South Dakota’s traditional Corn Belt still in severe drought

Lisa Richardson, South Dakota Corn Growers

South Dakota Corn Growers Executive Director Lisa Richardson at Commodity Classic, Kissimmee, Fla., Feb. 27, 2013.

Lisa Richardson, the executive director of South Dakota Corn, brings up in conversation the farm bill and the importance of retaining the renewable fuel standard, but also talks in earnest about the drought that touched the state this past year. “Unfortunately, Mother Nature hasn’t been kind to us,” she tells Brownfield Ag News. “Up in the northern part of the state, which had an incredible crop, they also have gotten a significant amount of snow; our southeast corner of our state, which is our traditional Corn Belt, is still in a severe drought.”

AUDIO: Lisa Richardson (3 min. MP3)

Commodity Classic about ‘sitting down with other farmers’

Minn. soybean grower Lance Peterson at Commodity Classic, Kissimmee, Fla., Feb. 27, 2013.

Minn. soybean grower Lance Peterson at Commodity Classic, Kissimmee, Fla., Feb. 27, 2013.

Lance Peterson of Fergus Falls, Minnesota has spent 11 years on the board of his state’s soybean organization, four of them also on the American Soybean Association board. Much of the discussion that Peterson has been part of in Kissimmee has been about what is appropriate in the next farm bill. “We feel that risk management is the number one issue; we want a solid crop insurance program, we want to be able to plant crops on our farm which are appropriate for the rotation and appropriate for our farm management,” Peterson told Brownfield Ag News in Kissimmee. “We don’t want to plant for the farm bill; so to speak, we don’t see that as the answer.”

AUDIO: Lance Peterson (5 min. MP3)

At Classic, ‘huge issue is what’s happening in Washington’

Missouri Corn CEO Gary Marshall does not hesitate to speak up for farmers, corn growers in particular. At Commodity Classic, Marshall tells Brownfield Ag News that the event is different in that there are not many burning issues for resolutions among the four commodity groups, but he points out that the still-to-be-passed farm bill is the elephant in the room. “Nothing is happening between the Congress and the administration,” he said. Still, he concedes that farm legislation will likely take a back seat to money issues and immigration.

AUDIO: Gary Marshall (3 min. MP3)

Classic is ‘good venue to see the up and coming’

Illinois soybean grower Doug Winter at Commodity Classic, Kissimmee, Fla., Feb. 27, 2013.

Illinois soybean grower Doug Winter at Commodity Classic, Kissimmee, Fla., Feb. 27, 2013.

Illinois soybean grower Doug Winter rarely misses the Commodity Classic. He tells Brownfield Ag News “there are a lot of good seminars, the What is New – the WIN sessions – and the learning sessions have the most current topics to discuss.” He also says the Classic is a good place to collect information that will help farmers tell their stories to consumers. “We’ve been represented by a lot of third party people over the years and we’re trying to turn that into a direct conversation to bring that contact back closer to the farm.”

AUDIO: Doug Winter (5 min. MP3)

CBO: Farm bill savings less than estimated

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says the farm bills passed by the Senate and the House Agriculture Committee last year would save considerably less money than previously thought.

A new CBO report shows the Senate-passed farm bill would save one-point-three billion dollars annually, as opposed to the two-point-three billion per year in savings estimated last year.

Likewise, the CBO says the House Ag Committee’s farm bill would save two-point-seven billion annually instead of the estimated three-point-five billion.

A spokesman for the Senate Agriculture Committee said it is not unusual for the CBO to adjust its calculations and that the revised estimates would not derail efforts to pass a farm bill.

It’s important to try new things

Kip Cullers says technology, innovation, and education are keys to his success.

Kip Cullers says technology, innovation, and education are keys to his success.

Kip Cullers is known for big soybean yields. 

But like any other farmer – he’s excited about the technological advances being made in the agriculture industry. 

During the BASF Science Behind BASF Event last week, Cullers told Brownfield’s Meghan Grebner that in addition to the new technologies available on the market – it’s also important for farmers to keep learning and trying new things.

AUDIO: Kip Cullers (3:20mp3)

Using multiple sites of action

BASF's US Weed Resistance map.

BASF’s US Weed Resistance map.

BASF expects to launch Engenia herbicide in 2014 as part of the dicamba-tolerant cropping system that is currently in development.  Luke Bozemen, technical market manager for BASF says the use of a herbicide with multiple sites of action is an important strategy in weed resistance management.

Bozeman tells Brownfield’s Meghan Grener Engenia has been effectively controlled weeds like Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, marestail, and common and giant ragweed.

AUDIO: Luke Bozeman, BASF (3:30mp3)

BASF pipeline of products is deep

BASF's Paul Rea talks about their products coming down the pipeline.

BASF’s Paul Rea talks about their products coming down the pipeline.

During last week’s Science Behind BASF event ahead of Commodity Classic, BASF shared their latest technologies coming online for agriculture.

Paul Rea, vice-president of US Crop Protection for BASF tells Brownfield their pipeline for new products runs deep and they are excited about the new lineup of products they’re bring to the market over the next couple of years.

AUDIO: Paul Rea, BASF (2:30mp3)

Innovation in agriculture

BASF's AJ Woodyard speaks during the Science Behind BASF event.

BASF’s AJ Woodyard speaks during the Science Behind BASF event.

Technology in agriculture is amazing. 

During BASF’s Science Behind BASF event held just head of Commodity Classic, AJ Woodyard, a technical crop production specialist says being innovative in agriculture will continue to help farmers to be successful. 

Woodyard tells Brownfield’s Meghan Grebner agriculture needs farmers like Kip Cullers and Randy Dowdy (who were featured speakers at the event) to continue to push the envelope when it comes to agriculture’s future. 

AUDIO: AJ Woodyard, BASF (3:22mp3)

Growing fields of hope

Iowa farmer Bill Horan talks about growing pharmaceutical corn.

Iowa farmer Bill Horan talks about growing pharmaceutical corn.

Bill Horan and his brother Joe farm near Fort Dodge, Iowa.  This past week Bill took part in Bayer CropScience’s Ag Issues Form ahead of the 2013 Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, Fl.  Over the last several years Bill and Joe have been growing pharmaceuticals in plants for companies.  One of those is K-9 Lipase that is used to treat Cystic Fibrosis.

Horan tells Brownfield’s Meghan Grebner about some of the challenges they face and how growing pharmaceutical corn could be good for both the pharmaceutical companies and the farmers that grow the crops.

AUDIO: Bill Horan, Pharmaceutical Corn (4:55mp3)