The Syngenta Learning Center in Milford, IA was located on a farm just south of town. The owner of that farm is Bruce Johnson. Right after lunch today I got to talk with Bruce about his farm and why he decided to work with Syngenta to hold this major event on his property. He says that about 59 acres is …
Syngenta’s Science of Corn
One of the presenters at the Syngenta Learning Centers media briefing is Bruce Battles, Agronomy Marketing Manager, Syngenta Seeds. He talked about the science of corn from the standpoint of what Syngenta is working on with new varieties. He says that there are a lot of options and challenges for growers. For example he says they’re working on solutions to …
Welcome to Syngenta Learning Centers
The Syngenta Learning Centers got off to a great start today as everyone was divided up into groups and then rotated between different program stations. Right after having some donuts and coffee we got an overview of the property and what we’d see. You can hear what that sounds like in the following audio file. Welcome to the Syngenta Learning …
Milford, IA Syngenta Learning Centers Underway
The Syngenta Learning Centers program in Milford, IA is underway on a nice and cool day. The area had a little bit of rain overnight but we got lucky and haven’t had any this morning. There are hundreds of farmers out here. Enough to be divided into 8 groups. Each group is attending a session on a particular topic. When …
Pfizer VMRD Leader
The head of Pfizer Animal Health’s Veterinary Medicine Research and Development facility (called the Farm) is Dr. Cathy Knupp. She was on our program at their media event titled “Delivering Solutions Through Research and Innovation.” I’m really learning a lot attending these type of R&D programs! Dr. Knupp supervises global research and development activities for the company. Sounds like a …
Sunset on Lake Okoboji
Unlike a lot of the midwest temperatures here in northern Iowa have been fairly moderate. We also got some nice rain overnight. The clouds made for a nice sunset on the lake just before our Syngenta Learning Centers group went out to supper. Like my trip to Pfizer Animal Health last week, this event is really helping not only build …
Soybean Management Strategies
Eric Tedford is Technical Brand Manager, Fungicides for Syngenta. He was on our program here at the Syngenta Learning Centers media briefing to talk about soybean management strategies. He gave us some specifics about some of their products and also talked about some that will be coming out in the next season. In particular he points to their herbicide options. …
Improving Ethanol Production Process
One of our presenters here at the Syngenta Learning Centers media briefing is Brad Wiersum, Head, Renewable Fuels Strategy, Syngenta Seeds. His topic was their biofuels strategy. As you’ll hear in my interview with him they’re really looking forward to the introduction of some new corn varieties with high levels of corn amylase. By using high amylase corn, they estimate …
Syngenta Learning Centers Photo Album
We’re getting ready to finish up here in the Syngenta Learning Centers media briefing. Right now we’re hearing from a couple of growers who work with Syngenta. It’s nice to get their perspective on things. The internet access here is a little challenging so I’ll probably be posting interviews later. In the meantime I have started a photo album from …
Dr. Mike Boehlje Talks New Agriculture
If you’ve never heard Dr. Mike Boehlje, Center for Food & Agricultural Business, Purdue University, speak then you’re missing a good performance. He is passionate about his work. He just completed his presentation on “Farming in the 21st Century” here at the Syngenta Learning Centers media briefing. He started out with the “e” word which is of course, ethanol. However …