By Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern

We’re constantly presented with choices, but I didn’t understand the magnitude of my choices until I came to Iowa State University (ISU). There are numerous facets in the agricultural industry and it can be challenging to choose a college major. I chose Agricultural Business because this major offers ample opportunities to tailor it with electives. I really enjoyed choosing electives, but it was the experience I gained through multiple internships that led me down a career path in agricultural marketing.

Many of my peers also have chosen their career paths through involvement in on-campus organizations or internship experiences. Today I’m sharing personal experiences of five ISU students, who will be involved in agriculture but in very different ways.

Many people view popcorn as snack but Garrett Ley of Alleman, Iowa, is passionate about producing it. Upon graduating in May with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business, he plans to amplify his G-Pop’s popcorn business. G-Pop’s was founded in May, 2014 when he discovered his new passion of entrepreneurship and value-added products for the consumer. Garrett is active on all levels of agriculture, from field to food.

After May 31, you could find Adelai Swanson in Washington, D.C., working for Dow AgroSciences in Government Affairs and Sales. Adelai has always had a passion for agriculture policy. Her degrees in Agricultural Business and Public Relations will help make that dream become reality.

Coming from a farm in West Central Iowa, Kayla Degner knew she wanted to be involved in agriculture. Kayla graduated from Iowa State University in May 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in in Agricultural Communications and is working at NEW Cooperative Inc. as a Marketing and Communication Assistant. Kayla couldn’t imagine herself doing anything different.

Returning to his family’s farm upon graduating in May is what Brett Roquet describes as living his dream. He explains that he couldn’t see himself doing anything else. Brett and his younger brother raise show pigs. He also raises corn and soybeans with his dad and grandpa.

Because some of her best memories happened when she was growing up on her family’s farm in Monmouth, IL, Jennifer Elliott was active in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She will graduate in May 2016 with a degree in Agricultural Communications. She’s looking forward to when she’ll move to the East Coast and become a Sales and Business Trainee for Smithfield. Jennifer couldn’t be happier than to explore the different career paths offered through Smithfield through her trainee program.

These five stories showcase the various directions students can take in agriculture. From entering the food industry to becoming involved in government affairs, there’s a career suited for all interests!

Even though there is a lot going on with the election cycle and the huge push to find the final
candidates to run for the Presidency, we must stay vigilant to what is going on currently in our state legislatures.

The legislative process is a fascinating process, yet at one time, I couldn’t get far enough away from it! I was under the impression that I couldn’t make a difference – but I was wrong! In fact, I’ve been told that sometimes an experience shared by one constituent can affect a vote.

Elected officials need our input to know how we’ll be affected if certain bills are or are not signed into law. You can write e-mails to them. You can go to town hall meetings. You can even call them on the phone when they are in session. However, I have found that going to the Capitol and meeting with elected officials in person during the legislative session is the most effective way to express my ideas. Attending committee meetings allows one to see how elected officials operate and negotiate. I’ve been able to watch the action from the gallery, and I’ve been invited to sit on the floor right in the midst of all the action! Nothing can replace person contact.

Tomorrow is one of the days that there will be many Farm Bureau members at the statehouse. Actually, any Iowan can visit the statehouse to meet with elected officials on any day that the Legislature is in session. All you have to do is walk to the chamber door to either the House of Representatives or the Senate. You simply fill out a slip to request to talk with a specific official, and then hand that slip of paper to the doorkeeper, who will find out whether the representative or senator is available. If he or she is available, he or she will come to the door and talk with you.

There are many issues discussed daily: taxes, education and other topics that may affect you directly. It’s important that you make your voice heard. I can assure you, someone will be “twisting arms” on any given issue and he or she (or a particular special interest group) may not share your opinion!

Voting for a person who’s running for office is just the beginning of the political process. It’s important that you remain engaged! You might feel comfortable calling on elected officials by yourself, or perhaps you’d be more comfortable joining a group effort through an organization that shares your interests. Either way, grassroots efforts can lead to better representation. The time spent contacting legislators and regulators is an investment – and you just may enjoy the experience!

By Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern

Laundry, home cooked meals and roommates will all have different meanings after you move into the dorm of your new college town. I won’t forget the day I moved into Maple Hall at Iowa State University. A helpful move-in crew greeted my family and me, and then I was left with a new roommate in a tiny room that resembled the feeling of living in a box. Although the college experience was intimidating at times, it all contributed to finding my adventure at ISU.

Last week, I had an opportunity through the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to talk to middle school and high school students about everything from FFA to college and what to expect during transition times. From those conservations, I found a few items high school students should consider when choosing a college.

In addition to using your gut reaction, I highlighted five checkpoints to deliberate before clicking Accept Attendance:

1. What is the price you are willing to pay for your education?

There’s no doubt college is expensive. College tuition can range from $4,000/year to $40,000/year. In addition to paying tuition, you will need to pay living expenses whether you live in a dorm or an apartment. Secondly, you will need to buy food, either a meal bundle through campus dining services or groceries. In most cases, clubs require a small yearly fee to join and participate in the club trips offered.

2. What are your interests?

Recognizing your interests can assist tremendously when choosing a college. For example, if you have an interest in agriculture, then Iowa State University, Purdue, Kansas State and Oklahoma State have noteworthy agricultural programs. Even if you are uncertain on which major to choose, starting at a college that fits your interests will provide you with a solid foundation.

3. How many years will you be in college?

Your years in school will depend on the type of degree and major you plan on attaining. It’s important to know this before choosing a college, as the length of schooling can vary by each college. Laying out a few short-term and long-term goals can help outline your future, factoring in the number of years you will be in school for.

4. How much are you willing to travel?

   

It is important to consider the location of different colleges when making your decision. You should note how often you would like to go home and how feasible it is to travel the distance! In some cases, students may want to branch out and travel further away from home.

5. Does it feel like home?

The college you choose will become your second home for the next few years. You should feel comfortable and confident in the school, campus and the environment. I was greeted with smiling faces from the faculty and tour guides at Iowa State, and I knew it was the place for me!

Choose your college based upon your career goals and aspirations. The opportunity to further your education is irreplaceable, so take advantage of it!

Spring is here and Midwest farmers are eagerly awaiting another planting season. I’m sure you’ve done a great job of selecting seed and planning where to plant each Latham® hybrid. Remember, pre-planning is also required for your own on-farm research trials.

Farmers are always interested in continual improvement, so it’s only natural that many are interested in seeing how new releases or experimental products will yield on their own farms. As a farmer myself, I plant some newer genetics alongside some of my tried and true favorite hybrids to help determine which products I’ll plant next season. As a member of Latham’s Corn Product Team, I also understand how important it is to properly place products in these tests.

Here are a few suggestions for conducting a fair test in your own on farm trials:

1. Compare similar hybrids. Make sure you’re comparing hybrids with the same trait package and relative maturity. Harvest moistures must be fairly close, so the samples are fairly consistent. You may have an average moisture but there could be some long-term storage issues if you put grain in a bin that is too wet.Also make sure you’re comparing hybrids of similar height, or at least plant enough rows of each one so you don’t have a shading effect that can reduce the yield dramatically on a shorter hybrid. Try and plant a row sequence that fits the width or number of rows for your combine header. Combines run more efficiently and the yield monitor is more accurate if the harvest width is consistent across the trials.
2. Plant a large enough trial to get a fair test. While many research plots use shorter rows to test several varieties in a manageable amount of space, seed companies like Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds also use testing equipment that is very specialized for data recovery. Make sure you plant enough of the new hybrid to fit your combine header in a large enough area to get a good readout from your yield monitor. Accuracy is important because you will be making next year’s purchasing decisions based on your findings.
3. Keep the trial on even ground. Unless you split the planter and cover the entire field, there is no better way to compare hybrids than side-by-side on a piece of flat ground to take soil variability out of the equation.

Speaking of new product testing, I’m very excited about the production plan our Latham Product Team has assembled for the 2017 selling season! As an industry-leading independent seed company, we’re able to focus on traits from all sources including GT, VT2 Pro, Artesian, SmartStax and Powercore – pending approval. Information gained from Latham SuperStrip Trials plus our own research plots across our sales footprint enables us to strengthen our already strong corn lineup.

I’m looking forward to another exciting year of plot analysis! How about you? The Latham Product Team is here to provide additional background information and insights, so feel free to call upon us!

There are so many subjects that I’d like to talk about today but I must go back to my favorite topic… pigs!

Admittedly, action by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is forcing me to advocate today! This organization has purchased a full page insert scheduled to run tomorrow in USA Today, which is our nation’s largest newspaper by circulation. The objectives of the HSUS ad buy are:

• To cause concern about the care of animals raised for food.
• To question animal confinement by describing it as a shift from family farms to industrial agribusiness.
• To insinuate that “factory farms” jeopardize the welfare of animals, damage public health and harm the environment.

HSUS is paying to spread lies about what I do, and I take that personally! The term “factory farms” is being used because of its negative connotation, and it’s certainly a term I dislike very much. Sure, the average farm size has increased over time due to economies of scale. Economies of scale is defined as the cost advantage that occurs when output is increased and variable costs are reduced from operational efficiencies and synergies.

Increased volume (or output) is simply a business concept exercised by a lot of other businesses and industries. Retail stores use size to be more efficient. Stores use technology to be better! Why is it so bad when farmers use proven business techniques?

As I have shared many times, I have raised pigs many different ways during the past 50 years. I have been a part of this fantastic transition! In the old days, I watched sows tear each other apart when they returned to a pen after nursing their pigs. I fought blizzards to feed and water my pigs, struggling to keep them from freezing to death. I have farrowed sows in that beautiful looking pasture only to find that the sow had her pigs in a mud hole, and baby pigs don’t have good odds of surviving in water and mud! Modern production practices have allowed us to remove many variables that led to injury and illness.

Recently I returned to a full-time job in the construction side of raising pigs. My job is to improve the buildings in which pigs are housed. Getting pigs raised inside has been a huge improvement, but we don’t stop there. One thing I’ve noticed by visiting hog barns across the Midwest is that the pigs’ welfare is always top of mind. There is zero tolerance for abuse, and signs are hung telling readers to call a listed number if they see ANY animal abuse. We have even gone to having our certification meetings for Pork Quality Assurance (PQA Plus Certification®) program every year instead of every three years!

There is a lot of research going on all the time to make these momma sows more comfortable and stress free. Animals grow better and have more babies when they are comfortable and less stressed! And, yes, more live pigs per liter can lead to increased profits for farmers. This is a win, win. That’s why it’s just unbelievable to me that we get attacked for doing what’s right!

Now keep in mind that HSUS is not actually thinking about animal welfare. After all, how do you think they can afford to run such ads? HSUS is very good at raising money. In fact, HSUS raises than $100 million annually but less than one half of one percent is spent to improve the life of animals. Most of the money raised goes toward the comfort and wealth of HSUS employees!

If you happen to see the big expensive HSUS ad, please remember that my fellow pig farmers and I are the ones with the welfare of our pigs in mind!

John and I were among the 55 seed industry representatives, who gathered last week in Washington, D.C., to “Storm the Hill.” Hosted by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), “Storm the Hill” provides a unique opportunity for seed-industry partners from every sector across the nation to join together as a unified voice on Capitol Hill.

Approximately 90 visits were made to U.S. senators and representatives about a number of issues that will impact the future of the seed industry, including the efficient movement of seed across state lines and country borders. We had the pleasure of attending a Spring Break Reception (#IAinDC) where we thanked Senators Grassley and Ernst for supporting a national solution for the labeling of foods made with GMO ingredients. We also visited each Iowa congressman’s office to thank them for supporting this issue, as well as other issues that impact the livelihood of Iowa farmers and small business owners.

Last week’s congressional visits couldn’t have been better timed as they were made the day before the Senate was scheduled to debate the GMO labeling bill. Seed industry representatives called upon elected officials to prevent a costly and confusing patchwork of state labeling laws by passing a uniform, voluntary labeling bill. We encouraged them to vote “yes” for science and “no” for anti-GMO standards.

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on March 16 released a statement regarding the Senate’s failure to invoke cloture on the Biotechnology Labeling Solutions Bill:

“For more than a year, I have called on my colleagues across the aisle to come to the negotiating table to address the problems facing the nation’s marketplace should states continue to mandate confusing and differing biotechnology labeling standards… “My approach to labeling acknowledges what many American consumers forget: our food is abundant, affordable and safe. We must continue our reliance on science and technology to ensure our continued prosperity.”

The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the bill with a vote of 48-49. However, there is still hope that negotiations will continue after the Easter break. You can bet that we’ll be following this issue, as well as several others that impact the seed industry’s shared commitment to producing better seed for a better quality of life.

A diverse array of genetic resources are the building blocks of better seed.  Sophisticated breeding programs allow the seed industry to help meet the need for a wide variety of nutritious and high quality products, while supporting sustainable agriculture practices that preserve our environment’s natural resource and biodiversity.  To ensure full access to the plant materials needed for continued innovation, ASTA members last week called on Congress to pass the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and increase funding for the National Plant Germplasm System and Germplasm Enhancement Maize (GEM) Project.

Seed plays an important role in preserving, rehabilitating and reclaiming fragile lands, as well as maintaining habitat for wild species. As chair of ASTA’s Legislative & Legal Affairs Committee, John also advocated for a number of priority issues related to conservation and the environment including: Congressional oversight in the implementation of the National Seed Strategy; the importance of close collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Interior and the seed industry on pollinator strategies; continued investment in USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Programs; and full funding for the USDA-NRCS Plant Material Centers.

Click here for more information on national seed industry legislative priorities.

Food labels and GMO foods have been making headlines again as new legislation was introduced last week into Congress and today the Senate is expected to vote. Honestly, the headlines are misleading because this isn’t just a big food company nor a big agribusiness issue.

GMO food labeling will impact every single American. Our family-owned seed company will feel the effects, and U.S. farmers will have fewer seed options in every product guide. Mandatory food labels will impact American consumers, as well. Grocery bills are expected to increase by $1,050 annually for a family of four!

People who buy Wal-Mart brand products will be hit with even higher prices than they’re accustomed to paying since they’ll be forced to buy name brand, rather than the store brand, products. Executives from major supermarkets and Wal-Mart have already said they won’t carry their own private label foods in Vermont if that state’s GMO labeling law takes effect on July 1.

In an attempt to pre-empt the Vermont law – and to prevent additional states from enacting similar laws – yesterday my husband and I were among 55 seed industry representatives who made approximately 90 visits to congressional offices in Washington, D.C.

Our message to elected officials was clear: We support a uniform, national food labeling standard. Vote “no” for the alternative bill that was introduced last week to protect state-level GMO laws. This alternative bill is backed by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Vote “yes” to Senator Roberts’ bill, which would create a voluntary USDA labeling standard for GMO foods and prevent states from creating their own labeling standards.

Can you believe that day some elected officials yesterday actually said they don’t care if people are starving because they’re being denied GMO foods? They’d rather people starve than be “subjected to GMO foods.” (This sounds like American lawmakers are taking notes from Zimbabwe government officials who would rather see people starve than eat genetically modified foods.) Say what?! Not one person has died from eating GMO foods but about 2 million deaths could be prevented annually if Golden Rice were available to those living in poverty stricken countries!

If there are no known hazards —after 20+ years of study—and a host of benefits including lower food prices for Americans, why is there so much controversy around GMO food labels? I believe America’s food fights stem from “fear of the unknown.” Here’s what I’d like Americans to know:

• Foods derived from GMO crops pose no threat to human health, and they’ve been studied by virtually every scientific and regulatory agency.
• GMO crops also have a positive impact on the environment, allowing farmers to fight soil erosion by planting high-yield crops that grow more food on less land while using less water.
• GMOs can improve the quality of life for Americans, as well as for people around the globe. Better life comes from science, innovation and caring hands. Better life begins with better seed.

P.S. I am not losing sleep over feeding my family foods derived from GMO crops, but I do have “Mommy Guilt” over not feeding my family enough fruits and vegetables. Click here for tips from a registered dietician on tips for making healthy food choices.

As I write this blog on National Ag Day, I’m thinking about more than my farm. Agriculture is more than one small farm. Agriculture’s importance in providing food, fiber and fuel is being greatly overlooked in this country. Farmers here are doing such a great job of producing food and keeping grocery prices cheap that most people just take it for granted!

Traveling across the U.S. and even to other countries really opens one’s eyes to the challenges of feeding a growing world population. It also opens one’s eyes to the diversity of agriculture. I’ve witnessed farming in Eastern Europe. I spend a lot of time traveling the Midwest for my job, and over the weekend, I drove to Oklahoma. What strikes me most is the diversity in agriculture! In Ukraine, I saw everything from backyard farms to a farm that covered one million acres! The political climate was the most limiting factor for Ukrainian farmers because one-size-fits-all rules and regulations did not fit such diverse farms.

The amount of regulation coming down on U.S. farms from the federal government is also staggering. I have farming friends in all 50 states, and no two farms are the same. Farming operations are even diverse within our own county. My farm, for example, is surrounded by other farms that raise corn and soybeans. Some of my neighbors also raise hogs and cattle. Others have chickens. Pumpkins, apples, sheep and goats are also raised in this county.

Each crop and livestock operation has its unique qualities, but the difference doesn’t stop there. There are thousands of different soil types. Different soil types create different challenges. I have deep black and clay soils, so I am challenged with “puddle farming.” The ground is fairly flat, so ponding is common. Without tile to drain away excess water, crop yields would be very poor. But with proper management, however, we can raise fantastic crops.

Ten miles away, there are very sandy soils. This means the soil particles are very large, while mine are very small. This type of soil cannot hold water in reserve as well as mine, but these farms can also grow terrific crops if managed properly. Farmers with sandy soils use different methods than I do, even though our farms are very close together.

Now imagine a farm a couple states away… They grow crops different than mine. They might grow wheat, rice, cotton or peanuts. In other areas of the country, agriculture is dominated by nut trees and vegetable crops like potatoes or onions. The climate is totally different across our nation, and some places are made just right to graze cattle. Their soils are very different. The landscape is very different. This again takes different management! As a result, conservation practices must be very different.

My point is that not one type of farming works across one county, the nation or even across the world. The same goes for regulations and farm programs! One size does not fit all.

During National Ag week, let’s celebrate the diversity that feeds our world. Let’s not regulate ourselves into starvation!

RELATED BLOG POSTS:

• Ag Week 2015 Showcases Sustainability
• Celebrate Ag Week in a Big Borlaug Way
• Help Us Celebrate National Ag Week
• Kicking off National Ag Week

By Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern

There is a college fit for everyone, and I can confidently say I found mine. Because I’ll be graduating in May, I find myself appreciating my experiences at Iowa State University a little bit more every day.

Looking back on the last four years, there are a few things I wish I would have known earlier:

1. Buy proper attire for ALL seasons.

There are countless joys to living in Iowa, including the weather. There’s no denying that Iowa experiences weather as hot as Texas and as cold as Alaska. You’ll be a lot more comfortable if you prepare for it all! Buy a winter coat, boots, umbrella and comfortable walking shoes. With those options in your closet, you will be set!

2. The Parking Division is pitiless.

Nothing is more disappointing than walking to your car and finding a little yellow envelope with a ticket in it. The parking division is fierce! Parking on campus is very limited, and the parking division offers no pity when writing tickets. My best advice is to take advantage of the CyRide Service, and avoid parking on campus.

3. Study abroad early.

Because you get busier each year, study abroad during your first two years of college. I will be studying abroad for the first time in May after graduation! I couldn’t be more excited to do so. So many times I’ve wished that I had given it a chance in my first year of college. Time goes quickly, so live in the moment.

4. ISU Campus is not as big as it appears.

Attending a school that is 4.5 times bigger than my hometown was most intimidating! Once you know your way around campus, it makes the experience a lot more comfortable. This year ISU has a record enrollment of 36,001. View this number as an opportunity instead of a scare; that is 36,000 other people you can interact with and learn from! Once your major is declared, you’ll meet more people who share your same interests. Campus clubs are another great way to create a smaller environment.

5. Campus dining is the ticket to quick and tasty meals.

There is a smorgasbord of both dining centers to choose from, as well as options inside each dining center. My favorite dining hall is Conversations. It is a smaller scale dining center that usually features meals that are made right in front of you! Even with the smallest dining package, I still had ample amount of meals left over! After freshman year, you’ll have the chance to cook for yourself. Think about simple meals you and your roommates could make together!

My time at Iowa State has served me well. I’ve formed so many relationships and have had so many great experiences. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, and I’m especially grateful that attending ISU helped me find my career path. I’m really looking forward to starting full-time in May with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds!

Pig farmers from across the U.S. met March 3-5 in Indianapolis for the Pork Industry Forum. Elected representatives for our grassroots organization get together annually to make pig farming better. Like any organization, not everyone agrees all the time. Last week, however, there absolute agreement by all delegates on one issue.

Let me first provide a little background information…

When you hear, “pork,” chances are that you think, “The Other White Meat.” A study conducted by Northwestern University found The Other White Meat to be the fifth most memorable promotional tagline in the history of contemporary marketing. This tagline successfully positioned pork as a healthy, lean protein that is versatile and easy to prepare. Six common cuts of fresh pork are leaner today than they were 15 years ago. In fact, a 3-ounce serving of pork tenderloin contains only 2.98 grams of fat and a 3-ounce serving of skinless chicken breast contains 3.03 grams of fat.

This sounds like a great success story that should be included in textbooks, right? Unfortunately, the success of this marketing campaign drew unwanted attention from the Humane Society of the United States. HSUS announced in September 2012 that it was suing the USDA over the payments the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) receives via the national pork checkoff.

Why sue? Checkoff money is collected by a board, and the USDA oversees the collection and spending of checkoff funds to provide programs that will increase demand for farmers’ products. Checkoff monies can fund marketing tools such as promotion, research and new product development.

Increasing pork consumption is just the opposite of what HSUS wants to see happen. Truth be known, HSUS would like to end animal agriculture. HSUS also wants to end hunting and animal circus acts, as well as close zoos. Anyone who thinks the $18 per month he or she donates will help save cute little puppies or kitties is sadly mistaken. Only one half of one percent of HSUS funds raised go toward animal care! (Donate to local pet shelters instead.) Most HSUS donations are used to influence political agendas and the media, and HSUS is trying to trap the pork industry in a web of activities.

You see, the National Pork Board (NPB) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) used to be one entity. Checkoff dollars were being used for “The Other White Meat” campaign, so the NPB leased the other white meat tagline to NPPC. After several years, it was agreed that NPPC should buy the tagline instead of leasing it. Appraisals were done. The necessary approvals – including from the USDA – were granted. This arrangement worked well until HSUS filed a lawsuit against the USDA.

Instead of defending what it had approved, the USDA appears to be caving to a special interest group. Sec. Vilsack, during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee held last week, said the decision to settle the lawsuit was made with pork industry officials. During the annual pork industry forum, however, not one pork industry representative says he or she was contacted by the USDA about the settlement. As a result, pork industry officials cried foul over the USDA’s move.

Every delegate to the Pork Forum wants this lawsuit fought to the fullest extent of the government’s power. Not one single delegate agreed with Sec. Vilsack!

“In an action for the record books, delegates of the NPB — appointed by the USDA — not only unanimously approved the advisement but also unanimously co-sponsored the petition [of Secretary Vilsack to preserve and defend National Pork Board statutory authority and independence]. One strong voice with true grit signaled the industry is prepared to fight against any entity trying to damage the ability to exercise its judgment in marketing pork.” writes Cheryl Day on the National Hog Farmer blog.

We must keep an eye on government agencies, even if they’ve been given the power to oversee us! As with all government agencies, look for connections. Connect the dots. Follow the money. Consider the source. Find the motive.

There is an election on the horizon. Read. Learn the issues. Talk to people who actually farm and learn how they take care of livestock. We want to share what we do every day, and we can explain why we care!