[January 08, 2009]

Farmers peer into future of industry

Jan 08, 2009 (Omaha World-Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Robot tractors that can plant in the dark. Combines that measure corn's moisture and protein content and electronically report it to potential buyers. Designer seed corn and soybeans genetically engineered to reduce drought, insects and weeds.

It's the high-tech side of farming.
At the invitation and expense of Channel Bio Corp., a Kentland, Ind.-based subsidiary of ag-technology giant Monsanto, about 650 farmers from Nebraska, Iowa and several other neighboring states met in La Vista on Tuesday and Wednesday for a seminar on the latest developments in bio-engineered seed and other farm technology.

The meeting came as Monsanto officials announced they had submitted two new bio-engineered products to federal regulators for approval. If all goes well, the new seed -- drought resistant corn and "Smart Stax" seed corn containing eight engineered traits to improve yields and protect against pests and weeds -- could be on the market in 2012.

Monsanto researchers said they were particularly excited about the new drought-tolerant corn, which they said would improve yields by at least 7 percent in times during water-short years.

During an informal poll taken during the meeting Wednesday, 34 percent of the participants ranked drought tolerance as the top genetic trait they wanted to see added to bio-engineered seed. Nebraska farmers ranked it even higher -- with 46 percent saying it was the top trait that interested them.

Chuck Westfall, a corn and soybean farmer, traveled 300 miles from Donnellson, Iowa, to attend the meeting. He began using Round-up Ready seed -- which allows farmers to apply the Monsanto-brand weed killer without killing their crops -- since it first came out in 1992. It's lowered his costs for weed killer and labor while improving his yield, he said. He's eager to try more innovations.

And more are coming.
Wayne Hoener, Channel Bio's director of product advancement, said more innovations are being developed to improve soybean yields, including a new soybean seed called Roundup Ready 2 Yield, that promises weed killer-resistance plants that also produce more beans. The new seed will be widely available in 2010.

Dave Mowitz of Successful Farming Magazine said that computerization, global satellite positioning and other technological innovation will result in major changes to farm equipment within the next five years. He said robotic tractors are in development that will allow farmers to remotely run a dozen or more small tractors at a time -- instead of investing in a single 32-row planter or a massive combine.

Technology already allows farmers to plant even in the dead of night by using global positioning satellites to steer their machines," Mowitz said. "In the future, a lot of people will not be running tractors. They will be running computers."

There are concerns about the impact of technology on farming and the food supply. Leaders from Monsanto and Channel Bio urged farmers to apply herbicides and pesticides at the appropriate times and in the appropriate amounts to discourage weeds and insects from developing resistance to the chemicals.

--Contact the writer: 402-473-9581, leslie.reed@owh.com
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