Dr. Fred Below, Professor of Plant Physiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was one of many experts on a panel at the recent BASF Agricultural Solutions Media Summit but he had some of the best quotes that were most tweeted from the event.

One of his more quotable comments was that because university extension budgets are being “cut to the bone,” the agricultural media has a greater role than ever in getting the word out about sustainability in food production. “I would love to see extension and university research have a larger role, but we simply don’t have the numbers that we need,” he said. “So we need to rely on our corporate partners and the media to get the message out.”

Below is very excited about the potential for drought tolerant corn in getting toward the ever-elusive consistent 300 bushel yield. “I can hardly wait for drought tolerant corn,” he said. “If you can even partially control the weather in your hybrid selection, that would give us a huge advantage.”

Dr. Below says that the focus on feeding a growing population is really making people pay attention to the importance of crop yield, one of his favorite topics. “It’s good to see crop yield, and agronomists, and the whole ag industry be sexy again,” he quipped. “It’s a great time to be in agriculture.”

Listen to my interview with Fred Below here. Dr. Fred Below at BASF Summit