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It seems like we all try to distill ourselves into how many generations we are as farmers on the land... Well, my family sold the farm that had been in the same hands since before Kansas was a state in the early 2000s. I write for a farm and ranch publication, trying to share what I learn from agricultural researchers, politicians, lobbyists, corporations, and yes, other farmers, in the hopes that it will help other farm families make a little more on their margins so they can stay farming one more generation. I may not be a farmHER, but I hope my work makes a difference to all.

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Posted on: February 27, 2014
Posted in: Company news, News, Uncategorized
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Bayer CropScience brings ag issues to media

To say that David Hollinrake, vice president agricultural commercial operations marketing for Bayer CropScience, is optimistic about the future of agriculture is an understatement.

The man is practically humming with excitement for the innovations on the horizon and what they mean for humanity.

Hollinrake opened up the Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum Feb. 25 in San Antonio, Texas. This even occurs pre-Commodity Classic and brings industry leaders with agricultural media to discuss the hot issues of the day.

Hollinrake said the agriculture field of tomorrow is “sexy, cool, innovative, exciting and cutting edge.”

“The world needs that and more to solve its challenges,” he said. “Think about the wealth of opportunities for innovative and smart people to get into our business. We need new developments in crop protection, to foster the spirit of collaboration that gets that innovation.”

Feeding the world will only get tougher. Hollinrake said that by the year 2050 experts estimate that there will only be one-third of an acre per capita for agricultural production, and there won’t be more ground coming into production.

“By the year 2050, the FAO estimates there will be 9.6 billion mouths to feed,” he said. “Plus, a growing global GDP, and the more prosperous demand to eat like you and me, more and better foods. We have an obligation to increase our productivities.”

This won’t come without challenges, though. Developing pest resistance, whether insect or weed resistance, is driving Bayer and other providers to come up with new innovations to meet the challenge.

“We have water use concerns,” he continued. “Not just in California but in the Plains we see the aquifer drying up. “ Other concerns include finding quality labor for agribusinesses; increasing global scrutiny; unpredictability of the weather and increased product development costs.

“We will need to use less to produce a whole lot more,” Hollinrake said. The world wants and expects us to meet the demand.

“Norman Borlaug helped bring about the Green Revolution,” he said. “Our world needs a new revolution in food production.