Indiana AgriNews_090619

WITH BECK’S ROUNDUP READY 2 XTEND ® SOYBEANS, YOU JUST GET MORE. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® is the number one trait platform planted by farmers*. With the weed control provided by a low volatility dicamba formulation and a best-in-class disease package, there’s no doubt in this soybean’s ability to yield.

September 6, 2019

www.agrinews-pubs.com

*Traited acres based on Bayer internal estimates. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW, IRM, WHERE APPLICABLE, GRAIN MARKETING, STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS Glyphosate herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® is a trademark of Bayer Group. Performance may vary.

Farm Bureau sets 2020 goals Delegates make policy stances By Erica Quinlan

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

DANVILLE, Ind. — Indiana Farm Bureau delegates met Aug. 24 to decide on the organization’s policy stances for 2020. Nearly 260 farmers and agribusiness professionals from every county discussed topics ranging from renewable energy to hemp production. “The session went pretty quickly, which tells me the policy

HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY

book has been refined, and they are mostly in agreement with what’s there,” said Randy Kron, president of INFB. “There were a few tweaks. There was some discussion about broadband availability in rural communities.” Members also discussed renewable energy, which they agreed should be controlled on a local level. “There was a line added that they need to look for places (for renewable energy) on more marginal ground, when possible,” Kron said. “They need to look at the big picture. What’s there? What else is around (the renewable energy site)?”

HOOSIER HEMP Industrial hemp was an important topic at the session. Delegates supported research to find other uses for hemp, the right for all farmers to grow hemp and a diversified hemp market to provide growers with a fair and equitable system to sell what they produce. “We understand there are going to be rules and guidelines around it,” Kron said. “There was actually some discussion about having an indemnity, kind of like we do for grain. With hemp being new, there could be some problems or growing pains.

PROVIDED PHOTO/INFB

Indiana Farm Bureau member delegates gathered at the Hendricks County See GOALS, Page A2 Fairgrounds on Aug. 24 to determine policy positions for 2020.

BECKNOLOGY DAYS

Corteva boosts ag program By Ashley Langreck

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

HUNTINGTON, Ind. — The agricultural program at Huntington University is blossoming thanks to substantial donations from Corteva Agriscience. Nate Perry, coordinator of ag operations and external relations, said the university in Huntington, Indiana, received two $50,000 gifts from Corteva. One of the donations will be used to develop two new named endowed scholarships, which will begin in the 2020-2021 academic school year. To be eligible for the scholarships, students must have a 2.8 grade point average, be pursuing an agriculture-related field of study and be involved in an extracurricular university organization. The second donation will be used to enhance the agricultural studies programs at Huntington University, as well as providing st udent s access to new equipment. “The donation will be used for agricultural programming as deemed necessary and helping our students benefit,” Perry said. See CORTEVA, Page A2

SEE SECTION B

INSIDE

Farmland values show decrease A6 Benefits of soil health practices B6 Go wacky, artsy with flowerpots C6 AgriTrucker B4 Antiques C5

From The Fields A8 Kitchen Diva C5

Auction Calendar B1

Lifestyle C5

Business C8

Livestock B5

Classifieds C1 Farms For Sale B7

Opinion C7 Weather A6

Vol. 41 No. 49

CONTACT AGRINEWS: 800-426-9438

AGRINEWS PHOTOS/ERICA QUINLAN

Tractors bring Becknology Days visitors to fields where research is being conducted. This year, Beck’s conducted more than 100 studies and is testing 114 products and practices across multiple locations to learn how different management techniques and technologies perform.

BECK’S CONNECTS Partnerships vital to seed company By Erica Quinlan

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

ATLANTA, Ind. — A large crowd of farmers attended Becknology Days Aug 22-24 in Atlanta to learn about new products and practical farm research. Scott Beck, president of Beck’s Hybrids, said the company’s focus this year revolves around connections. He addressed attendees during the President’s Message each day. “I’ve heard my dad say, ‘You’ll be the same today as you were yesterday except for the books you read and the people you meet,’” Beck said. “We weren’t meant to live in isolation. We’re meant to live in a community. “So, our connections with others are what help us determine our future. It’s not only meeting someone, but it’s the decisions you make based on those connections.”

Practical Field Research plots were on display Aug. 22-24 during Becknology Days. Beck’s has formed strategic partnerships in several areas, especially in seeds and traits. “We have our own breeding program in corn germplasm development,” Beck said.

“The company we partnered with a few years ago is out of France, called RAGT. We cross our germplasm with their germplasm. We’re going deeper within that relationship now.

“We opened up a corn breeding station in Olivia, Minnesota. That will be for developing products with a 90- to 105-day maturity — mostly for the northern geography.” Another important connection being enhanced is with Bayer Crop Science. “With Bayer buying Monsanto, it created one of the largest corn and soybean germplasm programs in the world,” Beck said. “We’re announcing this month a long-term germplasm collaboration with that company. It’s very significant. The work we’ve been doing is now going to be incorporated and crossed with the work they’ve been doing. “All the details aren’t ironed out yet, but there’s a lot of potential in this relationship.” Sonny Beck, CEO of Beck’s Hybrids, said that Beck’s has had a 9.3% market share growth over the past 10 years. It’s now valued as the third largest corn and soybean brand in the United States. See BECK’S, Page A2

Vintage farm show draws huge crowds By Tom C. Doran

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

RANTOUL, Ill. — Billed as the “largest vintage farm show,” the Half Century of Progress exceeded expectations when it was held Aug. 22-25 at the Rantoul National Aviation Center. Show co-chair Russell Buhr has been involved with the event since it was initially part of the Farm Progress Show in 2003 at Henning and then moved permanently two years later to the former Chanute Air Force Base where it is held biennially just prior to when the Farm Progress Show is in Decatur. “Everything went well. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger,

and everything went very smoothly,” Buhr said. This year’s theme was the “Harvest Brigade,” and the airport’s 1,192 acres buzzed with farm equipment dating back to the early 20th century through the 1960s. A large contingent of vintage steam engines, tractors, wagons, combines and pickers harvested corn and soybeans on the grounds, tilled and shelled corn. The class of 1969 tractors and equipment also were highlighted during the show and led the Parade of Power on Saturday afternoon. Food stands and vendors filled the runways and taxiways adjacent to the airport’s hangars,

AGRINEWS PHOTO/TOM C. DORAN

It took some manpower to get the horsepower cranked up on this 1913 HartParr Model 60 at the Half Century of Progress.

and there was daily entertainment Engine Club, draws visitors from for the tens of thousands to enjoy numerous states across the nation, over the four days. as well as from other countries. The show, hosted by the I & I Antique Tractor and Gas See SHOW, Page A2