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The New York Crop GrowerA publication of the NY Corn & Soybean Growers Association

Fall 2012, Vol. 2 No. 7

Aquaculture's Demand for Soy Meal Catching On p. 5Bill Jenkins Travels to North Dakota on REAP Tour p. 6Hudson Valley Growers Attending 2013 Just Food Conference p. 4

The New York Crop GrowerA publication of the NY Corn & Soybean Growers Association

Fall 2012, Vol. 2 No. 7

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he New York Corn & Soybean GrowersAssociation is partnering with theAmerican Soybean Association on

several initiatives-putting your checkoffdollars to good use.

The following programs are part of anNYCSGA/ASA partnership:

ASA Action Partnership$5,000ASAAP allows partners to help define andprioritize issues, assist in funding solutionsand work plans, and assist in developingaction strategies and allocation of resources.The ASAAP is for all ag industry sectors thathave a stake in the growth of the soybeanindustry. ASAAP objectives include:addressing challenges facing the soybeanindustry; obtaining input and support withinall sectors; increasing resources and providingfor a strategic investment mechanism for theindustry; achieving greater grassroots

involvement and development offuture leaders.

NYCSGA Executive Director, Julia Robbins,attended the ASA Action Partnershipworkshop in Milwaukee, WI from Sept. 10-12.Other state representatives, as well as stafffrom partners including Syngenta, Monsanto,ADM, Dupont and Agco joined Julia inMilwaukee. The topics of this year's ASAAPworkshop included sustainability and theCalifornia Anti-GMO ballot initiative.

Soy Stats$600 Bronze SponsorshipSoy Stats, in both the printed and electronicformats, provides a reliable source forimmediate and accurate soybean-specificstatistics and information. Soy Stats continuesto be one of the most accessed information

New York Corn andSoybean Growers AssociationPresident, Steve Van VoorhisHenrietta, 585-746-1542

Vice President, Ron RobbinsSackets Harbor, 315-382-3883

Secretary/Treasurer, Ralph LottSeneca Falls, 315-568-9501

Board MembersRoger Arliss, Pit FarmClyde, 315-521-0488

Adam L. CraftWilliamson, 315-589-2386

Todd Du Mond, Du Mond Ag, LLCUnion Springs, 315-252-9191

Loren Herod, Community Bank NAGeneva, 315-781-2138

Bill Jenkins, Jenkins FarmWyoming, 585-786-5793

Seth Pritchard, Catalpa FarmCanandaigua, 585-748-3334

Mike Stanyard,Cornell Cooperative Extension Newark, 315-331-8415

Tom Sutter, Monroe TractorHenrietta, 585-334-3857,585-730-1853

Jason Swede, Gary Swede FarmsPavilion, 585-243-9739

Tim Taylor, SeedSource, LLCSkaneateles, 315-374-2611

Raymond DeanAuburn, 315-209-7183

Beth Chittenden, Dutch Hollow FarmSchodack Landing, 518-732-4633

Julia Robbins Executive DirectorSackets Harbor, 315-778-1443

The New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association is agrassroots organization representing corn and soybeanproducers’ interests. The Association works todevelop and expand markets, educate members, andenhance public policy for corn and soybean growers in theEmpire State. The Association sponsors research on cornand soybean production, utilization and marketing andhosts educational programs.

ow that summer has ended, I am sureeveryone is very busy chopping andharvesting grains. I was glad to see that

just when we thought crops were going tobe a total loss, the rains came in the nick oftime. From my conversations with growersfrom across the state, soybeans look to be ingood shape, while corn is spotty in places.I'm hoping that when all is said and done,New York ends up with a decent 2012 crop.

As far as the Association, you may be awarethat our new fiscal year began on Oct. 1.And with the increase in soybean acres andthe price per bushel, as well as potentialincreases in overall yield, we are planning foradditional checkoff revenues in FY 2013.Therefore, the NYCSGA Board of Directorshas budgeted $175,000 for research andeducation initiatives in 2013. Keep an eyeout for the research and education RFP to beissued in January, 2013. Furthermore, if youhave a consumer education program in mindbefore January, please do not hesitate tocontact NYCSGA with your project idea. Oneof the goals of NYCSGA in FY 2013 is tofocus more on consumer education and ourright to farm.

Finally, we are already in the early planningstages for the 2013 Corn & Soybean Expo.This year's meeting, which will focus on farmbusiness transitions, will be again be held atthe Holiday Inn in Liverpool, and this year,we are planning a day and a half event, fromJan. 24-25. The first day will include sponsors'

displays and presentations from two of thebest farm business consultants in the country,Moe Russell and Dick Witman. The secondmorning will be smaller group workshopswith our consultants.

I wish the best to all of the growers acrossNew York state as you bring in your 2012harvest.

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President's Column

Looking Forward to a Productive FallBy Steve Van Voorhis

Steve Van Voorhis, President

NYCSGA Partnering with ASA

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hew! What a busy summer! Sometimes I feel like I'm never home!My poor dog is going to desert me and move back to myparents' house!

One part of the job of Executive Director of NYCSGA is travel. A lot oftravel. I could be on the road every week if I accepted every meetinginvitation that came my way. Because I need to actually be in the officedoing the day-to-day work on behalf of New York's corn and soybeangrowers, I try to go to the meetings that I feel will educate me themost on what I need to know to do my job; and therefore, whatinformation is passed on that will benefit our growers the most.

In the summer issue of the Crop Grower, I reported on my week-longtrip to Costa Rica earlier in the summer, where we learned about howUS soy is being utilized in Central America. In August, I worked in theNYCSGA display tent during Empire Farm Days, as well as traveleddown to Rhinebeck, NY for the Dutchess County Fair (which isdescribed in another article in this issue).

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Milwaukee for the American SoybeanAssociation Action Partnership meeting. The first part of this two-daymeeting focused on sustainability. The second day we heard from arepresentative from the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA)about the anti-GMO ballot initiative in California. This is a serious issue,as Californians', and really all of Americans', right to farm is beingthreatened. This ballot initiative is riddled with loopholes that wouldbe make such a law essentially ineffective, yet significantly affectfarmers' and processors' operations. GMA is spending upwards of $40million to fight Proposition 37. I'm anxious to hear what happens withthis initiative on Election Day. Passage of Prop. 37 could have a rippleeffect on the entire nation in regard to anti-GMO legislation comingforth in 2013.

In October, I'll be heading out to St. Louis for the American SoybeanAssociation state staff meeting. Such meetings provide a goodopportunity for me to network with my counterparts from otherassociations and soybean boards and share our information, state issuesand programs.

Finally, I'd like to thank the sponsors and attendees of the2013 Summer Crop Tour. This year's event was once again a success,and we couldn't have done it with out all of you!

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Executive Director's Report

I've Been Everywhere, ManBy Julia Robbins

Julia Robbins, Exective Director

resources provided by ASA. It is distributed to soybean and soyproduct customers in the United States and in more than80 countries around the world. It is also available on theSoy Stats web site.

ASA Soybean Leadership College $1,500 for one registrationThe ASA Soybean Leadership College is an annual educationalopportunity for soybean growers. The program's focus is to increaseknowledge of current issues in the soybean grower organizations, tostrengthen the individual and collective skill in leading, makingdecisions, managing and communicating, all to advance soybeanmarkets and farmer profitability.

The Soybean Leadership College is run in conjunction with the StateLeaders Summit, which provides an opportunity for national andstate soybean association, United Soybean Board, and stateQualified State Soybean Board (QSSB) leaders to facilitate greaterinteraction between organizations and develop a unified approachto addressing soybean grower issues. Objectives of the SoybeanLeadership College include: to become better ambassadors andspokespersons to advance our industry; to build individual andcollective capability to provide strong leadership within stateorganizations, national organizations and the overall soybeanindustry; to expand market opportunities and maximize profitabilityfor U.S. soybean growers.

ASA Soybean Marketing & Production College$2,500 for two registrationsThe new ASA Soybean Marketing and Production College will beconducted in the summer of 2013 to provide educational training onthe future of the soybean industry, crop marketing, presentation andnegotiating skills, sustainability and farm management technology.Graduates of the ASA Soybean Marketing College will be moreknowledgeable and better prepared to represent their industry.

Modeled after the highly successful ASA Soybean Leadership Collegethat is recognized by state and national soybean leaders as asignature training program provided by ASA. To expand on thisleadership training, ASA is expanding the Soybean Leadership Collegeto create the ASA Soybean Marketing College.

While Soybean Leadership College is geared toward state andnational soybean association and checkoff leaders and staff,the Soybean Marketing College will be open to all soybean growers.

*If any growers are interested in participating in the SoybeanLeadership College or Marketing & Production College, please contactJulia Robbins at juliacrobbins@gmail.com

*ASA also offers a yearly Young Leaders program. Applications forthis program will be available in Summer 2013. Please contact Julia ifyou are interested in participating in any national leadership trainingprograms.

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hree Hudson Valley Farmers will bevisiting New York City in February to

"Tell their everyday story of life on a farm"at the Just Food Conference. Lloyd Vaill, Jr.,PJ Trowbridge and Beth Chittenden arehoping to host a panel discussion abouttheir farms and answer questions about thefood they produce. Support from New Yorkproducers at the conference would bewelcomed and encouraged.

Each of these farmers spends time assuringconsumers on a regular basis that the foodthey produce is safe and healthy. Lloyd Vaillis a fourth generation farmer from PinePlains, New York operating Lonan Farm,both a dairy and large-scale grain operation.He farms over 5,000 acres growing corn,soybeans and small grains as well as milking580 cows. PJ Trowbridge is a fourthgeneration farmer at Trowbridge Angus cowcalf operation in Ghent, New York. He alsogrows corn and hay as well as hostingmultiple sales a year selling breeding stockacross the nation. Beth Chittenden is afourth generation farmer at Dutch HollowFarm milking 600 registered Jersey cows.She also has an education center at the farmto give consumers lessons about agriculture

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n Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, NYCSGA held its 6th annualSummer Crop Tour at DuMond Farms in Union Springs.Approximately 270 growers and 30 industry exhibitors from

across New York state attended the event, which once againfeatured Ken Ferrie, Crop Tech Consulting, as the key note speaker.

As is tradition, NYCSGA's summer meeting focuses on productionmanagement technologies and techniques, and the theme of thisyear's crop tour was "Implementing Variable Rate Applications."Ken Ferrie spoke to the crowd in the morning about the "3 R's ofNitrogen" as well as improving water management in your fields toobtain higher yields.

Back by popular demand, lunch featured pulled pork and all thefixings from Dinosaur Barbeque. Congressowman Ann MarieBuerkle, R-NY 25, also stopped by during lunch to take questionsabout current policy and debates in Washington.

In the afternoon, attendees had the opportunity to choosebetween two of four breakout sessions: a soybean population trialby Dr. Bill Cox of Cornell University; a nitrogen stabilizer trialpresented by Ken Ferrie; "Making Variable Rates Work" by IssacFerrie; and "Adapt-N" nitrogen management model, presented byCornell University and Cooperative Extension staff.

The rain held off for duration of the meeting, and attendees andsponsors remarked they are looking forward to next year'smeeting, which will again be held at the Du Mond Farm on Aug. 13.

O

Hudson ValleyGrowers Attending2013 Just FoodConference

Another Successful NYCSGA Summer Crop Tour

Join NYCSGA Today! New Joint Membership!$85/year for ASA and NCGA benefits Includes NYCSGA moisture wicking polo shirt

Just fill out the membership form below...

MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION

Name __________________________________________________________________________________

Farm/ Organization ______________________________________________________________________

Address (Street, City, State, Zip)____________________________________________________________

Phone__________________________________________________________________________________

Email __________________________________________________________________________________

Shirt Size ______________________________________________________________________________

Method of Payment:��Check (make payable to New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association)��Credit Card (Visa, MC, AMEX, Discover)CC # __________________________________________________________________________________Expiration ____________________________________ Security Code __________________________Address ________________________________________________________________________________

______ New Member

______ Renewal

Please complete form and return with payment to:NYCSGA

PO Box 605Sackets Harbor, NY 13685

_______1 year joint membership in NYCSGA (includes all benefits of NationalCorn Growers Association and American Soybean Association and a freeNYCSGA polo) $85

_______3 year joint membership (includes all of the above) $230

Hudson next page

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quaculture is the fastest-growing animal-production sectorglobally. Even with aquaculture production increasing at anannual rate of 7 percent, more farm-raised fish will be

needed fulfill the growing demand for seafood around the world ina sustainable manner. Fortunately, this growing popularity anddemand is a good thing for U.S. soybean farmers.

Aquaculture represents a somewhat new market opportunity forU.S. soy meal. A sustainable feed ingredient, soy meal can fulfill thesame protein needs in many species of fish. Thanks in part to soycheckoff-funded research, many fish farms have been feeding moresoy meal in place of fish meal. Feeding demonstrations, techsupport and workshops, all with the end goal of increasing the useof U.S. soy in fish feed here at home and abroad, are examples ofareas supported by the United Soybean Board (USB), the soycheckoff and the U.S. Soybean Export Council.

According to the most recent data, the domestic aquaculture sectoruses 251,000 metric tons of U.S. soy meal, while international fishproduction uses 3.45 million metric tons. China is the largest importerof U.S. soy for use in the aquaculture sector. The country, currently anet exporter of fish, will soon consume all of the fish it produces andeven import some to meet its people's demand for seafood.

"Fish are a big part of the Chinese diet, so the aquaculture industryis a major player in their economy," said USB Chair Vanessa Kummer,a soybean farmer from Colfax, N.D. "The checkoff has helped thesefish farmers achieve the right rations and populations, which lessensnegative effects."

AAquaculture's Demand for Soy Meal Catching On

and farm life. The farm works 2,000 acres growing corn, soybeans,small grains, alfalfa & hay. Together Lloyd, PJ and Beth make avery diverse and educated team to discuss modern agriculturewith consumers.

Just Food is a non-profit organization that connects consumers withfarmers so they can make wise decisions about locally grown foodand provide them with resources plus support to establish andexperience healthy food systems. Just Food will be hosting aconference on Feb. 22 and 23 which is estimated to attract 2,000plus participants. The conference focuses on cooking and foodpreservation techniques, CSA trends, and the food justicemovement in NYC and beyond, as well as ways to create andsupport good food projects in local communities.

The New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association has submittedan application for a workshop and will also be hosting a table atthe trade show.

NYCSGA will be participating in the Just Food Conference inconjunction with the Common Ground initiative, which is a programsupported by the United Soybean Board to educate consumers andfind common talking points about food production. CommonGround will also be helping to prepare and assist the group at theconference. We invite members and growers to attend thisworkshop to get a better understanding of consumer perceptions ofagriculture as well as supporting the three farmers attending.Please contact Julia Robbins at juliacrobbins@gmail.com or315-778-1443 if you are interested in attending the Just Foodconference on Feb. 22 & 23, 2013.

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ill Jenkins, a member of the board of directors of the NewYork Corn & Soybean Growers Association, traveled in July toNorth Dakota as part of the American Soybean Association's

REAP tour. Below is Bill's account of the trip:

On Monday, July 23rd, we landed in Bismarck, ND, the capitol.After meeting some of the other state representatives at theairport, we went to our hotel. In the evening, all of us went todinner with the North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture,Doug Goehring. Ag commissioner is an elected position, andMr. Goehring is also an active farmer. The North Dakota Governor,

Jack Dalrymple, who is also an active farmer, was invited but couldnot make the dinner. During dinner, the commissioner and NorthDakota representatives, gave us statistics about the state, such as:unemployment is at 3%-- the lowest in the US; and 75% of theeconomy is ag-generated. We also talked about open pit coalmining and the oil fields in the west. Oil is produced fromshale formations there.

The next day, we went by chartered bus and visited a coalgeneration plant and a gasification plant. The byproducts fromthese processes are fertilizer and anhydrous ammonia. The coal thatfeeds these two plants is mined by open strip mining. They remove

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Thank you to our directors and student volunteers for your help inthe NYCSGA Empire Farm Days food booth!

Bill Jenkins Travels to North Dakota on REAP Tour

Bill Jenkins and an employee the Tharaldson ethanol plant.

An oil field in North Dakota

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n August, members of the NYCSGA board of directors, alongwith farmer volunteers, hosted a display at the Dutchess CountyFair in Rhinebeck, NY . The Dutchess Fair is the second largest

county fair in the state, averaging over 500,000 attendees from theHudson Valley and New York City area. It was the first time NYCSGAhad ever exhibited at the fair.

And what a popular display it was. People came in droves to checkout the 25 foot wide Case IH combine, on loan from Lo Nan Farms inRhinebeck, NY. Once people got a close-up look at the combine, theystarted asking questions; from how much does the combine cost, to"are there GMOs in your soybeans?" Thanks to the expertise of ourvolunteers, we were able to answer everyone's questionseffectively and honestly.

In addition to the combine, the display also included a tent with adiorama of soybean production-- from the field to the end use in

animal agriculture, as well as a put-put golf game made of soy basedmaterials.

Director Beth Chittenden also put together numerous educationalmaterials, including information about fertilizers and the soy prod-ucts that you might find in your home.

The Dutchess County Fair also received funding this year from theUnited Soybean Board, through the Green Ribbon Fair program, touse biodiesel to run the carnival rides.

The display at the Dutchess County Fair proved to be a worthwhileexercise in consumer education and the NYCSGA board is lookingforward to participating in the fair again next year.

Thank you to Beth Chittenden and Tom Sutter for organizing thebooth, securing the combine and getting volunteers!

IConsumer Education at the Dutchess County Fair

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No Singing the Blues, Soybean Leadership College OffersGreat Lineup of Speakers

emphis may be famous for its blues sound and barbecue butwhen the ASA Soybean Leadership College takes placeJan. 8-10, 2013, in Memphis, the only blues playing will be in

the lounges. The 2013 Soybean Leadership College is offering up agreat lineup of speakers for the program.

The Soybean Leadership College will kick-off with a welcome generalsession on Tuesday, Jan. 8, with noted "Voice of Rural America" TrentLoos, who will bring his positive message of connecting rural andurban American by sharing the positive story of productionagriculture.

The Wednesday morning general session will feature a presentationfrom Bruce Scherr, Chairman and CEO of Informa Economics. Brucewill discuss "The Economic Climate for Agriculture and IssuesAffecting Producers." The afternoon general session will featureauthor Larry Johnson on "Mastering the Storm - How to Stay Up,Stay Positive and Thrive When Times are Turbulent."

The Thursday closing presentation will feature fifth generationranchers and noted agriculture advocates Troy and Stacy Hadrick.Troy and Stacy will share with attendees their passion and tips fortelling the positive story of agriculture.

The State Leaders Summit, prior to the start of the SoybeanLeadership College, features globally-recognized consulting futuristBob Treadway. Bob will present an outlook of agriculture to ASA,United Soybean Board and state organization leaders, and willfacilitate a strategic thinking discussion on how the organizations canwork together to address key soybean issues. Treadway's appearanceis sponsored by Syngenta.

The 2013 Soybean Leadership College is sponsored in part by the NewYork Corn & Soybean Association.

New York is eligible to send one participant to the LeadershipCollege. Anyone interested in attending should contact Julia atjuliacrobbins@gmail.com.

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50-100% of topsoiland that exposes 25feet of coal. Aftercoal is removed, alldirt and top soil isrestored, so that canland can be workedagain. After viewingthe coal mining, wewere driven by busto the western partof the state to toursome oil and gasfields.

There are 250 oil rigsworking in the state.After a well isdrilled, it takes 150truckloads of water,some chemicals andsand to frack thesewells. A wellproduces about 3 to4 tractor-trailer loadsa day. These loadsare then taken to arailhead.

We then drovefurther west toMedora and theTheodore RooseveltState Park where weenjoyed a pitchforkfondue (steaks on apitchfork, cooked infondue), and aMedora musicalshow. On Wednesday, July25, we left Medorafor Mandaw, and

visited the NorthGreat Plains ResearchCenter, where muchof the research isdone on wheat.Farmers had beencombining springwheat as we crossedthe state.

We then visitedCavendish Farms.Here French fries aremade for largecompanies such asBurger King. We alsovisited Paul andVanessa Kummer'sfarm. Vanessa ischairwoman of theUnited SoybeanBoard.

On Thursday, wevisited SinnerBrothers inBresnehan. They aresoybean processorsand a cattle farm.They process about900 containers ofcleaned and baggededible soybeans thatare sent to China.The company alsohas a large feed lotwhere cattle areloaded and shipped.

From there wetoured theTharaldson ethanolplant, which has acapacity of 150million gallons. Laterthat afternnon, wevisited the NorthDakota StateUniversity greenhouse and the NorthCrops Institute,where continuingresearch is beingdone on crops.

Thursday evening,we enjoyed afarewell dinner withthe North DakotaSoybean GrowersAssociation. We flewhome on Friday.

North Dakota is #1 inthe production ofthe following agproducts: barley,beans (dry, edible),pinto beans, canola,flaxseed, honey,peas, sunflower oil,durum wheat andspring wheat. Othercommoditiesimportant to NorthDakota agriculture

include:soybeans, potatoes,sugar beets, corn,buckwheat, beef,dairy, sheep, bison,and turkey andpoultry.

The economy is sogood in NorthDakota, that whenwe visited aMcDonalds, the signon the door saidthey paying $14 an

hour. Truck driversand people workingin the oil fields getbetween $25 and$70 an hour.

Bill from 6

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Q & A withJessica Ziehm, NYAAC Executive Director

escribe your job position.Since August 1, I am the Executive Director for the New YorkAnimal Agriculture Coalition. This group is born from the

industry and makes advocating for modern animal agriculture a dailypriority. We all have a role in being advocates, but all too often, weend up fighting fires rather than building bridges. My job is to buildbridges from the farmer to the consumer so that open and honestdialog can take place and consumers can better understand,appreciate and value the food our farmers produce.

What is your background?I grew up on an 85-cow dairy farm in Rensselaer County and knewfrom an early age that agriculture would always be a part of my life.I studied ag business and ag communications in college and workedfor various ag-related organizations, including Cargill, Farm Bureauand most recently the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets,where I spent the past 12 years as its spokesperson. Today, I live onmy husband's family farm in Washington County where they milk 600cows and crop over 1,200 acres.

What is your secret to success? It's no secret really - you have to love what you do. Agriculture is inmy blood; it's my life; and I couldn't be more thrilled to be put in aposition where I can help my fellow farmers, including my family andmy friends that work sun up to sun down in order to put a healthyand safe product on our dinner plates.

Activities/memberships/other boards that you participatein/serve on? Currently, I serve on the New York State Agricultural Society's boardof directors, which is a wonderful group that focuses its efforts on thepositives in the industry by recognizing good work and providing anannual forum for those in the industry to learn from and network at.I am also actively involved with the Northeast Regional Food Bank,serving as the president of the board, but also dedicating time toseveral committees that are responsible for organizing fundraisingevents in the Capital District. The Food Bank helps serve over 1,000member agencies such as food pantries and soup kitchens, anddistributes more than 25 million pounds of food annually.

How do you stay on top of all of agriculture's "currentevents"?I am constantly scanning the news media and farm publications to seewhat is new. But more importantly, I am involved in agorganizations, such as the Ag Society and Farm Bureau. I alsovolunteer with our local land conservancy, Cooperative Extension, thedairy princess program and more. Just getting out and talking tofarmers and attending events helps me stay connected and up tospeed on the current issues.

What are some of the challenges and opportunities you'refinding with NYAAC?There are an abundance of opportunities for NYAAC with the mainchallenge being how to prioritize all that needs or could be done.Therefore, as a board, we are in the process of researching potentialprojects and the various methods of promoting positive messagesabout modern animal agriculture. We hope to soon have an agendafor the next year on how we will work to improve the image ofagriculture in New York State. Stay tuned!

What is the biggest challenge that you think modernagriculture is facing right now?There are many challenges facing this industry right now, howeverthe one I believe I may have the greatest influence over is the public'sperception of agriculture. As an industry, we have not done a good

job of explaining all the advancements and changes in the industry.All too often, anti-agriculture groups are telling our story for us.That needs to change. We need to have a louder and more frequentvoice in these conversations, a voice that provides the consumer withthe facts they want and deserve.

What are you looking forward to most in your new NYAACrole?Coming from state government where information is printed in blackand white, I look forward to letting my creative spirit soar. While themessages may be similar, the methods we will utilize at NYAAC toreach the consumer will be more colorful in both presentation andtechnique.

Hometown: Buskirk, NY (Washington County)

Education: Associates Degree in Ag Business from SUNY Cobleskilland Bachelors Degree in Ag Communications from Virginia Tech

Family: My husband Stuart; our 2-year old son Franklin, and anotherbaby on the way, due at the end of October. And I can't forget ouryellow lab, Oliver.

Hobbies: Gardening, playing tennis, taking Sunday drives in our 1956International pickup truck, antiquing, and just staying home to enjoythe company of family and friends at our restored 1850s farmhouse.

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e 10 Answering Your Questions about Vertical Tillage

By Tom Sutter

he concept of Vertical Tillage (VT) hasbeen around for many years. Manymanufacturers have jumped into the

race to provide growers just about everypossible twist imaginable on the concept.How do you figure out which tool is theright tool for you?

VT originated as a concept to help no-tillfarmers reduce compaction in the plantingzone and size residue in the mid-90s. A trueno-till farmer has a planter, sprayer andcombine and does not perform any tillage.These farmers were having problems incontinuous corn situations with poor rootdevelopment and residue build-up. The goalwas to come up with a tool that would sizeresidue and disturb as little of the soil profileas possible. VT was born.

As more stout hybrids were introduced in the2000s, more and more farms ran intoproblems with residue management.Stronger stalks were needed to supporthigher yielding corn. These stout stalkswould not break down over the winter asthey once did causing problems in producinga good seed bed. Many minimal tillage andconventional tillage growers discovered thatutilizing a VT tool in the fall and/or springreally helped improve their residue problem.

The adoption of additional growers utilizingthese tools has resulted in an explosion ofmodels offered by manufacturers. Sometools work better than others, depending onyour soil types and goals of operation. Mosttools consist of a group of shallowconcaved/fluted blades either gang orindividually mounted, followed by some typeof finishing tool to size clods and level theseed bed. To help select the right tool foryour operation, jot down your goals. Do you

T Vertical Tillage Tools*

Manufacturer ModelCase 330 TurboGreat Plains Turbo Till Series IIJohn Deere 2623VTKuhn/Krause ExceleratorLandoll 7400 SeriesMcFarlan Reel DiscPottinger Terra DiscSalford RTS

*This by no means is an all-inclusive list!Answering 11

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want excellentresidue sizing andlittle soildisturbance?Consider a tool withlittle angle or anadjustable gangangle. If you arelooking for residue

sizing and leveling,you will need a toolthat moves more soil.A tool with ahigher gang anglewill likely workbetter in that typeof situation.

There are a coupleof key factors to getthe best out of VTno matter whichtool you choose:operating depth andoperating speed.In regards tooperating depth,the key is to keepit shallow.Running a VT tooltoo deep will justturn it into anexpensive disc!A good rule ofthumb is to run thetool at or just belowyour averageplanting depth.If you plant at 2.5",you should run yourVT tool at 2.5" andno more than 3".As far as speed, fastis your only answer.These tools requirespeed for the toolsto work correctly soplan on operatingbetween 7 and 10mph in the field.Speed is critical toget the impact oncutting the stalk,in addition totilling the 2" to 3"of soil around theblade.

In the end, a VTtool is a great wayto handle heavyresidue and helpprepare a greatseed bed, whilemaintaining goodresidue coverageto reduce erosion.

Contact yourlocal dealer, tell themyour goals and soiltype and they canhelp you choose theright tool to bestachieve your needs.

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