New Vertical Mixer Arrives at University Farm

Jan 06, 2025

New equipment arrived at the Western Illinois University farm in December.

The WIU School of Agriculture received a new vertical mixer to aid in feeding the cattle herd, purchased through financial support from the Illinois Farm Bureau and the help of Sydenstricker Noble Partners.

Each year, the Illinois Farm Bureau requests items or activities to financially support to assist the School of Agriculture at WIU, and the vertical mixer was selected this year.

"This took a few months, but ultimately a vertical mixer was found and refurbished to fit our needs," WIU Director of Ag Andrew Baker said. "The vertical mixer was requested this year to assist in reducing our feed costs within the beef herd and prevent waste. We certainly do appreciate the annual financial support that Illinois Farm Bureau provides the School of Agriculture as it allows us to have the tools available to help our students."

Once funding was approved, WIU worked with Sydenstricker Noble Partners to fulfill the order. John Crubaugh, Director of Strategic Initiatives with Sydenstricker Noble Partners, said helping WIU continue to advance its program is important to the students attending the University and the community as a whole.

"We are proud to support Western Illinois University by providing equipment to assist students for years to come," Crumbaugh said.

Source : wiu.edu

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.