Monsanto agreed to pay $210 million for the business, plus a performance based payment of up to $40 million.  Robb Fraley, Monsanto chief technology officer, says the purchase underscores Monsanto’s commitment to maximizing yield for farmers while optimizing crop inputs. 

Precision Planting was founded in 1993 by Gregg Sauder and his wife, Cindy.  The Sauder’s developed planter add-ons to achieve precise depth and spacing to maximize yields for their own farm.  Today their products are used across the nation and around the world.

The company’s operations will remain in Tremont, Ill.

This year’s Fastest Rookie was Josef Newgarden with a speed of 224.677.  The 22-year-old driver from Hendersonville, TN said he didn’t even realize he was the fastest rookie. 

“This really means a lot for myself and for my team,” he says, “it show the hard work from the crew through the entire group.”  Newgarden tells Brownfield, “You can really feel the tradition here at the Fastest Rookie Luncheon with the American Dairy Association of Indiana and all they put into this and all that they do for the race.” 

He says, “This is a fantastic race and this award makes it even better.” Newgarden was awarded a $5,000 prize and his name engraved on a trophy on permanent display in the Speedway’s Hall of Fame Museum.

“My aunt nominated me and I didn’t realize also that my kids wrote an essay and nominated me so it’s a real honor that they would want to do that. But,” she tells Brownfield Ag News, “There are so many farm moms out there that do what I do, it’s just amazing to me that I would have been spot-lighted for this honor.”

Debbie Lyons-Blythe is a mother of five who runs Blythe Angus near White City, Kansas. While her husband maintains a job off the farm, Debbie runs the day to day operations of their business – they raise 250 registered Angus cows and sell registered bulls, and, have a commercial heifer development program.

She says their children – ages 16 to 21 – have all have had a role in the farming operations.

“You know,” says Lyons-Blythe, “If they want to come back to the farm they’ve got to have some skills on the farm. And, so, we felt like it was really important that they be a part of not only the labor but the decision-making as well so we’ve tried to include them at every step.”

Lyons-Blythe – a Kansas State journalism major – is a blogger and tries to educate consumers along the way: Her online blog is Life on a Kansas Cattle Ranch.

She serves on the board of directors for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Kansas Livestock Association and is an active member of the American Angus Association. Lyons-Blythe has received a 10-thousand dollar cash prize from Monsanto as one of five regional winners and the overall winner.

AUDIO: Debbie Lyons-Blythe (9:00 mp3)

Life on a Kansas Cattle Ranch

Residents of Indiana are encouraged to visit the website and comment on the sale of raw milk as well as make suggestions for potential change to Indiana law.  To submit comment – contact information must be provided, in case follow-up is needed.  The feedback will be collected and a report will be released December 1, 2012. 

The report will serve as a reference document for members of the 2013 legislature. 

To comment – click HERE.  Those without internet capabilities are welcome to submit comments by U.S. Mail to BOAH at Discovery Hall, Suite 100; 1202 E. 38^th Street; Indianapolis, IN 46205-2898; Attn: Raw Milk Comments.

Abdnor’s funeral is Saturday morning in Pierre. Senator John Thune considered Abdnor a friend and mentor and reportedly will deliver the eulogy.