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Nematode knowledge A NEW online course about cotton nematodes is now available from Syngenta Crop Protection and offers certified crop advisors one continuing education Rooster.com revisited Most dot-com businesses that first catered to agricultural customers faltered mainly because they tried too much too soon and lacked focus, says Jason Tatge, CEO Ready for an E-business bonanza? Ag retailers might want to reexamine how to better attract and retain customers via Web-based tools. According to experts from Purdue University, more Online service tech This spring Leica Geosystems will launch a new real-time kinematic (RTK) automated steering guidance system that can be serviced over the Internet. Like The great (driverless) race IT TOOK two tries over two years and a doubling of the prize money from $1million to $2 million, but in October 2005, the DARPA Grand Challenge found Don't tinker with what's not broke Back in mid-February, President George W. Bush sent his budget to Congress. In it was a proposal to cut $587 million in farm program spending over the Budget proposal unfairly targets farm bill There's a popular old adage that says, If it isn't broken, don't fix it. That saying came to mind in early February when the administration released a Learning the lessons When you've had the chance to visit with farmers, ag retailers, and farm managers for more than 30 years, there's one thing you learn right away about Share your joy of agriculture A century ago most Americans lived either on a farm or near a farm or had relatives they could visit on a farm. The public looked at farming as God's Software developers and suppliers 2005 AGRIS Corporation 800/795-7995; Fax: 770/238-5205 E-mail: info@agris.com; sales@agris.com Web site: www.agris.com What's new: AgroGuide is an agronomy Looking to lenders CROP INPUT financing programs have become as competitive as the products themselves, and all signs point to a continuation of this trend. The crop input Stay ahead of your customers WITH THE fast pace of change nowadays, identifying your customers' needs may seem like trying to hit a target moving at the speed of a Japanese bullet Energy money available ANYONE INTERESTED in improving energy efficiency on a farm may apply for a grant or a loan from the USDA. However, he or she must apply for the money Immigration reform Just how important is agricultural immigration reform? Judging by a letter that was sent to Congress last month, it's extremely important to almost 400 Least expensive marketing works! When it comes to low cost, high response, there are two strategies that seem to work in nearly any industry: letters and press releases. Letters attract Service-selling tips WHEN SELLING to a customer, you must illustrate value, and to keep a customer, you must prove value over time, says John Wagner, president of AgRePlan Contract savvy As more products with valuable output traits come out of the crop technology pipeline, so, too, should come new opportunities for ag retailers and growers. Marketing your services PICK UP ANY marketing book and you'll find hundreds of ideas that you could use to market your services and products, but before deciding to implement Unlimited calling THE CHATTER Bug is about the size of a computer mouse, but it has the power to provide unlimited long-distance calling in the U.S. and Canada for $9.95 One up on Wal-Mart AN IMPORTANT part of the success of Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, is attributed to its sophisticated inventory management systems. In the world Environmental edge SOME AG retail businesses have found a lucrative new enterprise in an unlikely source: manure. Take the Farmers Cooperative Society (FCS), Sioux Center, The Phosphorus Index NEW EPA and USDA efforts to improve surface water quality throughout the nation emphasize keeping a close eye on phosphorus (P), says Antonio Mallarino, Seed trackers THE MANY new combinations of traits and seed-applied insecticides have quickly multiplied the number of seed choices available to growers. Although most Truck trackers Improve your drivers' adherence to schedules and increase efficiency and productivity with automatic vehicle location (AVL), a computer-based vehicle RMP compliance Looking for help in training personnel about Risk Management Program (RMP) requirements? The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is offering myRMP, a Web-based Nourishing the bottom line Offering nutrient management services requires a fair amount of investment whether it be in additional staff, training, specific software or simply more MANAGING HIGH FUEL COSTS Q&A with Ken Burdullis, president, AG RX, Oxnard, CA AG RX is a full-service ag retailer providing products and services to growers from northern Los Angeles County to southern San Luis Obispo County in 4 issues affecting rail shipments The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) has been working with the federal government, individual railroads, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and others