Family Farmers Get Networking Opportunity at Wyffels Corn Strategies

Posted on July 21, 2010 by John

One of the great things at the Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 meeting in Malcom, Iowa is the opportunity farmers are getting to talk to each other, as well as hearing from the experts on the agenda. It’s even better when family farmers are able to get together.

I caught up with a pair of brothers, Jayson and Matt Willimack, who row crop corn and soybeans with their two other brothers and Dad between Oxford Junction and De Witt in Eastern Iowa. They appreciated the fact that this meeting is being held on the Cummings’ family farm near Malcom, Iowa.

“It’s a great environment,” says Matt. “Look in the background and you’ve got Marty Cummings’ bins set up, and it’s stellar looking. It’s a great feel rather than a conference at a hotel.”

And Jayson points out what a great networking tool this place is. “You get to meet farmers from all over the state of Iowa and talk to them in a no pressure situation.”

Both Matt and Jayson say it has been a great meeting with some quality speakers who gave them some great insight into where the future growth in the corn industry will be.

You can hear or download more of my conversation with Matt and Jayson here: Jayson and Matt Willimack

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 Photo Album

Wyffels – A Personal Touch in Corn Planting Strategies

Posted on July 21, 2010 by John

So what kind of company is Wyffels Hybrids? Well, the approximately 600 corn farmers who have gathered on the Cummings farm just north of Malcom, Iowa for Wyffels Corn Strategies 2010 are finding out firsthand (and have known for quite a while) that it is a family-owned seed company located in the heart of the corn belt in Iowa and Illinois.

I caught up with Jeff Hartz, marketing director with Wyffels, to find out a little bit more about the company. In the video below, you can hear Jeff talk about how his company sets itself apart from competitors, some who have decidedly bigger assets, by offering their customers the kind of personal service more should expect to get. He also pointed out that since Wyffels is an independent company, it has the ability to be more flexible with access to a wide variety of manufacturers. If you couldn’t be at the Corn Strategies 2010 to meet the good folks from this truly farmer-focused seed company, you can at least watch what Jeff has to say in the video below. Better yet, contact Wyffels yourself through the company’s website and set up a face-to-face conversation yourself.

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 Photo Album

Controlling the Crop Controllables

Posted on July 21, 2010 by John

The opening session at today’s Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 focused on controlling what you can control.

Steve Johnson, a farm and ag business specialist with Iowa State University, told the tent full of about 600 corn farmers that too many of their colleagues are too focused on the things they can’t control, whether it is politics, oil spills or the weather.

“I’m trying to drive the participants today back to making not only production decisions, but financial and marketing decisions … and spend less time listening to all the clutter in the world [and be] very focused on family, friends, the community and their farm operations.”

Johnson admits that might be easier said than done, considering how connected people are with their iPhones, Blackberries and Internet connections right there in the cab of the tractor. But he says they have to choose to turn off some of those inputs.

“Turn off CNN. Turn off Fox News. Turn off talk radio. Focus on those things you have control over.”

Johnson says it’s great to be out at this location that Wyffels has set up right next to the corn fields at the Cummings family farm.

“It’s a great venue. As a presenter, you always like to get in front of a crowd. Rarely are they 500 and never are they in a tent, air-conditioned with a backdrop of corn with lights projecting up on the corn plants. It’s a fun venue.”

You can hear or download my entire conversation with Steve here: Steve Johnson, Iowa State Ag Extension

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 Photo Album

Welcome to Wyffels Corn Strategies 2010

Posted on July 21, 2010 by John

Hello from Malcom, Iowa, where I’m spending the day with the good folks from Wyffels Hybrids, who are putting on Corn Strategies 2010. This gathering is expected to draw about 600 corn farmers from throughout the area, especially Eastern Iowa, where they will get to see and hear more about this independent company… a company where you can still talk to the owners and plan how to best approach the next planting season. While it might seem early to think about next year’s season, this is the time when many farmers are planning their strategy.

In the video below, you’ll get to hear from Matt Barnard, the coordinator for Wyffels Corn Strategies, talk a little bit about what it takes to pull off an event like this.

The day’s events are just getting underway, so if you’d like to come out, just turn north of I-80 at the U.S. Highway 63 exit, go through the small town of Malcom and turn right (east) at 400th Street, just north of town. You can’t miss the big white tent! See you here!