Innovation: New Technologies Increase Productivity on an Illinois Soybean Farm
Leon Corzine, a corn and soybean grower in Illinois, credits new technologies with allowing his family to produce an increased crop yield using less product – like pesticides and fertilizer – and water. As a farmer, Leon understands that few people today have first-hand knowledge about where food comes from or how it’s grown. He knows that consumers care about how new technology will impact or change agriculture and the foods they eat– the key question being “how can farmers produce food that is safe, healthy, abundant and affordable?” He believes the only answer is the development and implementation of new, innovative technologies can we “truly produce more with less.”
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Safety: Pest Control Advisors Help Farmers Increase Yields in California
Three generations of the Molatore family in California work as PCAs and they embrace the key role they play in helping farmers grow better crops and increase yields. The Molatores’ have developed long-term relationships with the farmers they serve and have become an essential resource for the newest information and innovations related to crop protection. When they are examining fields and recommending ways to manage pests – whether it’s determining how to avoid pest damage or if treatment is even needed – the Molatore family are ultimately trying to help farmers get a better return on their investment and pass on those returns to consumers in the production of safe, abundant and affordable food.
“Farmers are inherently frugal,” said John Molatore. “They don’t want to apply things unnecessarily. And when they must, they want to do so in the most judicious and targeted fashion possible.”
Helping farmers make decisions about the right kinds of controls, when and where they’re needed to solve a particular problem is a rewarding experience. “I take immense pride in what my family and I do. When you help farmers, you’re really helping everyone because we all rely on them. Farmers make sure we never have to worry about where our next meal will come from.”
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Sustainability: Balancing Conservation and Agriculture on an Arkansas Rice Farm
George H. Dunklin, Jr., a rice farmer and co-owner of the Five Oaks Duck Lodge in Arkansas, is carrying on his family’s 100-year-old tradition of farming, conservation and hunting. Five Oaks Lodge is comprised of 10,000 acres of privately owned, flooded timber and rice fields and is considered the center of duck hunting in America. George understands the balance between conservation and agriculture, and the significance of sustainability for future generations. Several years ago, George decided to implement zero grade irrigation methods for his rice fields. With zero grade, he has significantly reduced the amount of water needed to feed his crops and has nearly eliminated the need for tilling. He recognizes the importance of producing food safely and economically, while preserving the biodiversity of the region for future generations of outdoor enthusiasts.
“For me, sustainable agriculture means working with nature. When you grow up listening to the land, you forge a strong bond with it. As I long as I care for and respect it, it’ll care for me.”
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