Farm Broadcaster, Lorrie Boyer

Kooper Kitterman, a sophomore and Sentinel from Stark County High School in Illinois, discussed his experiences with the Next Gen program through the National FFA. He participated in a conference focused on power and technical systems, touring facilities like the John Deere Lawn Care plant and BASF chemical plant.

Karla Gage, an associate professor of weed science and plant biology in the School of Agricultural Sciences and the School of Biological Sciences at Southern Illinois University, discusses the use of barley as a weed suppressant. Barley, which produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit weed growth, is a lower-biomass alternative to cereal rye. Gage's research shows that barley suppresses we...

Cheryl B. Mitchell , founder of Farm Legacy Now, discussed succession planning for farms. She emphasized the importance of having legal and financial plans to ensure farm operations continue across generations. Cheryl shared her background as a dairy farm daughter and educator, now focusing on farm legacy protection. She highlighted common challenges, such as family communication issues and emotio...

Jake Walker, Director of Marketing for Loveland Products , discussed the importance of adjuvants in crop protection. Adjuvants like Choice Trio and Infuse enhance herbicide effectiveness, extending residual periods by 3-10 days. Infuse, in particular, can add 3-10 days of residual control. Walker emphasized the rigorous testing protocols, including over 300 field trials last year, to ensure produc...

Mark Gebhards, an honorary master farmer, discusses his career in advocating for Illinois agriculture. He highlights his role in creating the Livestock Management Facilities Act and his work with organizations like the Illinois Farm Bureau, American Soybean Association, and Illinois Pork Producers Association. Gebhart emphasizes the importance of building relationships with legislators and state a...

Jessica Brophy, President of the Colorado Corn Promotion Council , discussed her experiences at the recent Commodity Classic in San Antonio, which saw record attendance of over 12,000 people. She highlighted the council's participation in National Corn Growers Association meetings, emphasizing the importance of E15 for corn profitability. Key topics included profitability, market exploration,...

ADM has partnered with the American Farmland Trust (AFT) to provide $500,000 in support to farmers in six Midwest states, including Illinois, to enhance resilience and succession planning. AFT will offer direct technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, and small grants through the Brighter Future Fund. The partnership aims to address the demographic challenges facing farmers, with an estimated...

Kevin Brooks, a farm business management and marketing educator at the University of Illinois, discussed the impact of the war in Iran on farm finances

Kevin Brooks, a farm business management and marketing educator at the University of Illinois, discussed the impact of the war in Iran on agriculture and farm finances

Josie Pukrop, a member of the Colorado Ag Leadership Program (CALP) , shared her background in agriculture, including her experience on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and her current role as a 4-H Youth Development Educator in Jefferson County, Colorado. She discussed her involvement in the CALP, highlighting the program's benefits, such as forming deep relationships and gaining professional devel...

Lizzie French, Manager of Soil Biology at Waypoint Analytical , discussed the importance of soil health for crop productivity and farm profitability. She emphasized the role of soil biology in nutrient use efficiency and resilience against stresses. French highlighted the new DNA-based soil biology test, which measures microbial biomass and nutrient cyclers, providing detailed recommendations for...

Marcel Klinge, Founder and CEO of Bushel Plus, discussed their mission to optimize harvest efficiency and reduce grain loss. Their flagship product, the Smart Pen system, measures grain loss using a magnetic drop pen and smartphone app. They also acquired Mad Concaves, offering quick-change concaves for various crops. Additionally, they introduced the Mini Combine, a portable thresher for field mo...

Bryan Doherty, vice president, Brokerage Solutions, Total Farm Marketing, gave insigned on the weather on commodity markets, particularly wheat and corn. He shared information on current and near-future trends and marketing dynamics in this interview with Lorrie Boyer. 

Elena Myhre, Director of Marketing and Communications for the International Poultry Welfare Alliance and the US Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs, discussed the organizations' efforts in sustainability and welfare. The US Roundtable, founded in 2019, has released two sustainability reports, covering 101 voluntary metrics under three pillars: people, planet, and poultry.

Elena Meyer, Director of Marketing and Communications for the International Poultry Welfare Alliance and the US Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs, discussed the organizations' efforts in sustainability and welfare. Part two of this two-part interview. 

Lorrie Boyer interviews Rob Kay, North American Business Development for Flexxiare, about their reversible radiator fans for diesel engines. Rob explains that Flex Air is busy with farmers in Western Canada preparing for spring, retrofitting fans for sprayers and tractors to improve efficiency and reduce downtime. 

Rachel Curry, a statewide agriculture and agribusiness educator with the University of Illinois Extension, discussed the adoption and benefits of cover crops.

Elena Myhre, Director of Marketing and Communications for the International Poultry Welfare Alliance and the US Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs, discussed the organizations' efforts in sustainability and welfare. The US Roundtable, founded in 2019, has released two sustainability reports, covering 101 voluntary metrics under three pillars: people, planet, and poultry. Key findings...

Nathan Weathers from the Colorado Corn Promotion Council and the US Grains Council discussed a recent trip to Panama, highlighting the importance of the Panama Canal for U.S. trade routes. The canal, which is a freshwater system, faced a drought that delayed shipments, affecting 60 to 100 boats. The trip emphasized the need for U.S. infrastructure updates. Weathers noted the increasing export of d...

Kelsey Graver, Product Line Manager for corn at Clarkson Grain, discussed the organic grain industry in Illinois. She noted that while organic growth feels stagnant, there's a shift towards non-GMO crops due to premiums.

Carolyn Lawrence-Dill, Dean of Colorado State University's College of Agricultural Sciences, discussed her background and the strategic roadmap for the college. The roadmap aligns with the university's goals, focusing on student success, research, institutional competitiveness, rural engagement, and democracy and civic engagement. Key initiatives include ensuring every student has multip...

Kathie LaPoint, an agronomist for Pioneer Seed, discusses her background and involvement in the Colorado Ag Leadership Program (CALP) . She highlights the importance of diverse perspectives in agriculture, having grown up in town with farm ties from her mother's side. LaPoint emphasizes the common challenges faced by ag producers across the U.S., such as government overreach and water scarcit...

Andrew Pritchard, Senior Atmospheric Scientist at Nutrien, discussed the unusual winter weather patterns in the U.S., noting a split between milder conditions in the West and severe cold in the East. He attributed this to a La Niña-influenced jet stream. Pritchard predicted a transition to El Niño by late February, which could bring more storm systems and potentially alleviate the drought in the M...

Erich Miche, CEO of SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education), and Brent Boydston, a board member, discussed the organization's mission to eliminate the stigma of suicide and provide resources for prevention. Founded 36 years ago, SAVE collaborates with various organizations, including the CDC and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to offer tools like physical barriers and gun locks. They...

Garrett, a precision agronomist and team lead at Advanced Agrilytics, discusses the company's focus on agronomic consulting using proprietary and patented tools for sub-acre management. They analyze farm data to create tailored strategies for seeding, fertility, and fungicide applications, considering factors like soil moisture and nitrogen loss.  Williams highlights the importance of sub-acr...