Pesticide Looneys and Conspiracy Theorist

Recently, Delta Farm Press wrote an article debunking many myths surrounding pesticides and GMO crops.  Of course they were ready for some responses from the community on this subject.  To see some of the responses click here.

Now think a little about what was said.  The only logical conclusion is that these people haven't done their research.  Instead of getting their facts and thinking about it logically, they responded with emotion.  Let's take a look at some of these responses and clear some things up.

One person wrote, "China, who purchases a large quantity of corn, has refused to purchase this year because of its GMO status.  Now farmers who have these crops are (affected) because they can't sell them.  The current battle now is should these seed companies be held liable because farmers can't sell them.  It all goes back to pesticides.  Research GMO and the companies that make them.  Your point of view is misinformed.  Do some research."

According to the USDA, which anyone can look up, overall US corn exports has increased by 300 million bushels since the beginning of the year.  And farmers don't trade their products with foreign nations.  Traders do that.

Then their's this.  "It would seem that ignoring the scientific evidence of the impact to humans from endocrine disrupting ag chemicals, that ignoring the scientific research showing the impact on humans from the cancers and immune diseases these and other ag chemicals cause and even ignoring the yield data, showing NO yield increases and in most cases LOWER yields from GMO crops you, the Penton Press Group continue to further the agenda of corporate chemical America.  It is sad ... and criminal.  But congratulations are in order:  you are now fully, legally, accomplices to their crime."

There is no evidence that if you use crop protection products properly that any of what this reader brings up would happen.  Also, to suggest standard practices in farming is somehow illegal is beyond the pale.

What would happen if we band GMO's and pesticides?  Sit back and think before reacting to that question.  Farmers work with a horribly tight deadline to feed the world.  To sustain humanity day upon day, year after year, decade after decade.  They have to deal with changing and unpredictable weather and now growing radicalism and regulation.

What would happen?  Millions would starve to death and global wars would break out.  What sounds more criminal to you?

How Deep do Corn Roots Go?

This is a great question though one we don't normally think about.  We all know corn will continue to search until it finds moisture.  But how far is that?  Can corn roots go as deep as the plant is tall?  Or can it go further?

According to an interview done by Agriculture.com with Ben Kahler, U.S. seeds general manager for Dow AgroScience, corn roots can go six feet or deeper.

"Last year we had very wet conditions that didn't stress the plants for moisture," he says.  "Roots didn't have to penetrate the soils very far for moisture, so there was shallower rooting."

However, go back to the 2012 drought the story is much different.  "Roots had to keep going and going to find moisture," he says.

Let's let Ben tell us some more about corn root depth.

A Boost in Productivity

Current technology makes working the farm much easier.  However, what happens when it breaks down.  Well, nothing really.  Most farmers just continue on.  There really isn't time for stopping everything when your in the middle of a field far from home.

In an interview with Brownfield Ag News central Illinois farmer Judi Graf said, "There are just so many that make life so much easier on the farm.  You've got the mapping and the auto-steer.  You can live without those, but it just wouldn't be as fun."

What happens when the technology breaks down?  "I just keep going," she says.

Zach Hunnicutt from central Nebraska says, "There are times where you get to the point where you wonder what kind of trade-off you're making when you lose production hours trying to fix things.  We usually just try to make sure things are working."

While most aspects of farming don't need technology.  Some things can't operate properly without it.  Adam Casner from Western Missouri says, "Our plant tractor is hydraulic driven so we do need a monitor to control rates.  But as far as the combine, we don't let that stop us.  Last fall, cutting beans, we had a yield sensor go out and we didn't have anything.  But we kept going."

It's like that old saying.  Technology is great.  As long as it works.

How Does Farmers National Manage My Farm?

Farmers National Company is the largest farm management company in the country.  What makes it so effective?  Let FNC tell you.



For more information on FNC's farm management division go to Farmers National's website.  Looking to buy land?  Go to Farmers National KC, email at info@farmersnationalkc.com Or call 913-837-4665.

BASF is Here to Help

Worried about your crops getting the proper amount of nitrogen?  BASF is working on that.  Coming in a few years, BASF is working on a new technology to help stabilize fertilizers and decrease its composition in the soil.  This will slow down the ammonia release in the soil and improve yields by 3% to 5%.

What else does BASF have cooking?

Water Management

They are working on distributing soil water to plants better.  This should save water costs by 50%.  They are working on getting this out a soon as possible.

Dicamba Tolerant Soybeans

This is a joint venture between BASF and Monsanto.  They plan for this to be lower in off target movement potential.  It may be a few years til this hits the target but they are thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 2016.

Mobile Microscope

This should take all the guess work out of a crop disease.  All you have to do, with your mobile device, is take a picture of the infected crop.  The photo is then sent to a BASF library or an expert team for further analysis.  The photo is then categorized and saved to a GIS map.  The information of what you are dealing with is then sent back to you.

Seed Treatments

BASF is working on a polymer that coats the seed to accomplish three things.

1. Provide better seed coating stability.
2. Minimize dust-off of active ingredients.
3. Improve plantability and seed flow.

New Ag Technology

Farmers are constantly coming up with new ways to use technology to help them improve yields and become more productive.  What are the new gadgets on the market?  Here are the top five according to Delta Farm Press.

1. Free NozzleCalc app from Greenleaf - This app improves your efficiency in spraying your crops.  All you have to do is input what you want and you are assured you'll get the right amount every time.
2. Ag Weed ID mobile app - If you're in the field and need to know what weed you've spotted and dealing with, this handy app will help you out.  No more trying to remember or taking pictures and comparing them in the office or home.  You can identify the weed and deal with it much faster now.
3. Novariant's Simple Steer - This is high precision auto steer technology.  Will improve you ability to stay accurate in your driving and improve your efficiency in the field.
4. Apply Yourself app - This app takes all the guess work out of selecting and calibrating an injection pump.  It come pre-loaded with all sorts of different injection pumps to suit your needs.
5. New Planting Calculators from DuPont - DuPont as come up with three great planting calculators.  The first one is the online Planter Setting Calculator.  You can get customized setting from just putting in your planter type and seed batch ID.  The second is Pioneer Field360 Plantability App.  This app offers recommendations after you scan the barcode on their Pioneer brand corn and sunflower seed tags.  The third is the Pioneer Planting Rate Estimator.  This helps you estimate an optimum planting rate for your crops based on their yield history.

These are just a few of the new technology products on the market available to farmers.  There are more I'm sure but these seem to be the best and most productive apps out there.

Looking to Buy or Sell Farmland?

Have you been thinking about getting into the farmland business?  You're probably asking yourself how do I go about doing it?  Or do you own some land and are looking to move it?  Look no further than Farmers National Company.  What can Farmers do for you?  I'll let them explain it.



I highly suggest using your local broker who's familiar in farmland real estate.  You can go to Farmers Real Estate Page to find one.  If you're in the states of Kansas or Missouri I can help you out.  Just go to Farmers National KC, email us at info@farmersnationalkc.com or call us at 913-837-0760.