserve energy and build healthy soil.
Sugarcane Aphid Management Guide—Texas A&M AgriLife recently created a SCA guide detailing their best management practice recommendations for the pest. An electronic version of the guide is below, if you would like a hard copy contact Katelyn Luckett at katelyn@texassorghum.org. For additional SCA information visit: http://txscan.blogspot.com/