FEBRUARY 2006 15 Ohio’s Country Journal ROPS From Page 1 Pond only producesC a handful of Then, like soybeans or wheat, the targeted varieties each year. seed goes over a mill that removes 60% “I have five total varieties, all of the foreign material (which is later Roundup Ready,” Pond said. “There’s piled and composted) from the seed not much sense in me having the beans based on the size. that my customers don’t want. I used “From there, I make a determination to custom clean beans so I know the based on the types of weeds that are mixed varieties and the maturities guys in,” Pond said. “If there is a lot of foxtail or around here really want.” curly-dock it goes to the roll mill.” Pond strives to maximize conven- There, the seeds slide over velvet ience for his soybean buyers by provid- covered rolls. The velvet grabs the ing bags or filling wagons that are pointed weed seeds and lets the clover ready to plant. On each order, Pond pass through. The next step is a gravity uses a sheet that provides all the neces- separator that blows air through the sary seed and variety information, the seed to remove any remaining debris seeding rate for planting and the num- by weight, forcing all of the lighter ber of acres it will cover. (non-clover seed) material to the top. Pond has been running the business Once the seed is cleaned, it gets for 20 years — selling his own bagged and each order is labeled for Roundup Ready soybean varieties for every customer. Normally, the clover the past five years. seed processing begins for Pond in the “We knew that to keep the business middle of August and finishes up going we were going to have to start Pond examines his soybeans in the gravity separator. around February. Much of the seed selling our own soybean genetics,” he then gets planted in March or April said. “Since then we’ve been all about “And, we get to work with people in into standing wheat. making this as user-friendly as possi- agriculture — they are the best people The medium and mammoth red ble. We’ll even pick up wagons from to work with.” clover Pond cleans and sells is an our customers’ barns, fill them up and important part of his business, but cus- drop them off.” tom cleaning wheat and soybean sales Selling soybean seed is the account for the majority of his time. most important part of his business, Pond cleans wheat and he works but it also offers the most directly with soybean breeders to significant challenges. develop varieties specifically targeted “You’ve got to anticipate your sales for his local customers. a year in advance and that creates a lot “I pick out my own genetics suited of challenges. You don’t get to see for the soils here,” Pond said. “My the fruits of your labor for a year,” beans are sold locally to around 200 Pond said. “And, I’m working with all customers in six counties around me in of my friends and neighbors. That puts The small seed size of red clover makes it Ohio and Indiana.” on a lot of pressure to do the job challenging to harvest and clean. Pond and eight other local growers right and make the right decisions. produce soybean seed varieties on a With that though, there’s a lot of specified acreage that will be cleaned job satisfaction.” and sold the following year. Now in its third generation, Pond “All of us growing the seed use a Seed Co. compliments Pond’s 850-acre gentle setting, clean out the combines farming operation nicely and it gives and harvest at the right moisture. It’s him the chance to really involve his wife and two children in his livelihood. my belief that my customers are getting This sheet is put right on the side of wagons the most cared-for seed possible,” Pond “I like working with my family, and filled with Pond’s soybean seed. It adds said. “That’s my trump card over the with this business, we really get to be a convenience for his customers. bigger companies.” part of the community,” Pond said. While Pond sells much of his seed in hopper wagons, he also bags it, depending on the customer’s wishes.
These bags of red clover seed will be distributed throughout Ohio and into Indiana and Michigan. While the seed bags have changed through the years at Pond Seed Co., the dedication to quality has not. ABN Assistant Farm Director Precision fertility — Does it pay? HEATHER HETTERICK BY JOHN BARKER, KNOX COUNTY Scenario 4: GIS software was used to EXTENSION EDUCATOR divide the field into management zones. Farmers often question the economic These zones were based upon actual, his- value of global positioning system toric crop removal data from this field. ABN Director of (GPS) technology. Does precision agri- Fertilizer recommendations were based Farm Broadcasting culture pay? In most precision agricul- upon the actual crop removal in each of DALE MINYO ture circles, this is the most often asked these management zones. Fertilizer question, and at times a most difficult applications were made using variable Starting at 5am… see below for affiliates question to answer. rate technology. Today’s technology allows farmers to Table 1 contains the data from this vary the application rates of crop inputs analysis. Fertilizer recommendations were City Call Letters Dial County Airtimes*: throughout a field. These practices are made for each of the four scenarios using Archbold WMTR-FM 96.1 Fulton 5:45am, 12:14pm Ashland WNCO-AM 1340 Ashland 12:30pm, 3:15pm creating vast and sweeping changes on the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations Ashland WNCO-FM 101.3 Ashland 12:30pm, 3:15pm many farms. This technology allows such as a guide. Overall fertilizer use was the Ashtabula WFUN-AM 970 Ashtabula 5:45am inputs as herbicide, insecticide, fertilizer, highest using the farmers normal produc- Bellefontaine WBLL-AM 1390 Logan 6:45am, 12:14pm manure, etc. to be altered at any particu- tion practices (scenario 1). Using grid soil Bryan WBNO-FM 100.9 Williams 5:45am Bryan WQCT-AM 1520 Williams 5:45am, 12:32pm lar point within a field. Geographic sampling and variable rate applications Caldwell WWKC-FM 104.9 Noble 6:06am information system (GIS) software allows (scenario 2), fertilizer use was reduced by Canton WHBC-AM 1480 Stark 3:15pm various field data such as soil test results, 3,420 pounds. Soil sampling using man- Celina WCSM-FM 96.7 Mercer 5:45am, 11:40am, 3:37pm crop scouting data and yield data to be agement zones based upon soil type and Chillicothe WKKJ-FM 93.3 Ross 5:45am, 4:05pm analyzed and incorporated into the using variable rate fertilizer applications Coshocton WTNS-FM 99.3 Coshocton 12:30pm Crooksville WYBZ-FM 107.3 Perry 5:45am, 4:04pm decision making process. (scenario 3) reduced overall fertilizer use Defiance WDFM-FM 98.1 Defiance 6:10am Theoretically, combing field-based data by more than 3.5 tons. The most efficient Defiance WONW-AM 1280 Defiance 5-5:45am, 5:45am, 11:45am with the ability to vary input usage at spe- fertilizer use was in Scenario 4, which used Dover WJER-AM 1450 Tuscarawas 5:45am,12:45, 5:40pm cific points within a field should increase GIS software to divide the field into man- Eaton WEDI-AM 1130 Preble 12:00pm, 3:30pm input efficiency. Increased efficiency agement zones based upon crop removal Findlay/Tiffin WCKY-FM 103.7 Hancock 4:35pm Findlay WFIN-AM 1330 Hancock 5:30am, 5:45am, 11:56am+, should improve profit margin and result in and used variable rate fertilizer applica- 3:35pm the adoption of more environmentally tions. This scenario, which is based on the Findlay WKXA-FM 100.5 Hancock 5:33am+ sound practices. But does it pay? actual field production, shows phosphorus Fostoria WFOB-AM 1430 Wood 12:14pm To answer this question data was ana- recommendations were reduced by almost Fremont WFRO-FM 99.1 Sandusky 12:00pm Gallipolis WJEH-AM 990 Gallia 8:00am lyzed from a 45-acre central Ohio farm. 1.5 tons and the potash recommendations Hillsboro WSRW-FM 106.7 Highland 5:45am, 4:30pm Seven years of accurate and calibrated were cut in half. But does it pay? Jackson WCJO-FM 97.7 Jackson 11:50am yield data was available for this field, with Fertilizer prices of $250 per ton for Kenton WKTN-FM 95.3 Hardin 5:50am, 12:13pm the use of a GPS-based yield monitor. This potash and $315 per ton for D.A.P. were Lancaster WLOH-AM 1320 Fairfield 5:45am, 11:45am+, 3:50pm field was in a strict corn-soybean rotation. used for this analysis. Soil testing charges Lima WIMA-AM 1150 Allen 5-5:45am, 5:45am Lima WIMT-FM 102.1 Allen 5-5:45am, 5:45am Fertilizer recommendations were devel- and variable rate fertilizer application Mansfield WMAN-AM 1400 Richland 6:28am oped using the four following scenarios. charges were included where appropriate. Marion WMRN-AM 1490 Marion 5:45am, 11:30am Scenario 1: Fertilizer recommendations Scenario 4 (fertilizer recommendations Marion WMRN-FM 106.9 Marion 5:45am were made according to the farmer’s nor- based upon crop removal) produced the Marietta WMOA-AM 1490 Washington 5:45am McConnelsville WJAW-FM 100.9 Morgan 5:45am mal production practices. Variable rate greatest savings. This scenario, which had Middleport WYVK-FM 92.1 Meigs 6:45am technology was not used in this scenario. the lowest fertilizer use and no soil testing Millersburg WKLM-FM 95.3 Holmes 5:45am, 12:30pm Scenario 2 : The field was divided into charges, resulted in a savings of $17.67 per Mt. Vernon WMVO-AM 1300 Knox 5-5:45am, 5:45am 2.5-acre grids. Soil samples were collect- acre when compared to the farmers normal Mt. Vernon WQIO-FM 93.7 Knox 5-5:45am, 5:45am ed and sent to a lab for analysis. The fer- production plans. Soil sampling by soil Napoleon WNDH-FM 103.1 Henry 5:45am, 6:15am, 11:07am, 3:15pm tilizer application data was developed type (scenario 3) and 2.5-acre grid sam- Nelsonville WAIS-AM 770 Athens 7:20am, 12:20pm for this field using variable rate technolo- pling (scenario 2) resulted in savings of Nelsonville WSEO-FM 107.7 Athens gy based upon the results from the soil $16.26 per acre and $4.85 per acre respec- Newark WCLT-AM 1430 Licking 12:14pm test data. tively, when compared to the normal pro- Oberlin WOBL-AM 1320 Lorain 6:55am, 12:30pm Scenario 3 : The field was divided into duction practices for this farm. Ottawa WBUK-FM 106.3 Putnam 5-5:30am, 4:05pm Parkersburg WGGE-FM 99.1 Wood, WV 5:45am management zones based upon soil type. But does it pay? In this analysis, yes, Paulding WKSD-FM 99.7 Paulding Soil samples were then collected from each each scenario involving variable rate fertil- Piqua WPTW-AM 1570 Miami 5:45am, 11:30am soil type. Each sample size was approxi- izer applications resulted in lower fertilizer Portsmouth WNXT-AM 1260 Scioto 5:45am, 11:30am mately 2.5 acres or less. The fertilizer appli- use and a greater net return. With today’s Salem WSOM-AM 1600 Columbiana 5:45am, 12:45pm Sandusky WLEC-AM 1450 Erie 5:45am, 5:35pm cation data was developed for this field soaring fertilizer prices, savings of almost Sidney WMVR-FM 105.5 Shelby 5:45am using variable rate technology based upon $5 to more than $17 per acre can have a Springfield WULM-AM 1600 Clark visit www.1600wulm.net the results from the soil test data. significant impact on the farm. St. Marys WJAW-AM 630 Belmont, WV 5:45am Table 1 Tiffin WTTF-AM 1600 Seneca 5:45am, 12:15pm, 3:35pm Normal 2.5 Acre Grid Soil Type Crop Removal Toledo WSPD-AM 1370 Lucas Union City WTGR-FM 97.5 Darke 5:45am, 11:30pm, 12:14pm, P recommendation 8,325 7,380 6,030 5,445 4:10pm (Lbs./Field) Upper Sandusky WYNT-FM 95.9 Wyandot 5:45am, 12:14pm, 3:30pm Van Wert WERT-AM 1220 Van Wert P cost ($/A) $27.94 $24.76 $20.23 $18.27 Washington CH WCHO-FM 105.5 Fayette 5:45am, 3:20pm Wheeling WWVA-AM 1170 Ohio, WV 5:35am+, 11:53am+ K recommendation 9,000 6,525 4,050 4,500 Wilmington WKFI-AM 1090 Clinton 12:00pm, 3:30pm (Lbs../Field) Wooster WKVX-AM 960 Wayne Wooster WQKT-FM 104.5 Wayne 5:45am, 12:20pm K cost ($/A) $25.00 $18.13 $11.25 $12.50 Xenia WBZI-AM 1500 Greene 12:00pm, 3:30pm Total fertilizer use 17,325 13,905 10,080 9,945 *Only the Sunrise Today, Farm Combo, Midday and Noon Combo, Ag Block 1 and 2 and (Lbs./Field) CBT-CME Closes and Custom Feeds (+) are listed. Stations may air other ABN programs. Fertilizer cost ($/A) $52.94 $42.89 $31.48 $30.77 Visit www.abnradio.com to see affiliate list and airtimes or call your local Soil test cost $0.00 $0.70 $0.70 $0.00 affiliate to find out local times or to request more ABN programming. ($/A/Year) Fertilizer cost + $52.94 $43.59 $32.18 $30.77 Listen to Dale and Heather every weekday! soil test ($/A) Variable rate $0.00 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 P.O. Box 1605 u 667 W. Market St. u Lima, OH 45802-1605 fert. application 419-223-2060 u Fax 419-229-3888 u www.abnradio.com 01/06/05/ba Total cost ($/A) $52.94 $48.09 $36.68 $35.27 Saving vs. normal $0.00 $4.85 $16.26 $17.67 16 Crops • Ohio’s Country Journal • February 2006 plan ($/A) Soybean rust will still be a threat in 2006 BY MATT REESE them in place we will likely have at the first growing season with soybean Since most of the country’s soybean least a two-week warning to spray rust in North America, Dorrance said production dodged the rust bullet last for rust.” there is still a lot to learn. year, researchers, growers and chemical 2005 also showed that fungicides are “Everyone must remember that we companies have benefited from the an effective treatment tool and that are in the middle of an experiment extra preparation time. ultra-violet light from the sun kills rust because this is a new disease,” she “We prepared for the worst and we spores. Another positive finding was said. “In the ‘old land grant system,’ got the best last year. Now we have that less than 20% of soybean rust recommendations were never made another year to prepare,” said Dennis spores appear to be viable. without three years of solid data. We Mills, OSU Extension plant pathologist. Despite the progress made during can’t wait for that to happen.” “Now we’re ready for 2006. We can confirm the presence of soybean rust within 48 hours and there is a high awareness on the grower level. But we’ve still got a long way to get grow- ers out there scouting in the fields — Five year planting date study not from a pickup truck.” Just because Asian soybean rust was by Seed Consultants, Inc.’s showed a no-show in Ohio fields last year, growers shouldn’t forget about the corn planted prior to May 1 yielded 42.8 BPA potentially devastating fungus that Research Agronomists— could once again be a problem in 2006. more than corn plant after May 21. Geoff Trainer (left) & Unfortunately, the determining factor Mike Earley (right) for a potential soybean rust problem hasn’t changed. The weather conditions for the rest of the winter will set the stage for soybean rust during the growing season. “We started out with very low inoculum levels last year because of the Intellicoat-Early Plant can make increase your planting window and increase yields. winter conditions,” Mills said. “Hopefully the crystal ball will get a But don’t take our word for it, see what your neighbors have to say. little clearer for this year, but it is still foggy.” Bowman Farms—West Alexandria, Ohio—SC 1091… Roger Neff, Springfield, Ohio—SC 1082…Planted 4-09, 10, The cold December conditions late 3-18-05 “The intellicoat field had a good stand.” 11-05…Had a better overall stand with intellicoat; probably in 2005 got the war against rust spores Don Wolf—Xenia, Ohio—SC 1082…4-15-05 “I had better better yields.” off to a good start. stands…will definitely use again in 2006”. Mark Anderson, Xenia, Ohio—SC 1091… 4-6, 11, “This year the freeze is already Jeff Swartz—Richwood, Ohio down pretty far,” said Anne Dorrance, —SC 1082… 4-14-05 12-05…”excellent emergence and yield. We planted OSU Extension plant pathologist. “Excellent yield—189 BPA; Excellent emergence after cold, approximately 110 acres with it—all was good. One field “It’s not the average temperature that wet, snow…” approached 200 BPA...ran out and we switched to another does it, it’s how low the temperature Willy Campbell—Flemingburg, Kentucky—SC 1082… variety (not intellicoat)—it had to be replanted. goes. It only takes one night to kill 4-21-05 “snow shower, followed by two weeks of wet, cold Gary Shaffer, Fredericktown, Ohio—SC 1082… a kudzu plant that is hosting the weather. Coated seed popped up after the cold spell and we 4-5-05…Corn was at V2 and covered with 6 inches of snow and rust spores.” replanted the non-coated.” week of rain; went thru 3 mornings of temperatures below 30º; A repeat of last year’s weather dur- Steve Meyer—Fountain City, Indiana ing the coming months would be ideal —SC 1082…4-10 to good emergence; planted 32,000 final of 30-31,000; standability for soybean growers. 4-14—“yield for the intellicoat was 10-12 BPA higher” was good; yielded between 170-180 BPA; dry—moistures “Several environmental factors Jim Stuckey Leesburg, Ohio—SC 1091…4-15-05…”Yield 17-18% harvested October 8, 2005 played into this non-event (in 2005),” 160 BPA; great emergence” Jeff Boike, Hillsboro, Ohio—SC 1082…4-11-05…”only Dorrance said. “First, very little inocu- Stieber Bros. Inc., Monroeville, Ohio—SC 1082/SC early planted (April) corn I didn’t have to replant; yielded 165 lum survived the winter of 2004/2005. 1091…4-7-05…”the stand was better than non-coated BPA; second best of all corn I had.” The only finds were in central Florida planted 4-3-05. Butts Farms, Avon Lake, Ohio—SC 1082… 4-7-05… in February and these were at very, Jeff Thompson, Washington Court House, Ohio very low levels. This was then followed — ”planted about 950 acres of corn early. After 8 inches of snow, by cooler-than-normal and drier-than- SC 1082…4-11-05…”no-tilled…emergence was excellent after rain and cold weather, the 180 acres of SC 1082 treated with normal weather throughout the two weeks of rain and snow. …125 BPA compared with 100 Intellicoat and Cruiser were the only corn we didn’t have to growing season.” BPA planted at same time without intellicoat treatment.” replant. …plan to treat 25% of our seed corn purchases with The environment made it difficult Intellicoat and Cruiser in 2006.” for the soybean rust to really get rolling. By November 2005, rust had only made it to western Kentucky in INTELLICOAT-EARLY PLANT…New special pricing for 2006 the form of one pustule on one leaf. Users of Intellicoat-Early Plant in 2005… Things went well from the plant pathologist’s standpoint in 2005, so lit- I will use Intellicoat-Early Plant in 2006—75% tle is going to change with regard to the handling of soybean rust for 2006. I would recommend Intellicoat-Early Plant to others—93% “We are going to follow the same game plan,” Dorrance said. “I do not foresee any changes, other than we Contact: Seed Consultants •1-800-708-CORN (2676) will have some spore traps earlier in the season.” Last year proved that the system Washington C.H. 740-333-8644 of sentinel plots around the country is a very good way to monitor E-mail: [email protected] soybean rust. “The sentinel plot system works,” Visit our Web site at www.seedconsultants.com she said. “They were all planted early and scouted thoroughly last year. With Ohio’s Country Journal • February 2006 • Crops 17 New soybean products in 2005 Year after year, the United Soybean Chemical Company’s ENVIREZ soy- • Soyol by Urethane Soy Systems please visit the Soy Products Guide Board (USB) and soybean checkoff have based resin is used in making soft and Company — a chemical in plastic online at www.unitedsoybean.org/ helped build new demand for U.S. soy- rigid plastics. Examples include a newly formulations. new uses. beans through new uses — and last formulated low-profile thermoset sheet- • Emulsified Oil Substrate by USB is made up of 64 farmer-directors year was no different. A recorded total molding compound from John Deere and Industrial and Environmental who oversee the investments of the soy- of 81.8 million bushels were used in Case New Holland for tractor hoods and Services — a product that cleans bean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soy- soy-based products in 2005, which was covers; GPI’s use of ENVIREZ in fila- contaminated groundwater. bean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested an increase of 12.6 million bushels from ment-wound tanks; Fabri Glass‚ use of • Purrge by Cesco Solutions — a recycled in the areas of animal utilization, human 2004. From soy-based plastics used in this special resin in vacuum bags; and paper pulp cleaner. utilization, industrial utilization, industry tractors to transformer fluids made Permay’s spray application for painting • Soyfast Soy Technologies — a general relations, market access and supply. As from soybean oil, the soybean checkoff and packaging large parts. purpose cleaner concentrate. stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, continues to partner with manufactur- Other companies have stepped to the • Soygreen 5000 by Soy Technologies — Research and Customer Information Act, ers to introduce new markets for forefront of engineered soy-based prod- a parts cleaner concentrate. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service soybean farmers. ucts. Cooper Power Systems and Cargill • Soygreen 6000 by Soy Technologies — has oversight responsibilities for USB and Nineteen new soy-based products Industrial Oils and Lubricants created an adhesive remover. the soybean checkoff. were commercialized in 2005, thanks to Envirotemp FR3 Fluid, an electric power • Soy Stop by Soy the support of the soybean checkoff. USB transformer fluid. More than 10 electric Technologies — a graffiti- funds the development of soy technology co-ops around the country have picked remover system. by universities and research facilities up on this technology, allowing soybean • Environmental Liquid across the country and continues to gain oil to help power rural communities and Membrane System, or access to new markets, including plastics, farms. BioSpan Technologies developed ELMS, Natural Metal lubricants, solvents and others. two unique specialty products: Activate, Jacket by Green Products “We are forecasting a record of more a methyl soyate asphalt activator, and Inc. — a soy-based than 90 million bushels of soybeans used REPLAY, a methyl soyate pavement metal coating. in industrial products this year and restorer. These products are being used “I am excited to think nobody has a bigger stake in new mar- by state departments of transportation in about where soybean check- kets for soybean farmers,” said Todd the Midwest. off-funded technology will Allen, chair of USB’s New Uses Other notable innovations include take us in the future,” Allen Committee. “That’s why the soybean Green Products Inc.’s Agri Seal, a soy- said. “With soybean farmers checkoff is so committed to working with based caulking compound, and Oregon working with industry part- industry to develop new uses. We can’t State University’s soy flour with Kymene, ners to build new markets, do it alone, but we can certainly show which is a paste resin for plywood, devel- we can build new markets some of the biggest manufacturers out oped with the assistance of Cargill, for our soybeans and there how soy-based technology can Hercules Inc. and Columbia Forest increase the demand for our benefit them.” Products. Additional soy-based technology soybeans, all through our Among the variety of new products includes the following products: soybean checkoff.” introduced this year is an innovative soy- • Agrol by BioBased Technologies — For more information on based resin system that is being used in a a variety of flexible and rigid USB, the soybean checkoff variety of applications. 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Ã>ÌÃv>VÌ v i«} Ì iÀð / ÀÕ} >}ÀVÕÌÕÀ> i`ÕV>Ì >` ] ÞÕ} «i«i >Ài ÌÀÕÞ] Û} Ì ÃiÀÛi° Pepper Financial 1-866-489-4800 Products You Require ... Service You Expect °", 18 Crops • Ohio’s Country Journal • February 2006 Biotechnology use increase continues The world continued to see an increase ences. Acknowledging that biotechnology in biotech crops and acreages with may not be the correct fit for every produc- technological advances bringing benefits to er, Barbre said NCGA’s goal is to give producers and consumers alike. growers the tools necessary to make “Biotechnology products have been informed decisions. beneficial and profitable for farmers in Other countries planting biotechnology the United States and other countries crops include Argentina, which accounted members, giving us additional tools in for 19% of the total. Brazil was third with the toolbox,” said Martin Barbre, 10%. Iran along with the Czech Republic National Corn Growers Association tried biotech crops for the first time in (NCGA) Biotech Working Group 2005. Portugal and France, which had chairman. “We are also encouraged that stopped growing the crops in the late many of the future traits will have 1990s, resumed cultivation of small benefits for end users as well.” acreages of biotech corn. According to an annual survey, con- In 2005, more than one-third — 38% ducted by the International Service for the — of the global biotech acreage was in Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications developing countries. That is up from (ISAAA), global biotech acreage reached 34% in 2004. 55%, or 123 million acres, in 2005. The NCGA Chairman Leon Corzine, a U.S. biotech crops included corn, soybeans, cot- Department of Agriculture Advisory ton, canola, squash and papaya. ISAAA Committee on Biotechnology and 21st said four more countries and 250,000 more Century member, noted this increase in farmers planted biotech crops in 2005 — an world production, especially in developing 11% increase from 2004. countries, is significant. Since initial commercialization in 1996, “This demonstrates our point that the global biotech crop planting areas have benefits from biotechnology do not only go increased by more than 50-fold from 4.2 to large producers. These benefits can help million acres in six countries to 222 million improve the environment throughout the acres in 21 countries in 2005. The 8.5 mil- world,” he said. lion farmers planting biotech crops in 2005 One key component of the NCGA also hit a significant milestone as the 1 bil- biotechnology program in helping farmers lionth cumulative acre, or 400 millionth make informed decisions is the Know hectare, was planted. Before You Grow program that lets grow- “In 2005, U.S. corn growers planted ers track biotechnology events through more than 42 million acres of corn using hybrid availability and global market biotech seeds,” Barbre said. “As more and acceptance. Equally important, NCGA more growers around the world recognize strives to ensure U.S. producers are the many benefits of biotechnology crops, responsible stewards of biotechnology we may see an even higher increase in the through the Insect Resistance Management coming years. “As the biotech industry and Weed Resistance Management Web- develops new traits for corn, producers, based learning modules. the environment and consumers will see ISAAA projects the global value of the the benefits.” biotech crop market to increase from $5.25 Corn growers continue to make deci- billion in 2005 to $5.5 billion in 2006. sions on biotechnology usage based on The report’s executive summary can be their agronomic needs and market prefer- accessed at www.isaaa.org/. U.S. departments team up for research- ing energy and crops The U.S. Departments of Agriculture of proposed sequencing projects through and Energy announced they will share the Biological and Environmental Research resources and coordinate the study of Microbial Sequencing Program or the DOE plant and microbial genomics, and the Joint Genome Institute’s Community Department of Energy will tackle the Sequencing Program.” sequencing of the soybean genome as the USDA and DOE will establish a frame- first project resulting from the agree- work to cooperate and coordinate agency- ment. The agreement is part of USDA’s relevant plant and microbial genome comprehensive energy strategy to help sequencing and bioinformatics that can farmers and ranchers mitigate the impact serve the needs of the broader scientific of high-energy costs and develop community and solve problems that are long-term solutions. important to each agency’s mission. This “This agreement demonstrates a joint agreement could help speed the deploy- commitment to support high-quality ment of emerging technologies, such as genomics research and integrated projects improved methods of gene identification to meet the nation’s agriculture and energy and sequence assembly. challenges,” said Colien Hefferan, adminis- The DOE Joint Genome Institute will trator of USDA’s Cooperative State sequence the genome (decode the DNA) of Research, Extension and Economics the soybean, Glycine max, the world’s Service (CSREES), who signed the most valuable legume crop. Soybean is of agreement for USDA. particular interest to DOE because it is the By working together, more can be principal source of biodiesel, a renewable accomplished. alternative fuel. Soybeans are also impor- “Both agencies will leverage their tant to U.S. agriculture with more than 3.1 expertise and synergize activities involving billion bushels grown on nearly 75 million agricultural — and energy — related acres in 2004, with an estimated annual plants and microbes,” said Ari Patrinos, value exceeding $17 billion. The soybean Department of Energy associate director of genome is about 1.1 billion base pairs in science for Biological and Environmental size, less than half the size of the maize or Research. “We will enhance coordination human genomes. Ohio’s Country Journal • February 2006 • Crops 19 Specifics of statistics BY ROBERT MULLEN AND MAURICE observations from treatments due to estimate the experimental error of treat- yield difference was due to the treatment WATSON, OSU EXTENSION environmental conditions that cannot ments requires replication and 2) to ensure you applied. When a state Extension specialist or be controlled by the experimenter (dif- an unbiased estimate of experimental error Replication allows us to estimate the Extension educator makes a presentation, ferences in soil texture, topography, soil requires randomization of the treatments. error associated with carrying out the the individual will occasionally make refer- compaction, rainfall, nutrient status, Replication experiment itself. Let’s revisit the fungi- ence to “statistical significance” or some disease infestation, etc.). cide experiment again. Assume you split variant that alludes to statistical analysis Statistics 101 Assume you want to evaluate a fungi- the field into strips and established three and its use in determining treatment differ- cide treatment on your farm, so you split a strips that were treated with the fungi- ences. So what is meant by statistical sig- Any observation made within an exper- field in two and apply the treatment to one cide and three that were not. We will nificance? Why should a producer, consult- iment has a certain amount of error associ- half and leave the other half untreated. At look at two different scenarios based on ant or retailer care about statistics? Can the ated with it. In fact, there is error associat- the end of the year you harvest each of the the harvest information. average of treatment effects be used alone ed with any measurement. Statistics allows two halves and observe a 3-bushel-per-acre Scenario 1: to evaluate differences? These are often us to quantify and assess this error. If only increase in yield on the treated side. This 3- At harvest the yield levels of the three asked questions that need clarification. We a single observation is made can you get bushel-per-acre difference seems like a treated strips is 50, 59 and 50. The three will attempt to explain why researchers an estimate of error? Some would argue good deal, so you decide that next year all untreated strips yielded 44, 57 and 49. The use statistics as a tool, why statistics are this point with a complicated mathematical of your acres will be treated with this new average yield levels for the treated and useful and necessary, and why split field model, but for the sake of argument we fungicide. Are you sure that the additional untreated strips are 53 and 50 bushels per un-replicated information is difficult to will agree that a single observation will not 3 bushels per acre was due to the applica- acre, respectively. Statistical analysis (you draw conclusions from. provide an estimate of error. In order to tion of the fungicide? Closer inspection of will just have to trust my statistical skills) Useful terms estimate the error of an observation, multi- the field reveals that the half of the field reveals that the probability of the fungicide ple observations need to be made. We call that showed the yield response was domi- treatment resulting in greater yield is Observation — a measurement that is these multiple observations replications. nated by a lighter texture soil that drained approximately 43%. Stated another way, if made for some output(s) of interest (yield, Replication allows us to estimate the exper- better than the other half of the field. Due you were to carryout the same experiment plant stand, nutrient status, disease inci- imental error associated with the observa- to excessive moisture (this is not necessari- in this specific field environment, the fun- dence, insect infestation, etc.). tions that are being made (and evaluation ly this past year) the half of the field with gicide treatment would result in a 3- Treatment — controlled input factor of the tools we are using to measure the better drainage might be expected to per- bushel-per-acre yield increase 43 times out applied to an experimental plot (seeding observation). In a field experiment, the form better. With the field split in two, it is of 100. Notice the qualification in the previ- rate, fertilization rate, insecticide applica- observations can be confounded with a impossible to determine what factor ous sentence; these experimental results tion, fungicide application, etc.) that will multitude of soil and environmental fac- contributed to the yield increase. There are only pertain to this specific field environ- hypothetically have an impact on an out- tors, therefore we must replicate the treat- a multitude of other possible explanations ment (which may not be repeatable put(s) of interest. Obviously multiple treat- ments across the landscape. To ensure the for the yield increase: historical manage- because field environment includes weath- ments are needed to conduct a well- estimates of experimental error for each ment differences, fertility level differences, er). This brings up another point — relying designed experiment. treatment are unbiased (not systematically insect pressure, disease pressure, natural on a single year of information is probably Error — deviation of a measurement influenced by underlying environmental variation in soil productivity, etc. Since we not wise. Multiple years of information from the true value (usually caused by conditions (i.e. soil type, topography, etc.), have no replication it is very difficult to provide information over many different variation in the measuring device being the replications should be randomly placed reach a definite conclusion as to the cause growing environments. Do not be fooled used or uncontrolled factors that affect the within the field. We have just discovered of the yield increase. This is not to say that into rationalizing that the 3-bushel yield measurement directly). the two most important things (in our the 3-bushel-per-acre increase was not increase is a good bet because it may result Experimental error — differences in humble estimation) in statistics — 1) to real, you just cannot be positive that the in a yield increase 43 out of 100 times. Supporting Animal Agriculture in Ohio Supports You
Animal agriculture consumes 94% of U.S. soybean meal As both a soybean farmer and livestock producer, I realize the importance animal agriculture plays in the success of my farming operation and therefore I support this important industry – you should too! In Ohio, supporting animal agriculture supports you. Did you know.
• Animal agriculture in Ohio uses 525,000 tons of soybean meal annually and employs 47,000 people. I see both sides of animal agriculture. The animal ag industry in Ohio is important to me as a soybean • Animal Agriculture alone pumps more than $8 billion into the Ohio producer because 94% of all soybean meal is used to economy each year. feed livestock and poultry. As a livestock producer soybean meal is an invaluable source of feed for my • The Ohio Soybean Council and the soybean checkoff help fund the Ohio animals. I support American grown products Livestock Coalition to represent the interests of commodity and livestock because it helps my bottom line. producers throughout the state. Bill Agle Clark County Soybean farmer and livestock producer
Our soybean checkoff. Effective. Efficient. Farmer-Driven. To learn more about animal agriculture or for more information on other soybean related issues, visit www.soyohio.org. 20 Crops • Ohio’s Country Journal • February 2006 Realize that the other 57 times the yield Replication section, the conclusions you response will be negligible or possibly reach may not be correct if the fungicide even detrimental. treatment was always applied to the same Scenario 2: half of the field. The data would be biased At harvest the yield levels of the three based on its location in the field. treated strips is 54, 53 and 52. The three Statistical significance untreated strips yielded 50, 52 and 48. The average yield levels for the treated This is often mentioned but seldom and untreated strips are 53 and 50 explained in an Extension venue. When an bushels per acre, respectively. Statistical experiment is conducted (properly replicat- analysis reveals that the probability of ed and randomized), the experimental the fungicide treatment resulting in a 3- error (average variance within treatment bushel-per-acre yield increase is approxi- observations) is computed and used to mately 92%. If you carried out the exper- assess whether or not treatments differ iment 100 times under these field condi- “significantly” from one another. Statistics tions, in 92 instances the fungicide treat- is based on probability, and researchers ment would be expected to result in a 3 select what level of probability constitutes bushel per acre yield increase. This is significance. The probability level selected much more promising than scenario 1. is solely at the discretion of the researcher. The only difference between the two The scientific community generally prefers scenarios is the variability in the data col- a probability level of 95%. So a researcher lected. The average for each treatment has can state with 95% probability that one not changed, but notice the spread in the treatment is different from another. If the data in scenario 1. Large variability in the 95% probability criterion is met, then the data makes it much more difficult to iden- treatments are “significantly” different. tify treatment differences. In other words, This is where some gray area enters into some underlying source of variability research. What is the appropriate probabil- exists that we cannot control or possibly ity level? Each researcher has their own set even measure. of criteria. The next time you hear a speak- Randomization er discussing some research data, think about what level of probability is being While not stated explicitly in the used to evaluate treatment differences. Replication section, randomization is just Statistics is a tool that allows as important as replication. Think about researchers to assess the error associated our initial experiment where the field was with conducting an experiment and to sep- split in two. There was an underlying dif- arate real treatment differences from differ- ference in soil productivity due to soil tex- ences caused by uncontrollable environ- ture and drainage that could affect the mental factors. Researchers can separate experimental outcome by biasing the data. the grain from the chaff as it were. Like To properly conduct the experiment this any tool, it must be used properly to be variation should be accounted for in the effective (replication and randomization). experimental design. Even if you replicat- Statistics is not a hard and fast science. It ed both treatments (with and without fun- does require some direction from the gicide) three times as you did in the researcher conducting the experiment. YieldGard Rootworm corn receives European Union approval The European Commission not include the approval of YieldGard announced it has approved the use of Rootworm corn or YieldGard Plus for Monsanto’s YieldGard Rootworm corn cultivation in the EU or the import (MON 863) and its processed products approval for any YieldGard Rootworm as food and food ingredients under the combined trait products. Novel Foods Regulation. “These decisions are great news for the “Monsanto welcomes the European more than 200 seed companies and tens of Commission’s ruling on YieldGard thousands of U.S. farmers who plant Rootworm corn technology and their biotech-enhanced corn hybrids,” said affirmation of the safety of YieldGard Ernesto Fajardo, vice president of U.S. crop Rootworm corn for use in food prod- production for Monsanto. ucts,” said Jerry Hjelle, vice president In light of today’s announcement, of regulatory affairs for Monsanto. growers who planted YieldGard With this announcement, the Rootworm single-trait hybrids are encour- European Union (EU) authorizes the aged to check with their local grain han- immediate use of corn for human con- dler regarding that facility’s buying policy. sumption. Today’s decision is expected Monsanto is currently awaiting decisions to be published in the Official Journal on separate submissions for its corn trait of the European Communities in the technologies combined with YieldGard coming weeks. This announcement Rootworm. Until these separate submis- complements the August 2005 decision sions within the EU regulatory processes that allowed the import, processing are approved, growers who intend to plant and use of YieldGard Rootworm grain combined trait versions of YieldGard in animal feed in the EU. Rootworm hybrids — including YieldGard In addition, the EU Commission also Rootworm with Roundup Ready Corn 2, granted import, feed and processing YieldGard Plus or YieldGard Plus with approval of YieldGard Plus, which is a Roundup Ready Corn 2 — will need to hybrid stack of YieldGard Rootworm continue to channel the grain under the (MON 863) with YieldGard Corn Borer Market Choices certification mark. For a (MON 810). YieldGard Plus is current- list of local grain handlers who accept ly under review by the EU for use in Market Choices designated hybrids, call food and food ingredients. The 1-866-SELLCORN (1-866-735-5267) or go to European Commission’s ruling does www.866sellcorn.com. Ohio’s Country Journal • February 2006 • Crops 21