Diversification

Unlocking New Farm Revenue: Bayer’s Newgold Targets The Biofuel Boom

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 20:38:05 GMT

At the intersection of low-carbon fuels and practical farm economics, Bayer’s newgold seed brand is being developed, offering an opportunity for farmers to make additional income from their existing acres.

By inserting high-oil, low-carbon intensity crops such as camelina and canola into idle/fallow acres or wheat rotations, growers can tap into a new income stream that feeds the fast-growing biomass-based diesel market.

The new opportunities are backed by defined grain contracts, downstream demand, and long-term R&D investment, according to Chad Bilby, Bayer biofuel crops innovation and commercial lead.

Bilby says Bayer’s biofuel crops portfolio is currently centered on three crops:

1. Camelina (spring and winter): Under the newgold brand, initial focus for 2026 is in the northern Great Plains (southern Saskatchewan, southeast Alberta, eastern Montana, western North Dakota), with potential expansion as the program and value chain build out.

2. Winter canola: Also under newgold, the crop is targeted for commercial planting starting in September 2027 in the southern Great Plains (Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas) within wheat rotation systems.

3. CoverCress: This offering is a joint venture between Bayer, Chevron and Bunge and has been in place for several years. CoverCress is an oilseed targeted to corn-soybean farmers in the Midwest and used to produce low-carbon intensity oil for renewable fuels and high-protein meal for animal feed.

“All these crops that we’re focused on are geared for the biomass-based diesel segment of biofuels,” Bilby says. “When you look at biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel… a lot of the higher horsepower engines where electric vehicles are not going to play a role are really seeking a path to get access to biofuels,” he adds.

Seed to Market: Closed-Loop System and Value-Chain Alignment

Newgold is being built on the recognition by Bayer that agronomy alone doesn’t make a new crop successful for farmers — marketing certainty is needed.

Because many specialty oilseeds, such as camelina, don’t have a standard commodity market behind them already, Bayer is structuring a closed-loop, contract-based system from the outset.

“Some of these crops aren’t a commodity trade, so something like camelina or CoverCress, you don’t have a market for those crops,” Bilby explains. “There will be a grain contract in place that will establish the pricing and delivery options… farmers will have that grain contract available. And then in the case of a camelina or winter canola, we will then sell the seed to the farmer against that contract to fulfill the contract.”

In parallel, Bayer is working across the entire value chain to align agronomy, grain flow and processing capacity.

“We’re collaborating closely with value chain partners,” Bilby says. “So as crush and renewable fuel capacity comes online, [farmers will] have a locally relevant crop and clear contracting options, kind of a seamless path from seed to market,” he says. “This is going to help ensure that agronomic fit, and that grain logistics and crush demand start to scale together.”

On the distribution side, newgold will tap into Bayer’s existing retail networks but says it won’t be locked into any single channel. Bilby notes that Bayer will leverage relationships and brands like DEKALB, WestBred, and others, but the newgold label gives the company the freedom to choose the best local partners.

More formal announcements around the Bayer newgold brand and opportunities are expected in the coming weeks. Farmers can learn more of the various program details by contacting their local Bayer representative.

The Tax Man Cometh To The Farm

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:52:13 GMT

Everyone can benefit from a practical reminder from time-to-time. In this case, Paul Neiffer wants to remind farmers that the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is set to expire at the end of 2025.

“We’ve had these tax cuts for eight years now, but farmers may not be thinking about this and what it could mean for them,” said Neiffer, principal of FarmCPAReport.com and a Top Producer columnist.

Neiffer addressed the topic of what farmers need to know now and address from a tax standpoint during the 2025 Top Producer Summit in Kansas City.

“Certainly, farmers are aware of the lifetime estate tax exemption dropping in half after this year. But I think a lot of these other provisions that would hit them, they’re probably not quite as aware of them,” he said.

Neiffer highlighted three provisions he believes U.S. farmers are likely most interested in seeing extended or made permanent. They include:

1. The 100% Bonus Depreciation. Neiffer said he believes the 100% provision will be made permanent, though it’s currently only 40%.

“We think that will come back to farmers,” he said. “The practical benefit is when they purchase equipment or farm buildings they’ll be able to deduct 100% of that item in the year of purchase. Also, there is a chance that trade-in of farm equipment will be similar to the old rules and non-taxable in most situations.”

2. The increase in the lifetime exemption for estates. If the current law is left unchanged, as of Jan 1, 2026, the present lifetime estate and gift tax exemption will be cut approximately in half. It currently is almost $14 million.

Neiffer is optimistic about the exemption. “I think the likelihood on the estate exemption is very good. I think that’ll stay at least at the current level,” he said.

3. The Section 199A Cap. This provision allows individuals, trusts and estates with pass-through business income to deduct up to 20% of qualified business income (QBI) from taxable ordinary income. Schedule F farmers are also granted the 20% deduction.

While Neiffer said there is some bipartisan support in Congress for extending the Section 199A deduction beyond 2025, he is ambivalent about that happening. “With that 20%, it would be a lot more costly to enact,” he noted.

Practical Next Steps Farmers Can Take
Looking ahead, Neiffer said he believes the likelihood of having a major tax bill before the end of 2025 is slim. At best, the bill would be ready by November or December.

For that reason, Neiffer’s recommendation to farmers is for them to plan on pushing income into 2026 but to have the flexibility to bring that income back into 2025.

“The reason is if the tax cuts don’t get extended that means 2026 tax brackets are going to be a lot higher,” Neiffer explained. “So, we would want to bring income into 2025. Now, farmers have the ability to do that using deferred payment contracts and some other elections that they can make – but only if they plan ahead accordingly. They definitely want to make sure they do that,” he added.

Your next read: It’s Tax Time: Your Guide To Calculate Farm Income

How To Translate Generational Misunderstandings

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:24:36 GMT

The week of June 10, Farm Journal is celebrating the next generation of American agriculture. Our goal is to encourage you to plan for the future and cultivate multigenerational success through the transfer of skills and knowledge. Think tomorrow, act today to align your asset, resource and financial legacy.

Communication between one generation to another can seem like talking a different language.

“I suggest you approach looking at another generation with curiosity rather than judgment,” says Kim Lear of Inlay Insights.

In her work, Lear shares generational theory insights and highlights how these are trends, not traits, but can inform better teamwork.

Why It Matters Now

Taking a refreshed approach to understanding on-farm team members from other generations is top of mind as today there are four generations actively employed across our economy.

When bringing more than one generation into leadership roles on the farm, it’s helpful to understand how to communicate.

“Dates given for generations are just a starting point. Generational theory is taking formative events from our growing years and seeing how they shape the people who lived through it,” she explains

A typical generation spans 15 to 18 years, and while general trends can be highlighted, Lear also notes there are exceptions.

“There are individuals who sit between two generations, and those people can serve important roles communicating between the generations. They are generationally bilingual,” Lear says.

3 Steps for Generations To Work Together
“We are in a unique time where we have four generations in the workforce,” says Kim Lear. She suggests three steps to bring together a productive team. 1. Prioritize clarity over brevity in communication. 2. Instill respect as the foundation. 3. Deliver feedback in a way that motivates to improve rather than paralyze with fear. Give a clear path for the road to improvement with the tools to get where they need to be.

3 Steps for Generations To Work Together

“We are in a unique time where we have four generations in the workforce,” says Kim Lear. She suggests three steps to bring together a productive team.

1. Prioritize clarity over brevity in communication.

2. Instill respect as the foundation.

3. Deliver feedback in a way that motivates to improve rather than paralyze with fear. Give a clear path for the road to improvement with the tools to get where they
need to be.

We Are Getting Older

The scales are tilting toward an older society, and there are fewer members of the younger generations.

“The story of aging is changing in America,” she says. “We have cliff diving birth rates and low immigration. Also, we are an ageist society.”

Today 62 million adults ages 65 and older are living in the U.S., which is 18% of the population, according to the U.S. Census. In 30 years, 84 million adults ages 65 and older will make up an estimated 23% of the population.

With the recognition of how our population is structured, and how your on-farm team members reflect their generational trends, you can evaluate your communication.

Next Gen Insights

Lear shares trends about Generation X (birth years: 1965 to 1979), millennials (birth years: 1980 to 1994), and Generation Z (birth years: 1995 to 2012).

Members of Generation X can exhibit fierce independence. For example, they can have an aversion to traditional sales tactics.

“If a brand crosses them, they are hard to earn back as a customer,” she says. “It’s telling — the divorce rate doubled during the Gen X birth years.”

As another data point, 55% of startup founders are Gen X.

As for millennials, the rise of double income households really took off as millennials grew up.

“Millennials are collaborative, empowered, networked, risk averse and in search of meaning,” she says. “But America has more single parent households than anywhere else in the world. It’s one way to understand why work-life balance is at the forefront of recruitment and retention.”

For Generation Z, our present serves as the backdrop of their formative years. Already, Lear has seen how Gen X parents and Gen Z children have relationships rooted in friendship.

“They are highly influential over each other’s decision-making. For example, Gen Z will bring job offers to their parents to vet,” she says.

Lear continues with an example of how Generation Z makes decisions.

“They are showing how they can abandon any obsession of convenience with an obsession of optimization,” she says. “For example, a regular stationary bike is convenient versus a Peloton is synched with stats and analytics. It’s the expectation of personalization and customization.”

Lear gives an exercise to test your transgenerational communication.

“Look at processes, procedures and norms. What are you holding on that is a sacred cow? And then ask your team to think about where can we focus on that’s more useful and more productive for us?” Lear outlines. “You’ll identify priorities and open up how our team talks to one another.”

Winter Canola Offers New Income Potential to Mid-South Farmers

Fri, 10 May 2024 17:15:59 GMT

Sometime in the next two or three weeks, Brandon Whitt says his winter canola crop will be ready to harvest.

In North Dakota, where the bulk of the popular oilseed is grown in the U.S., this would be nothing unusual. But Whitt is based in central Tennessee, a part of the mid-South where corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat and hay crops rule.

Winter canola might soon be added to the list, thanks to a joint venture between Bunge and Chevron (Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables) and Corteva Agriscience. Corteva (Pioneer) offers canola seed and is providing farmers with agronomic support.

The companies are working with about 20 farmers in Tennessee and Kentucky this year to give winter canola a leg up in the region. The crop could provide an additional revenue stream for growers there and help meet the increasing market needs for renewable fuel.

Western Kentucky and Tennessee are what Chad Berghoefer calls the “current epicenter” in the mid-South for winter canola production.

“From there, we could see it being grown about 150 to maybe 200 miles from that point – up into southern Illinois, down into northern Alabama, Mississippi, and over into Arkansas and Missouri as well. Those will be the number of states, as we grow out the project year over year,” says Berghoefer, global product director of biofuels for Corteva Agriscience.

The three company partners estimate winter canola acreage could go from the 5,000 acres in production this year in Kentucky and Tennessee to millions of acres across their target region within the next decade.

Farmer Preserves The Past, Embraces The Future

Whitt says when he was approached by his Pioneer field agronomist, Kyle Holmberg, about trying winter canola, he was excited to give it a go on his family’s eighth-generation operation, Batey Farms. The farm was established in 1807.

The prospect of growing winter canola fit well with the family’s motto, “preserving the past and embracing the future.”

With that in mind, Whitt ripped out a 6-acre field of U-pick strawberries on his farm, located along a highway near the city limits of Murfeesboro, Tenn., population 162,000. He planted the small plot, which is considered a research location for the mid-South, last September.

“We wanted to put this in an area that the general public could see and ask questions about what winter canola is and what we’re doing with it,” Whitt says.

The crop garnered considerable local attention from passersby when it flowered this spring. Some local high school graduates took their senior pictures in front of the crop. In another instance, at least one couple took some of their engagement pictures in the field, using the crop as a backdrop.

Whitt says the crop has been “pretty easy” to manage. His experience with wheat and barley made growing canola a similar experience.

“It’s really not very different as a winter crop for us,” he says.

Pioneer has provided production guidelines for winter canola here .

The Status Of Canola In The U.S.

Farmers currently grow about 2 million acres of canola in the United States, according to the U.S. Canola Association (USCA).

There are two types of canola: spring and winter, named as such for when they are planted. Spring canola is planted in early spring (March) and harvested around September. This type accounts for the majority of U.S. canola production, the association reports on its website .

Winter canola is planted in September. It overwinters and is then harvested in late May or early June. Typically, winter canola will yield 20% to 30% more than spring canola.

In the U.S., the ratio of supply versus demand of canola oil is about 1:4, which presents a huge opportunity for farmers to grow more canola, USCA says.

The biofuels market could potentially be even more significant. In 2021-22, the association says approximately 1.4 billion pounds of canola oil were used annually in biofuels.

Profit Margins And Logistics Play Important Roles

One potential hiccup for farmers in newer production areas is getting the crop to market. That’s a factor for the Whitt family.

“I’d definitely like to expand the crop acreage, but logistics will come into play,” says Whitt, whose 1,800-plus acres of crops currently include non-GMO yellow and white corn, barley, wheat, oats and soybeans.

He says the current delivery point Bunge has available this first year of the program is too far from his farm. However, he adds, he is hopeful Bunge will add a delivery location in northern Alabama.

“If that happens, then the sky’s the limit for growers in my area to add winter canola into their production as an alternative crop,” he says.

If Whitt decides to grow canola on a large scale, he anticipates using it in a double-crop practice. This year, for example, he plans to plant either sunflowers or soybeans after the canola is harvested.

“We always try to find ways to evolve as farmers,” Whitt says. “I’m producing crops to make money and also because of the passion we have to feed, clothe and fuel our community around us and our world. I think this is one of the best projects I could be involved with right now.”

Looking forward, Whitt says he looks forward to learning more about winter canola. “I’m really curious to see the project through its fruition, to understand better how to grow it, and how do we manage the crop as a quality grain moving forward to get it to the end market.”

Winter Canola Program For 2024/25

The three partnering companies – Corteva Agriscience, Bunge and Chevron – say there are five potential advantages for farmers who participate in their winter canola program:
1. Increased total farm profitability
2. The opportunity to participate in the growing renewables feedstock market
3. Improve soil through plant diversity and water filtration
4. Maximize productivity through a multi-year crop rotation
5. Access to federal crop insurance for qualified participants

Farmers who want to participate are able to contract acres of production at a fixed price based on the July 2025 Canola Futures, +/- local area basis. ‘Act of God’ clause is included and additional pricing alternatives are available, according to literature the companies have developed jointly.

Growers will deliver all canola production to a river loading facility and get paid by Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables. Grain delivered is subject to quality grading standards.

Pioneer has provided production guidelines for winter canola here .

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Pennsylvania’s Painterland Sisters See Spectacular Success With “Side” Yogurt Business

Pennsylvania's Painterland Sisters See Spectacular Success With “Side” Yogurt Business

Wed, 08 May 2024 19:54:38 GMT

When Stephanie and Hayley Painter started a yogurt business a couple of years ago to help support their family’s Pennsylvania dairy farm, they didn’t envision it quickly becoming the country’s fastest growing yogurt brand in the natural foods space. But that’s exactly what happened. Painterland Sisters Icelandic Yogurt is now sold in 2,200 stores coast to coast.

Stephanie explains how and why she and her sister achieved such success in a brand new podcast called Grow Getters , which explores “Agriculture’s most inventive side hustles.” Hosted by Davis Michaelsen and produced by Farm Journal Studios, Grow Getters takes a lively look at creative ways farmers are plugging into their passions and sometimes exploring new technologies to add revenue to their operations. In agriculture’s challenging economic climate, these resourceful “grow getters” are redefining what it means to be a farmer.

Watch episode one of Grow Getters here.

Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30" List

With their organic, nutrient-dense yogurt, made using milk from their farm and from nearby farms, the Painter sisters have taken moonlighting to a whole new level, even landing a spot on Forbes magazine’s most recent “30 Under 30” list .

“We saw cool, powerful women helping their family’s business on the Forbes 30 Under 30, so my sister and I looked at each other and said, ‘We want to do that,’” Stephanie explains on the first Grow Getters podcast. “We want to represent dairy. Farming, right? Agriculture. Wouldn’t that be amazing to make it relatable, to make dairy cool and fun to the general consumer?”

More than achieving accolades, however, the sisters’ mission is to connect consumers with the farmers who are producing their food every day. They’re also committed to continuing the succession process on the family’s fourth-generation farm, preserving and even increasing its value for the next generation coming up quickly behind them.

Read more about the Painter sisters and their exploding business.

Following its debut on May 7 with the Painter sisters, Grow Getters will release a new episode every other Tuesday. Blending stories of side-hustle highs and lows with plenty of humor and even some flashy singing and piano-playing by Davis, Grow Getters is like no other show in today’s ag media world. The goal of the podcast is to celebrate and match the unbridled moxie, energy and creativity of its guests. Subscribe to the Farm Journal YouTube page for the latest episodes.

A Big Future for Texas Dairy

Fri, 03 May 2024 20:42:21 GMT

Head to the Lone Star State, and everything is bigger, or so they say. That doesn’t only refer to big hats and big hair, it also applies to dairies, as the average size in the Panhandle hovers around 4,000 cows.

Beyond cow numbers, the theme of growth is consistent, although for some operations that doesn’t necessarily equal milking more cows. Many producers plan to increase cow numbers, while some share growth revolves around efficiencies.

The growth Texas has seen in the past two decades in terms of milk production is noticeable. Jennifer Spencer, AgriLife Extension dairy specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science, says Texas produced 1.65 billion pounds in 2023.

According to Juan Piñeiro, assistant professor and Extension dairy specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, the Lone Star State will continue to increase cow numbers and milk production, especially in the Panhandle, over the next five years.

“When business is good, dairies continue to expand,” Piñeiro says. That’s why we have seen an increased rate of consolidation in the dairy industry, especially in the past 15 years in the U.S.

70% of Cows Live on 5% of Dairies

Net profits tend to be lower in smaller herds, Piñeiro points out, which is why 70% of the cows in the U.S. live on 5% of the dairies.

“This certainly holds true in Texas,” he says. “This statistic will continue to grow.”

But to grow, processing plants must also expand. With more than $7 billion in planned processing investments in the pipeline, including in states such as Texas, growth
is promising.

Spencer says four processing facilities are just opening or under construction in the state, which could increase demand for Texas milk:

Cacique Foods, a cheese plant, opened in May in Amarillo.
Great Lakes Cheese Plant in Abilene is scheduled to be completed in late 2024.
A milk processing plant in San Antonio to support H-E-B is under construction and scheduled to be completed in summer 2025.
Phase 1 of a Lubbock-based Leprino Foods cheese plant is scheduled to be completed in early 2026.

Piñeiro says it is difficult to predict what the future of Texas dairy will be with all the challenges facing dairies today.

“Although I do think there is room for growth in Texas with all the upcoming processing plants,” Piñeiro says, adding he believes most of the milk to fill the upcoming processing plant needs in the state will come from Texas dairy producers, but some might come from neighboring states such as southwestern Kansas or eastern New Mexico.

Labor Costs Eat into Profits

With oil industries, among others, competing for labor, finding workers is also a challenge for Texas dairy producers. This has led some to incorporate technologies and automation to reduce labor needs.

Although Tom Alger, one of the owners of A-Tex Dairy in Friona, Texas, says his dairy has fared well with labor. He says their challenge with labor has been the overall costs it takes to pay for workers.

“That’s inflation, though,” he says.

Originally from Chino, Calif., Alger and his family moved to Friona in 2007. The family decided to move east after the southern California dairy they rented was sold. Alger and his brother Ray went into partnership together and built a 3,200-cow dairy in the Texas Panhandle to provide an opportunity for the future generation to dairy.

“We have a larger dairy than I ever dreamed of,” Alger says, adding that the operation is in the process of slowly purchasing his brother out.

With God’s blessing, he says dairying has been mostly successful for them. They now milk 5,300 cows and continue to look at how to improve efficiencies to sustain the family dairy operation.

“We’ve gotten a little bigger in terms of cows and land, and we will see where the next generation goes,” Alger says, adding that they currently farm with his son Derek and his nephew Jeff.

Water Scarcity Presents a Hurdle

While Texas has more than doubled its cow numbers in two decades, the biggest challenge to push the needle and continue the steady growth curve is water scarcity. Piñeiro says this is the largest hurdle facing producers in the state.

“The Panhandle is a semi-desert, with roughly 12" to 18" of precipitation a year,” he says. “Improving water efficiency with the use of new irrigation technologies, drought-tolerant crops, hydroponic systems and management practices considering soil health, among other strategies, will be key in the future.”

Water was an issue when Alger moved to Friona in 2007, but now he says it’s a major challenge.

“The wells’ average flow rate is 400 gal. per minute, and today they might get 150 to 200 per minute,” he explains. “I’ve got some wells holding, while others are dropping quickly.”

They have plenty of water for the cows, but when it comes to the feed side of the equation, Alger says that is another story.

“It’s obviously a concern every year,” he says. “We look at what water we have available before we make the decision what crop go into the ground.”

Combating water issues, A-Tex Dairy grows fewer acres of corn and more drought-resistant crops, such as sorghum or wheat.

“Double cropping is not an option anymore,” he notes.

They own 3,500 acres and rotate crops to help feed their cattle. He says they’ll likely allocate 900 acres for corn silage this year.

Factor in limited rainfall, especially if you look at the past two summers in the High Plains area, and it is no surprise water is a main concern for its producers. A-Tex Dairy works with neighboring farms to purchase additional feed, and Alger believes they are well positioned for their 2025 feed supply. In addition, the dairy feeds a lot of gluten and distiller grain, along with some cottonseed.

Beef-on-Dairy is a Blessing

One area that has been a blessing for A-Tex Dairy is beef-on-dairy calves. The family started dabbling in this alternative profit source seven years ago, and for the past four years, the majority of their cows have been bred to sexed semen or Angus.

“We have very few Holstein bull calves,” Alger says.

They retain the beef-on-dairy calves at different weights.

“We sell some at 450 lb., some at 750 lb., and we retain ownership on some all the way down to the kill floor,” he adds.

Strong beef-on-dairy prices have helped keep the dairy in the black for the past couple of years.

“Milk certainly hasn’t done that,” Alger notes. “Right now, beef-on-dairy has been by far the most profitable for our operation.”

Looking to the future, Alger says they plan to start hedging prices for their beef-on-dairy calves.

“We need some protection because they are worth too much right now not to protect the high prices,” he says.

Another profit opportunity A-Tex is looking into is carbon. Alger admits they have had a couple of offers, but being a drylot facility, the offers aren’t as enticing as some of the modern dairy facilities.

“We are still exploring our options,” he notes. “I know there are opportunities out there. We are generally not the first to jump on something but typically not last either.”

This holds true with investing in technology, as Alger says they, of course, expect a return on investment when incorporating any technology into their dairy.

“Our focus is improving efficiencies,” Derek Alger explains. “We utilize EID tags and FeedWatch and are looking to incorporating a monitoring system.”

Producers have taken a hard hit with falling milk prices in 2023. Spencer says the uniform milk price fell from $23.68 per cwt in 2022 to $18.98 per cwt in 2023. The price of cheese averaged about $2 per cwt below both of those.

At the end of the day, Alger thinks dairy is still a good industry to be part of and says he believes, at this point, 2024 will be a decent year, especially considering feed prices are significantly lower than last year.

While there are several dairies in Texas that are positioned to grow in terms of cow numbers, Alger isn’t planning to grow his herd. For now, they will continue doing what they do best, which is striving to produce the most efficient milk possible to help set the farm up for the next generation of dairy farmers.

Next-Gen Spotlight: Technology and Side Hustle Help Missouri Couple Come Back to the Farm

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:44:40 GMT

Marc and Meagan Kaiser are building their agricultural future in Missouri. Marc is a 5th generation corn and soybean farmer from Carrollton, and Meagan’s family owns a soil testing business in Bowling Green. Together, the couple is finding a way to be part of both family businesses while keeping an eye on their two young children, Mak and Nora. From being active in organizations such as the United Soybean Board to starting their own precision ag business now serving 15 states and three countries, the pair are laser focused on growing the future of the industry.

Q: You both had other careers. How did you know you wanted to come back and farm?

Marc: I went to school thinking I wasn’t going to be back on my family’s farm. We got married in 2012, started our precision ag business and that became the conduit that allowed me to go back to the farm. This was important to me because I didn’t want to be a burden on the farm financially.

Meagan: I was committed with him to joining the farm because it was, in large part, my idea — which is probably how it had to be given the level of commitment. We looked at each other and said, you know, it would be a shame to let this out of the family when we don’t have to.

We live in two different homes in two different towns, and door to door they’re 2.5 hours apart. It was admittedly easier at the beginning when it was just the two of us. Then all of a sudden, a baby is going back and forth. It’s not easy, but we also know we’re not alone. There are so many farmers who farm hundreds of miles apart and their families figure it out.

Q: Has anything surprised you, good or bad, coming back to the farm?

Marc: We wouldn’t be able to do this without the technology that has developed in the past 10 years. When it comes to being able to check irrigation, check grain bin moisture or even check ground moisture under our pivots, there’s so much I can see on my iPad or phone. It’s the same thing when it comes to our other businesses. We are able to check things from afar. Meagan can also look at soil lab equipment while she’s on the farm and watch how the machines are running. That has made the distance an option, and it also allows us to spend more time at each place versus having to run back and forth and commute constantly.

Meagan: The biggest surprise to me, and I hear this a lot when it comes to obstacles of generational farming, was that our parents let us make decisions and sometimes they let us fail. I think they knew what was going to happen before we did, but they let us do it anyway. For the farmers reading this, if your next generation is joining you, remember to let them have some autonomy. Sometimes you might be surprised and they might be right. We’ve been right on technologies and other things, but really, we’ve been blessed with parents who have thought our opinion mattered and incorporated it. That has given us ownership and more pride in the operation too.

Q: What advice would you give next-gen producers?

Meagan: Be observant and be curious. There are a lot of people willing to sell you things, but you have to be a scientist and test things because your profitability relies on it. The most successful farmers we work with are super focused on infield observations. They’re monitoring what they put on, measuring what they take off and running it against their return on investment. It’s hard. It can be a little overwhelming when you go to Commodity Classic and walk the trade show floor. You could obviously grow 200-bu. soybeans if you bought everything on the floor. I admire farmers because they have to try to pinpoint which decision is the right one that will add an extra 5 bu. It’s not easy.

Marc: It’s important to understand where your parents came from, what they’ve done, the decisions they made and what they learned. You can learn two different ways: either by somebody else’s mistakes or by your own mistakes. It’s a lot easier to learn from the previous generation’s mistakes. Everybody says they don’t want to farm like their parents did. I do. I want to farm like they did but with the adjustments they’ve learned to make. Take that knowledge they’ve gained for the past 40, 50 or 60 years. Don’t just throw it to the side. Use that knowledge to then make your decisions going forward.

Q: Why should a next-gen farmer consider getting involved in one of the national farm groups?

Meagan: The most important reason is that it makes us think beyond our own farm gate. I’ve had international conversations about sustainability and about our farm practices with a fish farmer in Cambodia. It made me think about everything we do on our farm, every aspect we can measure and every portion we can prove. I realize I wasn’t considering the need to prove it to anybody before.

If you don’t have the commodity organizations, for instance, doing the research to prove our sustainability gains, then nobody knows about it. We have to prove it. That means showing up and taking part is half of the battle. It’s hard. I have two young children, but I still think it’s important for every farm family to think about how can we engage — not from a glory standpoint, but just to make sure somebody is showing up to tell this story and proving our sustainability.

Q: Is having a side hustle a good idea?

Meagan: For us, admittedly, there’s probably a little pride in having an off-farm job. We both didn’t want to be a drain on the operation. We had successful careers before we came back to our family businesses, and we wanted to say we’re contributing — not just taking. I think it gives you a little bit of independence and that might be why it’s a good idea. That said, we’ve had a lot of all-nighters getting our side hustle going. Be prepared to work because you don’t get to take off time from the farm or that other business.

Marc: Our side hustle and farming are mutually beneficial. Some of the resources we use in our precision ag business translate directly to the farm.

Meagan: I joke that I turned the farm into a giant research trial and Marc is always willing to try something new.

Q: Your career, either on or off the farm, has revolved around agriculture. Why?

Marc: In a way, we’re helping feed not only people in America, but people around the world. We get to be involved with family businesses. It isn’t always perfect, but there are always lots of laughs. Ultimately, it’s rewarding taking on and being part of this responsibility.

Meagan: We get to live our daily lives a little bit more tactically focused, but we keep the big picture in mind. We get to raise our kids in agriculture and, in the end, we get to be around our kids and our parents a lot more because of this life. All of those things are things we really value. I do think our kids get tired of hearing about boron trials at the dinner table, but we’re having a good time.

Want to read more inspiring stories about farming’s next generation?

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A New Option for Farmland Legacy Planning

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 21:25:00 GMT

Earlier this year, Legacy Farmland Trust was launched as a new tool for farmers who may not have the next generation to farm but want to keep the land in trust for their family and multiple generations.

“It was born through witnessing the family dynamics and what farmland ownership can do to families,” Eric Mueller of Legacy Farmland Trust says. “When it came time to sell, not all members were on the same page.”

The creators of the trust saw that in these scenarios, where multiple family members have a stake in an asset, there is limited ability to liquidate or transfer it without everyone agreeing.

To solve the issue, they created a fund where instead of collecting dollars to invest, they take contributions of farmland.

“The farmer is able to contribute an asset to the fund and convert it into fund units that give them a ton of flexibility around transferring and gifting to the next generation,” Jared Hollinger of Legacy Farmland Trust says. “They’re selling a piece of an asset without selling the farm.”

Paul Neiffer, a farm CPA and host of The Top Producer Podcast, interviewed three members of the Legacy Farmland Trust team to learn more about how their approach works for some farmers.

Family members who want to sell their share of the land now have fund units they can sell immediately or over time. Those who didn’t want to sell have interest in their land, as well as the other assets in the trust – allowing them to diversify their holdings.

“Instead of that farm owner owning just that one asset, they now have shares in our fund which gives them exposure to all the assets in the underlying fund,” Hollinger says. “That gives them diversity and it gives them opportunity because a farm may be performing poorly one year or excellent another year. And by having exposure to the entire fund, it goes ahead and insulates them from any kind of bad activity that may occur.”

It’s important to note that contributing into the fund does not create a capital gains event.

Farmland Legacy Trust can also accommodate future generations who would like to come back to the farm.

“If a grandchild is up and coming or if an unnamed heir is contemplated as somebody who may want to own that land 10 or 20 years from now, they can be designated as the first right to purchase and have the ability to pull the asset back out of the fund in the future,” Hollinger says.

They can also designate a right to hunt on the land or a right to gather on the land if the family is no longer actively farming but would still like access to it.

As far as the type of land best suited for the trust, Hollinger says the ideal asset to come into the fund is one with little to no debt and a fair market value of $2 million or greater. The land should also be primarily farmland – not timber or land with permanent crops such as apples or grapes.

If a landowner would like more information about contributing to the trust, they can fill out an interest form on the company’s website .

After that, the owner will provide details around the asset and Legacy Farmland Trust will come back with a proposal. A third-party appraiser then does a series of due diligence to determine the asset’s value and the process moves onto closing. Hollinger estimates the process takes about 90-100 days to go through.

To learn more about Legacy Farmland Trust, listen to their episode on the Top Producer podcast .

Syngenta Seeds, Sustainable Oils Announce Commercial Agreement to Sell Camelina Seed

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 11:17:06 GMT

Syngenta Seeds has entered into an agreement with Sustainable Oils, Inc., to provide farmers in parts of Kansas, Colorado and further west the opportunity to grow camelina, an oilseed-based crop, starting in 2024.

Camelina, a type of mustard, is native in countries and regions from Finland to Romania and east to the Ural Mountains in Russia.

Today, the oilseed crop can be used as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel and animal feed production. It has an exceptionally high level (up to 45%) of omega-3 fatty acids.

“Camelina represents a key feedstock for the production of renewable fuels and sustainable aviation fuel. It is a remarkable crop that protects like a cover crop and pays like a cash crop,” says Mike Karst, president of Sustainable Oils, a subsidiary of Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc.

Camelina is an ultra-low carbon oilseed crop, according to Eric Boeck, regional director North America for Syngenta Seeds. He says there is insufficient corn and soybean production today to meet current oilseed demand, while, at the same time, consumers are demanding low carbon index products.

“You’ve got these two macro trends coming together today – demand for oil and demand for sustainably produced low carbon products,” he says. “Because of the way it grows, camelina has a carbon index of 24, while (traditional) diesel has a carbon index of about 105.”

Where Camelina Fits Into Growers’ Crop Rotation

Boeck says there are a number of ways camelina can be incorporated into a farmer’s current crop rotation. The crop is particularly well-suited to areas with low water availability in-season and where leaving fields fallow after wheat is a common practice.

As a for instance, he offered two scenarios where camelina will be a good fit:

“One option is the grower plants wheat in year one, followed by camelina in year two, then followed by corn or wheat in year three,” he says.

“Another option would be to plant and harvest corn and then plant camelina and let it overwinter and then harvest the camelina in May or June the following spring (much like winter wheat). Farmers can then plant soybeans into the harvested camelina fields, which would give them three crops in two years,” Boeck adds.

Based on pilot farmers’ experience with producing camelina, growers can expect to see yields ranging from a low of 400 pounds per acre up to 1,800 pounds per acre. “This is a crop that responds well to intensive management. Farmers who provide that should see yields more in that upper yield range,” Boeck says.

Farmers won’t likely need to purchase new equipment to grow camelina. Most will simply need to adjust their current equipment. “Camelina can be planted with an air seeder,” Boeck says. “Then at harvest, on the combine you’ll need to change the concave settings to be much tighter together versus what is used for corn and soybeans, because camelina seed is about half the size of an alfalfa seed.”

What Can Growers Anticipate Being Compensated For Camelina?

Camelina seed will be sold through Syngenta’s AgriPro dealer network in a vertical marketing model. Farmers who buy camelina seed will have a harvest purchase contract.

Boeck says there is no marketing risk for the farmer since there is already an integrated value chain model. He anticipates growers will be paid in the neighborhood of 25 cents to 30 cents per pound of harvested crop.

He estimates that in counties where 100,000 acres of camelina are grown, there is the potential for an additional $30 million of revenue being generated in that county annually.

Camelina seed will be marketed in select areas of Western Kansas, Colorado, Montana and the Pacific Northwest for 2024. It can be included as a spring crop in a wheat-fallow rotation in Montana and the Pacific Northwest, and as a winter crop in Kansas and Colorado.

“We’ll have a series of agronomic sessions with farmers to equip them with best practices for growing camelina, and we’ll have Sustainable Oils helping us do that,” Boeck says.

Four things to know about Camelina Sativa:
• Camelina produces oil seeds that produce a sustainable oil for renewable fuel production.
• Camelina is a drought-resilient oilseed that provides quick soil cover and improves soil structure.
• Sustainable Oils’ proprietary camelina varieties and farm-to-fuel pathways can yield renewable diesel with an ultra-low lifecycle Carbon Intensity (CI).
• Renewable diesel and other renewable fuels produced with Sustainable Oils’ patented camelina varieties have the potential to achieve a Net Zero or below CI score.

Young Farmer Cashes In On Corn With Cattle

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 15:10:31 GMT

At a mere 28 years old, Tony Schwarck jumped headfirst into a high-effort and high-risk business venture. After a decade of working with his parents and grandparents on their row-crop operation, he knew his future in farming would need to take a different path. Farmland and cash rents were sky-high in his competitive area of northern Iowa, so expanding their corn and soybean acreage to support three families was a big hill to climb.

Tony and his wife, Aarika, began researching ventures to complement their existing operation and generate new income. They had two resources during the winter months—time and corn. The couple explored several diversification options , but it was beef finishing that finally penciled out. The Riceville, Iowa, couple became farmer feeders, and in that first year, 2013, they marketed 300 beef heifers.

“We wanted to utilize our homegrown corn,” Tony says. “A young producer has time and not a lot of equity, so livestock is a great fit. We take the corn we raise, feed it to cattle and they are giving us a byproduct we can apply to our fields to help us grow better corn. It’s really added value to our acres of corn, and now we concentrate on marketing corn through cattle.”

This year, the Schwarcks are on track to market 2,500 head of cattle. They have also expanded their crop business to 1,200 acres of corn and soybeans, up from the first 160 acres Tony rented on his own in 2006.

Tony is armed with considerable management skills and sheer nerve. His ability to reimagine and build a venture from the ground up are just a few of the reasons he earned the 2019 Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award .

“Tony’s work ethic and decision-making abilities are unparalleled,” says Robert Williams, a CPA with Hogan Hanson and the Schwarcks’ long-time adviser.

Analyze. Monitor. Act. When the Schwarcks decided to become farmer feeders, they faced a big challenge: a lack of capital. They knew their plan could work. They just needed to get the bank on board.

This new venture created an opportunity to find a new lending partner. Their lender, Eric Paulson, helped them restructure debt and set them up on a borrowing base. Each month, the Schwarcks and Paulson analyze that borrowing base.

“This monthly review has made me a better manager, as it allows me to constantly know our financial numbers,” Tony says. “Every month Eric is looking at our numbers. If we have a good month, he points out what we did correctly. If we have an off month, we can identify problems and potential problems a lot quicker.”

“Tony and Aarika have utilized timely financial analysis toward managing their growth and improving efficiencies,” says Paulson, senior agricultural loan officer with Wells Fargo in Mason City, Iowa. “They are constantly asking for ways to improve both day-to-day and strategic operations.”

Aarika has taken over the farm’s record keeping and accounting. She created two accounts, one for cattle and one for grain, so they could properly assess financial decisions.

Numbers were always the basis of decisions for the Schwarck family, starting with Tony’s grandfather, Chris Schwarck and father, Dan Schwarck. “When we had meetings, even when I was young, the numbers were discussed,” Tony says.

This process of sharing financials with successors is key in making successful management transitions, says Dick Wittman, a family business consultant and Idaho farmer.

“Doing so exposes your successor to your business culture,” Wittman says. “Plus, someone wanting to join the operation needs to know the scale and scope of the business.”

“Feeding cattle has made me a better farmer.”

Comfortable Cows. Strict financial analysis led the Schwarcks to expand their finishing operation in 2017. They built a state-of-the-art cattle facility that houses 600 head. The building’s monoslope pitched roof and curtains allow sunlight and cool air in but keep snow and rain out.

“We can can’t completely control the environment, but we can really help it,” Tony says.

The Schwarck team uses a cloud-based software program, Performance Beef Livestock Analytics, to track data such as the cattle’s weights, feed ingredients and costs. Every day the cattle’s rations are automatically recorded using an iPad linked with the scale on the feed truck.

“This lets us track performance and weight,” Tony says. “We keep track of all costs, including freight, vaccines and vet expenses, death loss and any money we have invested in a hedge account. This allows us to be current on breakevens and billing.”

Typically, the feeder calves arrive at Schwarck Farms straight from a breeding ranch and weigh 550 lb. to 650 lb. Around 220 days later, they are ready to be sold, weighing around 1,400 lb.

The Schwarcks’ row-crop operation provides 60% of the corn they feed to the cows. The balance of their corn production is sold to local ethanol plants, from which they buy distillers’ grain.

To reduce costs, the Schwarcks traded their hopper trailer for a belt trailer so they can haul corn to the ethanol plant and reload it with distillers’ grain for the feed yard. “This alone saves our operation roughly $800 per week,” he says.

This constant eye on costs helps Tony smartly buy feeder cattle. “That’s one thing I have to work on,” he says. “If the numbers don’t work—pass. They sell feeder cattle every day of the year.”

Constantly, Tony sees how his experience as a farmer feeder improves his crop operation and vice versa. “Raising a market steer is the same philosophy as growing an acre of corn,” he says. “It’s the little things that count—that’s what separates big yields from small yields. Feeding cattle has made me a better farmer.”

For instance, having interests on both the supply and demand sides of the marketing ledger provides perspective. “Farmers are sitting on corn waiting for a better market, and we are moving that corn all the time and catching profit on it with the cattle,” Tony says.

For grain marketing, Tony develops what he calls a “strike zone” for prices. “When the market rises over our cost of production, I start making small sales. As the market continues to rise, I continue to sell until we are 60% sold,” he says.

Time To Delegate. As Tony has shifted into his leadership role, he’s assessed how he spends his time. “Being a young producer, I felt I needed to be the one who planted, fed the cattle, sprayed, etc.,” he says. “Now I know employees place a stronger bond with their jobs when they realize they have purpose and take pride in their work.”

Beyond family members, Tony employs two full-time and two part-time team members. His goal is to align employee strengths with daily roles and to provide a professional environment.

Tony says he’s lucky to have both his father and grandfather as mentors because they fall on two ends of the spectrum when it comes to risk. “I’ve learned from my dad to not bite off more than you can chew, and I’ve learned from my grandpa an opportunity doesn’t present itself very often, so be ready,” Tony says.

Looking forward, Tony is focused on fine-tuning his cost of production and maximizing profit.

“We’re margin operators in every aspect of our operation—whether that’s growing an acre of corn or producing a market-ready calf. The margin is thin, so we want to maximize every dollar we spend.”

Watch a video about Tony Schwarck’s operation and learn more about the Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award at bit.ly/Tony-Schwarck

A Snapshot of Schwarck Farms

A Family Affair: Tony Schwarck is a fourth-generation farmer in Riceville, Iowa. In 2004, he joined his family farm, which includes his parents, Dan and Laurie Schwarck, and grandparents, Chris and Ann Schwarck. “It’s a father’s dream to have your son follow in your footsteps,” Dan says. Tony and his wife, Aarika have a daughter, Annalee, 2.

Crop Farming: Tony’s crop operation includes 1,200 acres of corn and soybeans, while the family’s combined operation is 2,600 acres. The Schwarcks analyze soil and yield maps to set yield goals. Last year, they overhauled their 16-row corn planter with high-speed planting capabilities. “It was almost like getting a bigger planter since we can cover more acres in day,” Tony says.

Beef Finishing: In 2013, Tony and Aarika started a beef finishing operation. In the first year, the couple marketed 300 beef heifers. In 2019, they will market 2,500 head of cattle. Nearly all the cattle they finish are Black Angus, and they use the Iowa Cattle Marketing Group to negotiate the best price for fat cattle.

Leadership: The Schwarcks support many local organizations and causes, such as the Riceville Fire Department, Riceville First Foundation, Wapsie Great Western Bike Trail and the Riceville FFA Chapter. They are also members of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

Photos: Pat Lichty, Top Producer

Farm Journal Field Days: Tour An Illinois Seed-to-Spirit Operation

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 19:58:57 GMT

Farm Journal is bringing producers together at some of America’s top farms and we want you to be one of them.

Join us in DeKalb, Ill., on Aug. 23 for a behind-the-scenes look at Whiskey Acres , a seed-to-spirit operation and the nation’s only certified on-farm craft distillery.

“We’re a commercial grain operation, raising corn and soybeans,” says Jamie Walter, president and CEO of Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. “But we added a value-added business to our operation, making whiskey. We have a big visitor center here, and we refer to ourselves as an estate distillery. You’ll see our fields, our distillery production, our visitor’s center and our aging rick houses. We do it all right here on the farm.”

Register now for Farm Journal Field Days!

Listen in as Walter chats with AgriTalk Host Chip Flory:

Ever since 1998, when Jamie returned to the family farm to work with his father, Jim, after an off-farm career as a lawyer, he began investigating ways to diversify their 2,000-acre corn and soybean operation. He shipped corn direct to Japan, grew specialty corn and even dabbled in vegetables. None stuck.

Yet another idea kept creeping into the picture: What if they used their grain as a feature ingredient in premium spirits such as vodka, whiskey and bourbon? In 2011, they decided to see if they could make an on-farm distillery work.

“Our first juice came off the still in the end of 2014,” Walter says. “Now we’re producing about 100,000 bottles of high-quality craft spirits a year now here on the farm. We’re running two shifts a day now, seven days a week making product.”

Walter farms with his father, Jim. They grow commodity corn, as well as a number of specialty grains.

“We’re finding some of our heirloom and specially corns have some very unique flavor profiles,” he says. “So, we’re working more and more with that. We also raise some wheat, rye and barley for the distillery.”

Products from Whiskey Acres, which include bourbons and vodka, are sold at 600 locations throughout Illinois, with a few locations in Wisconsin and Nebraska.

“So, while you can come here and take a tour and have a cocktail and buy a bottle on any weekend, you can also go to stores, restaurants, bars throughout Illinois and find us,” Walter says.

Walter says their team’s master distiller has a master’s degree from Scotland. They have received several awards for their spirits. In In May, their Bottled in Bond Bourbon and Bottled-in-Bond Rye both won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

“The judges said it was among the finest spirits anywhere in the world,” Walter says.

Whiskey Acres is a partnership with Walter, his father and Nick Nagele. The team is proud to take crops grown on their own land and turn it into a high-value product.

“What we like to say is that we do everything from seed to spirit and that’s pretty unique in the industry,” Walter says.

During the Farm Journal Field Days in-person event at Whiskey Acres, attendees will also hear from industry experts:

Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions will present, “High-Impact Meteorology - What to Expect in the Months Ahead”
Analysts Mark Gold and Matt Bennett will participate in a “Grain Marketing Roundtable”

See the full agenda here .

Register to secure your spot at Farm Journal Field Days in DeKalb. The in-person registration cost of $49 includes online event access.

Other Farm Journal Field Days in-person locations include:

Aug. 25 in Belzoni, Miss., hosted by Silent Shade Planting Company
Aug. 26-27 in Colby, Kan., hosted by Frahm Farmland

Register now for Farm Journal Field Days!

Read more about Whiskey Acres: Proof Positive: Grain Farmers Distill Crops into Premium Spirits for Retail

Thank you to the 2021 Farm Journal Field Day Sponsors:

AGI SureTrack, AgLeader, BKT USA, Inc., Brandt Industries, Culvers, Duck Foot Parts, Farmers Mutual Hail, Kansas Corn, Kinze, Neeralta, New Holland, Nutrien, OKO Tire Sealants, Pivot Bio, Precision Planting, Rawhide, The Tire Grabber, Yetter, Pioneer/Corteva, Red Wing Software, Trust in Food, Machinery Pete, Lincoln Financial, Inner Plant,

Meet Maryland’s Dietitian Turned Farmer

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:50:58 GMT

Jennie Schmidt brings a vital view to food production and consumption

When Jennie Schmidt scans her fields of grapes, corn, soybeans and green beans, her mind toggles between biology, crop conditions and consumer perception. A registered dietitian turned farmer, Schmidt still uses her nutrition knowledge and scientific background every day.

“Being a farmer is essentially being a dietitian to the crops, just in a different biological system than the one I was clinically trained,” Schmidt says. “I prefer to work with plants and soils because they are more compliant with their diet prescription than people.”

When Schmidt married her husband, Hans, she became part of the third generation to lead Schmidt Farms. The diversified operation located in Sudlersville, Md., is a partnership between the two Schmidts and Alan, Hans’ brother.

“I love the farm so much I purposefully tried to make myself indispensable by being able to run every piece of equipment,” Schmidt says.

DIVERSIFY, ADAPT, EVOLVE

Diversification and adaptation are overriding strategies at Schmidt Farms. Today the operation spans 2,000 acres near the eastern shore of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay.

The farm was established by Hans’ and Alan’s grandfather, who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany, after home-steading in Canada, South America and the Dakotas. The first two generations of Schmidts raised hogs and cattle. When Hans and Alan took over, they analyzed each enterprise and looked for new opportunities.

“We got out of livestock production altogether, put up several center pivot irrigation systems and pursued vegeta-ble contracts as a means to diversify the farm and add high-value crops to those acres,” Schmidt says. “About that time, we also planted wine grapes to diversify and meet the growing demand of an expanding wine industry.”

When the Schmidts started their vineyard, Maryland had 12 wineries. Today, nearly 20 years later, the list is close to 100.

As the winery scene evolved, Schmidt launched a vineyard management company to provide custom services, such as planning, planting and harvesting.

“Everybody thinks they want a vineyard,” Schmidt says. “But they have no idea, especially if they are not farmers, they have no idea how much work they are. For us, the vineyard is a nice diversification. It cash flows, but it would be very difficult if that was our only crop.”

Today, Schmidt manages 22 acres of grapes, along with a crew of 12 employees. She negotiates deals with local win-eries, planting grapes to meet their variety wishes, while still generating consistent profits.

“The European varieties such as chardonnay, merlot and cabernet, have lower tonnage, around two or three,” she says. “Hybrids can yield six to eight tons, so generally it’s more profitable to grow hybrids.”

Patience and planning are essential in vineyards, as it takes seven to eight years before they hit peak grape produc-tion.

TEAM OF TWO

In 2015, Hans was appointed by the Maryland governor to be the assistant secretary of agriculture for resource con-servation. In turn, this created a full-time position for Schmidt on the farm.

“Having Hans, with his 30 years of farming experience, in a policy position related to Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay environmental regulations was critical,” Schmidt says. “Now I am the full-time operator working with my brother-in-law.”

Even though they had been in-laws for almost 30 years, the brother-in-law and sister-in-law had never worked exclu-sively together.

“Alan has put a lot of trust in me,” Schmidt says. “It’s not my farm; I’m technically just his employee. As the in-law who did not grow up on a farm, I had to prove myself as competent and capable. Now five years later, we operate as a seamless team. He doesn’t have to consult me on decisions, but he does. I am truly thankful to him for the opportuni-ty to farm.”

Schmidt closed down her vineyard management company to focus on the farm duties. She leads regulation compli-ance, financial management and operates equipment.

MAKE EVERY ACRE COUNT

Schmidt continues to find ways to weave in her previous experiences. One such concept: Continuous Quality Im-provement (CQI).

“When I did my food service rotation, we were focused on CQI, which is where you analyze systems and see where you are inefficient.”

Schmidt used this concept to streamline their crop rotations and not lose hours to transporting equipment to dif-ferent fields. Now, fields are grouped into larger tracts and planted to similar crops.

Beyond grapes, Schmidt Farms produces corn, tofu soybeans, high-oleic soybeans, green beans and occasionally can-ning tomatoes. They focus on value-added crops, which don’t take additional equipment or complex logistics. They aim to meet local demands from the poultry industry and urban consumers.

“We can’t always get more acres in this area,” Schmidt says. “It’s very competitive to rent and to buy and so we were looking at how to add value to these acres.”

SHOW AND TELL

As a farmer, nutritionist and mother of two, Schmidt serves in organizations where few other women are repre-sented. She was the first female board member of the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board and their first female president.

“She is known for her strong agricultural background and her willingness to share her knowledge with others,” says Sharon Redding, loan officer for MidAtlantic Farm Credit. “Jennie serves as a role model to other farmers.”

Schmidt employs a high level of emotional intelligence in her role as a farmer and advocate, adds Michael Twining, vice president of sales and marketing at Willard Agri-Service.

While Schmidt knows agriculture needs and supports more women leaders, she also hopes the novelty of it wanes in the future.

“I want to cut a path to make it easier for those who come next,” she says, “but I hope we can stop saying I’m the first woman to ____.”

Scan to travel to Sudlersville, Md., and virtually visit Schmidt Farms .

Snapshot of Schmidt Farms

Operation: Schmidt Farms in Sudlersville, Md., produces green beans, grapes, soybeans and corn. It is a partnership between Jennie and Hans Schmidt and Hans’ brother, Alan Schmidt. The op-eration was a 2010 Top Producer of the Year finalist.
Conservation: Schmidt Farms is a “Certified Agricultural Conservation Steward,” a designation for meeting high standards in conservation initiatives. They voluntarily submit their fields and rec-ords for inspections to prove excess nutrients and sediment do not leave their farm.
Community: Jennie Schmidt’s leadership roles span the U.S. Grains Council, National Corn Grow-ers Association and Global Farmer Network. She is a frequent speaker, bringing the perspective of a farmer and registered dietitian.

Find Trusted Partners To Help You Succeed With Hemp. Here’s One Way.

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:54:25 GMT

When you start a new endeavor, one of the best ways to learn how to succeed often comes from other people—those individuals who are willing to share their knowledge, resources and first-hand experiences with you.

That’s certainly true if you want to grow hemp in 2020 for the first time, or even if you’ve got a couple of years of production and marketing under your belt.

“The No. 1 piece of advice farmers are telling us is you have to know who you’re working with, and that can be hard to know sometimes. It can be tricky to identify those sketchy players and figure out your trusted partners—from purchasing your seed to processing, and all the way down the line,” Portia Stewart, Farm Journal content strategy director, producer media, told AgriTalk Host, Chip Flory, earlier this week.

One way to accomplish that is to attend a Farm Journal Hemp College this winter . Later this month, the company is hosting a nationally focused hemp program in Chicago, featuring industry speakers and farmers from around the U.S. To learn more information about the agenda and register for the Chicago event, click here: https://bit.ly/2QVqnsv .

The Hemp College is being held in conjunction with the Top Producer Seminar, Executive Women in Agriculture and the Legacy Project.

“Real farmers from across the United States will tell you their secrets to what has worked and what has not worked for them with hemp,” Stewart said. “You’re going to get detailed policy updates. You’re going to have an opportunity to network and talk to people who might be good partners and really suss out what hemp could be for you.

“We also like to level set and make sure that you know we’re giving you all the information available, so that you don’t get in over your head. It’s really about making a good choice for 2020 and beyond, if you’re taking a close look at this crop,” she added.

Some of the featured speakers and topics at the Chicago event include:

How to Grow Hemp: A Farmer’s Perspective
Speaker: Dion Oakes, Farmer, Monte Vista, Colo.

Best Practices for Tillage, Harvesting and Processing Hemp
Speaker: Corbett Hefner, VP Research & Development, Formation Ag

The Agronomics of Hemp Production from A to Z
Speaker: Bryan Parr, Legacy Hemp

Hemp Seed Genetics, Availability and Selection
Speaker: Jeff Kostuik, Director of Operations, Central Region, Hemp Genetics

Hemp’s Hefty Pitfalls
Speaker: Chris Adams, Adams Family Farm

Legislative Outlook for 2020
Speaker: Jonathan Miller, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys

Top Producer Summit 2020

Farm Succession Planning Gets A Boost From An Ethical Will

Paul Neiffer: Help, I Have An Ugly Return!