tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66463862714367461202024-03-12T22:54:34.520-04:00The Foodie FarmerBlogging about how your food gets from field to forkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-38955999784363009682018-11-28T09:46:00.001-05:002018-11-28T10:28:05.338-05:00My blogging year in summary: 2018I haven't posted here in over a year, mostly because I use my Foodie Farmer facebook page for my daily blog postings. You can follow me on Facebook here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DirtDietitian/">The Foodie Farmer Facebook Page</a>. You can also find me on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/FarmGirlJen">@FarmGirlJen</a> and on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dirtdietitian/">@DirtDietitian </a><br />
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<li>I've done some recent work with <a href="https://afreshlook.org/">A Fresh Look</a> on food and farming and going to share those posts and some others that I've worked on this year.</li>
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<a href="https://afreshlook.org/voices/but-what-about-all-the-pesticides/">But What About All The Pesticides</a></div>
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<a href="https://afreshlook.org/voices/are-gmos-safe-to-eat-or-grow/">Are GMOs safe to eat or grow?</a></div>
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<a href="https://afreshlook.org/voices/why-mess-with-gmos-at-all/">Why mess with GMOs at all?</a></div>
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<li>Earlier this fall, I worked on this blog post with them also:</li>
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<a href="https://afreshlook.org/voices/tested-them-all/">Organic, Conventional, or GMO: This Farming Mom Tested Them All. </a></div>
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<li>And for the <a href="https://globalfarmernetwork.org/2018/08/gmo-beyond-the-science-iii-collaborative-glp-and-gfn-project/">Beyond The Science Series</a> with the <a href="https://geneticliteracyproject.org/">Genetic Literacy Project </a>in partnership with <a href="https://globalfarmernetwork.org/">The Global Farmers Network: </a></li>
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<a href="https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/08/07/when-farmer-dietitian-same-person-telling-stories-counter-misinformation-biotechnology/">When a Farmer and a Dietitian are the Same Person: Telling Stories to Counter Misinformation about Biotechnology</a></div>
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<li>As well as a critique of Dr. Oz's "take down" epidsode of the weed killer glyphosate in food.</li>
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<a href="https://www.agweb.com/blog/the-truth-about-trade/this-farmer-dietitian-does-not-trust-the-wizardry-of-dr-oz/">This Farmer Dietitian Does Not Trust the Wizardry of Dr. Oz</a></div>
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<li>At the beginning of the year, I was asked to participate in the <a href="https://foodtank.com/">Food Tank's</a> Washington DC Food Summit </li>
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<a href="https://foodtank.com/news/2018/02/1-jennifer-schmidt-schmidt-farms-food-tank-washing-dc-summit/">A Farmer’s Perspective: Climate Change, Soil Degradation, and Sustainability</a></div>
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<li>I had a lot of fun with <a href="https://www.soundbitesrd.com/">SoundBitesRD Melissa J Dobbins</a> recording this podcast on Soil health, weed control, and glyphosate.</li>
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<a href="https://www.soundbitesrd.com/weed-control-jennie-schmidt/">PODCAST EPISODE 098: DIGGING INTO SOIL HEALTH, WEED CONTROL & GLYPHOSATE</a></div>
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<li>I also answered a couple consumer questions posted at GMO Answers:</li>
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<a href="https://gmoanswers.com/ask/it-more-or-less-expensive-use-gmo-technology-crops">Is it more or less expensive to use gmo technology for crops?</a></div>
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<a href="https://gmoanswers.com/ask/does-gm-process-affect-look-or-taste-crop-any-way">Does the GM process affect the look or taste of the crop in any way?</a></div>
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<li>For <a href="https://rdlounge.com/">Today's Dietitian</a>, I spoke about the importance of agricultural sustainability:</li>
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<a href="http://rdlounge.com/2018/05/10/two-rd-farmers-talk-sustainability/">Two RD Farmers Talk Sustainability</a></div>
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<li>And share this story for the Retail Dietitian's Business Alliance.</li>
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<a href="https://www.retaildietitians.com/articles/communicating-confidence-in-the-food-supply-by-sharing-farm-stories/">Communicating Confidence in the Food Supply by Sharing Farm Stories</a></div>
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<li>Was featured on the President's Page of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics</li>
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<a href="https://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(17)31840-3/fulltext">Academy Members and Agriculture: A Winning Combination</a></div>
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<li>Finally, co-authored and published a long awaited paper in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. </li>
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<a href="https://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(17)31190-5/fulltext">Evidence Analysis Library Systematic Review on Advanced Technology in Food Production</a></div>
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The one post I have not completed is my annual cost of production comparison for GMO vs NonGMO soybeans for 2017. Now that 2018 harvest is nearly over, I'll probably wait and crunch the numbers for both years and write it up here in 2019... or at least that's my goal.</div>
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So it was a busy year for me in real life with running the family farm, getting both kids off to college, a busier that usual number of speaking engagements, and on social media. I lapsed here on blogspot for a good chunk of the year because I could not remember my password and log on only to find out that it was linked to a gmail account I no longer use and had to reactivate.</div>
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But having done this post in a short amount of time, this may very well be the format I use going forward. Again, if you want to follow me more regularly, I pretty much post every day on at least one of my social media platforms. </div>
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Have a great holiday season. See you in 2019!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-58551340129501371382017-11-08T17:23:00.001-05:002017-11-08T17:23:33.399-05:00Our Food System Isn't Perfect But It Isn't Broken<p dir="ltr">A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend the 2017 World Food Prize and participate as the U.S. Delegate to the Global Farmer Roundtable. It was a discussion full of similarities and issues in agriculture from 14 farmers attending from around the world.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Following the World Food Prize, I headed to Chicago to attend "FNCE" the annual Food and Nutrition Convention & Expo of the Academy of Food and Nutrition. I was moderating a panel on genetic engineering and sustainable agriculture. </p>
<p dir="ltr">It was a contrast that left me contemplating how we got to such divergence in who has access to food and whether or not global hunger has truly been "solved". I tweeted up a storm following a presentation by Kimbal Musk because that is one statement he made, that we had solved global hunger and now needed to nourish people. Having been in sessions and discussions at the World Food Prize where the focus was on solving why 1 in 4 children are stunted or why 500,000 children go blind each year due to Vitamin A deficiency,  I knew what Mr. Musk asserted was at best out of touch and at worst, privileged ignorance.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I've been asked to share my opening remarks to the FNCE panel I moderated. It is focused toward dietitians, the attendees of FNCE.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Good afternoon and welcome to the Future of Food: Biotechnology and Sustainable Agriculture. My name is Jennie Schmidt, a full time farmer from Maryland growing corn, high Oleic soybeans, tofu soybeans, winegrapes, wheat, barley, green beans and canning tomatoes. I describe our farm as a grocery store farm - we grow the ingredients you buy in products at the grocery store. Im also a former practicing clinical dietitian and am excited to have been asked to moderate this esteemed panel.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"We have had numerous sessions on food, agriculture,  and sustainability the past few days and I want to open with some comments from my perspective.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I came to FNCE directly from having attended a week long program at the World Food Prize and watched Dr. Akin Adesina from Nigeria become the 2017 World Food Prize laureate, what is considered to be the Nobel Prize in food and agriculture. I was honored to have been asked to be the U.S. Delegate to the Global Farmer Roundtable at the World Food Prize. Our roundtable consensus definition of sustainable agriculture was "Safe food that protects our natural resources and reduces our environmental impact." Most farmers strive for this every day.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"The South African farmer delegate share a perspective you need to hear. He said "I have been fighting my whole life for the right to eat." Can you imagine? Most of us expect that food is a given, a human right,  not something we need to fight for. We <u>often</u> neglect to appreciate how fortunate we are.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"We have not solved global hunger. One in four children around the world are stunted due to chronic under nourishment and malnutrition. Half a million children go blind annually due to Vitamin A deficiency. Children who are fighting for the right to eat.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Several speakers at FNCE have stated that we need to move from a food system that simply feeds people to a system that nourishes them.  I would submit to you that unless in your nutrition practice you have been treating people for pellegra, rickets, beri beri, kwashiorkor, or even goiter, our system <b>HAS</b> nourished people and WE have <u>l</u>ost sight of 1) how resilient our food system has been and 2) how far our food system has come.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I would say our food system isn't perfect, but it is far from broken. We do not fight for the right to eat. We eat from a place of privilege.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"And from that perspective, I hope you absorb (pun intended) what today's presentations offer, the importance of technology in food and agriculture to continue to move our food system along the sustainability continuum."</p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-73109867932951522942017-04-01T06:00:00.000-04:002017-04-01T06:00:16.692-04:00High Oleic Soybeans<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">High Oleic Soybeans </span></b></div>
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This is a follow up to my post about GMO vs NonGMO 2016 cost of production and a little more details about what high oleic soybeans are. </div>
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These soybeans have 2 traits - one is a "gene edit" where the pathway that converts oleic acid to linoleic acid is suppressed. There is no "trait" added, just a silencing of an enzymatic pathway that converts one type of oil to another. The other "trait" is the RoundUp resistance that comes from the bacteria Agrobacterium that codes for resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">These pics show the testing each truckload goes through before unloading. When the truck pulls into the grain elevator, the truck pulls onto a scale to be weighed full and a probe pulls several samples from the trailer to analyze. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This grain elevator is dedicated 100% to high oleic soybeans. So while they test the beans for moisture like all grain elevators do to be sure they won't go moldy, they also run a test to be sure the soybeans have<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> the correct oil content. Regular beans have a much lower oleic oil content, around 25%, HO beans average >75%.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What's special about oleic oil? It's a monounsaturated fat, in the same category as olive oil. The oil from these beans is transfat free and so has a lot of commercial use in food recipes to remove transfat. It replaces much of the partially hydrogenated soybean oil without significant recipe reformulation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because of their specialty oil profile, they have to be tested to be sure they are the correct beans and meet the threshold for oleic oil before the truck can unload. If it doesn't pass, we'd have to haul the beans down to another grain elevator that buys plain commodity soybeans and sell them at a lower price. We get paid a per bushel premium for keeping them pure to their HO variety and not cross contaminate them with any other bean. Essentially it means really good record keeping and really good housekeeping of our equipment. This is why we harvested HO first, to be sure we practiced good identity preservation (IP) apart from the other soybeans we grow.</span></div>
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Once the oil content is verified, we can drive over to the unloading dock and dump the beans into the elevator. (Last pic) Then we pull back on the scale and get an empty weight which will then print out a ticket how many bushels we delivered on that load.</div>
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What are the benefits of HO soybeans? These beans are transfat free and the oil extracted from them is more shelf stable and does not need hydrogenation. While you as a consumer cannot yet buy this oil at the grocery store, it is used in commercial food production in frying and in reformulating packaged foods to remove the transfats. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-28740757736323329922017-03-14T15:18:00.000-04:002017-03-14T15:40:03.060-04:00Update: 2016 GMO & NonGMO ProductionSo by now you know I don't blog here much anymore. If you haven't found me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DirtDietitian/">Facebook</a>, that's pretty much where I "blog" these days, posting pictures and things that are going on around the family farm. But I know a lot of folks follow me for the updates to our GMO vs nonGMO production information and comparison so that's what I've been working on today since Winter storm "Stella" was pretty much an rain event for us. I had really hoped for a snow day since this winter has been too warm and too dry for my region.<br />
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A note for 2016 - I only included soybean information because we did not grow any conventional/nonGMO corn so I have no side by side comparison of GM to nonGM corn for 2016. All of the corn we grew in 2016 was "RIB" - refuge in bag meaning a certain percentage of the seeds in the bag were nontraited/nonGMO seeds to serve as an insect resistance management program. Why did we give up conventional/nonGMO? Because there was no yield advantage and no premium associated with growing it. It didn't perform as well and as with any business owner looking at the bottom line, there was no economic or agronomic reason to continue.<br />
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</td>
<td style="height: 45.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2012</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(drought)</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 45.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" width="48"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2013</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 45.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="54"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2015<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 45.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2016<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 31.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="height: 31.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 98.4pt;" width="131"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Biotech Acreage</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 35.45pt;" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">195<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 37.75pt;" width="50"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">322<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 30.9pt;" width="41"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">416<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">270<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">527<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" width="48"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">200<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="54"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">400<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">611<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 98.4pt;" width="131"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yield BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 35.45pt;" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">54.2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 37.75pt;" width="50"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">50.3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 30.9pt;" width="41"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">53.5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">43<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" width="48"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">48<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="54"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">45<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">62<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="height: 40.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 98.4pt;" width="131"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Conventional Acreage</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 35.45pt;" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">156<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 37.75pt;" width="50"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">184<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 30.9pt;" width="41"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">213<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">306<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">675<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" width="48"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">175<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="54"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">200<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">182<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 98.4pt;" width="131"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yield BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 35.45pt;" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">48.2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 37.75pt;" width="50"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">43.2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 30.9pt;" width="41"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">46.3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" width="48"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="54"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">42<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 31.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="height: 31.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 98.4pt;" width="131"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yield Difference</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 35.45pt;" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 37.75pt;" width="50"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7.1</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 30.9pt;" width="41"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7.2</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">10</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" width="48"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">23</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="54"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">11<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 31.05pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">20<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
(BPA = bushels per acre)</div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2016 Soybean Production</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 396px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Cost Per Acre</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Non-GMO<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">for Food</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">GMO/RR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">for Feed</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">GMO/RR/High Oleic<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">for Feed</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Seed</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$39</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$47</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$49</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Fertilizer</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$20</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$20</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$20</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Herbicide</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$40</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$18.50</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$18.50</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Crop Insurance</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$37</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$37</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$37</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Fertilizer application</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$6</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$6</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$6</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Planting</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$15</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$15</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$15</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Pesticide application</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$18</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$12</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$12</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Harvest</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$28</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$28</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$28</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Hauling</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$9</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$9</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$4</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Land Rent</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$150</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$150</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$150</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Total Cost of Inputs</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$362</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$342.50</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$339.50</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Bushels/Ac (BPA)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">42 BPA</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">53 BPA</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">62 BPA</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Price/Bushel</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$11.13</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$9.13</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$9.63</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Gross Income</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$467.50</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$483.9</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$597.05</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Net Income Difference</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.1pt;" width="65"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$105.5</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$141.4</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$257.55</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
So what's our conclusion from the 2016 data?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1. GMO continues to outyield nonGMO in the 18 cropping years that we have grown it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. The $2/bushel premium for nonGMO soybeans does not offset the yield loss for either GMO with or without a premium. Let me explain. Here on the Delmarva, we can grow high oleic (HO) soybeans and receive a 50 cent premium per bushel over commodity price. These HO beans are segregated and kept pure to their genetics just like the nonGMO are segregated and kept pure to their (lack of) traits. Compared to regular Roundup Ready soybeans, the HO beans which are also Roundup ready have consistently been a higher yielding bean for us having grown them now for 4 years. The chart above shows that our tofu beans continue to be our lowest yielding, least profitable soybean despite the fact that there is a significant premium attached to growing it. RoundUp Ready beans while traited/GMO, do not perform as well as the high oleic soybeans. For us, a 9 bushel per acre difference. </div>
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3. For 2017, the majority of our acres will be high oleic soybeans. There is a huge demand and not enough acres in production for our region. The closest grain elevator to our farm is dedicated to HO beans so our trucking costs are significantly lower. We don't have to use our own storage bins so HO beans fit really well into our farming business plan. We will continue to grow tofu beans as part of a diversification effort as members of a farmers cooperative for the market opportunity to meet the limited customer demand for local tofu on the East Coast. Keep in mind that a lot of tofu can be made from a small number of bushels of soybeans so this is not a huge market. We sell tofu beans by the pallet, not by the truck load. </div>
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4. There is no "one" way of making decisions on a farm and what works for us may not work well for others. Much depends on how much risk someone is willing to take, how much debt they are in already, what makes sense for the number of tractors and people they have to get the various jobs done, and so many other decisions that impact whether a farm is profitable or not. I do know one thing, no child is going to come back to a farm that is deep in the red and so our choices today effect the ability for the next generation to decide to return or not. Nothing is straight forward, nothing is black or white, and there is no cookie cutter method for farming across the country. </div>
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<div>
Please remember that not all farmers have the same premiums available to them, or the same market access so this data again, only applies to us and to this region.<br />
<br />
If you need to backtrack to my previous blogs on our cost of production here are links to the original post : <a href="http://thefoodiefarmer.blogspot.com/2014/12/gmo-versus-nongmo-cost-of-production.html">2014 GMO/NonGMO Comparison</a><br />
<a href="http://thefoodiefarmer.blogspot.com/2016/08/gmo-vs-nongmo-2015-cost-of-production.html">2015 Update GMO/NonGMO comparison</a></div>
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For more information on high oleic soybeans, see my next blog.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-47499664527777422332016-08-13T11:21:00.003-04:002016-08-13T11:21:31.719-04:00GMO vs NonGMO: 2015 Cost of Production Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This is an update of my earlier blog entitled “<a href="http://thefoodiefarmer.blogspot.com/2014/12/gmo-versus-nongmo-cost-of-production.html">GMOvs NonGMO: The Cost of Production</a>. Earlier this year when the National Academies
of Science announced their <a href="https://nas-sites.org/ge-crops/">Genetically Engineered Crop Study</a>, and questioned
some of the yield benefits, I tweeted that I would update this blog. Yesterday,
I got a call from Michigan State University asking for the update because they
were reviewing it with a group of foreign agriculturalists who wanted “real
world” data from a real farmer. So that is my impetus for updating this blog.
We are between crops right now so I had the time to push the numbers for 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When asked about “why we chose this…” or “why we
did that…” there are nuances to farming decisions that I don’t think
non-business owners understand because they don’t have experience working for
themselves and trying to make a business sustainable in every sense of the word
– environmentally, socially and economically. You can’t have one without the other
or the word is meaningless. The choice to purchase seed is driven by not only
the traits that the seed has but also the diversification of not putting all
your eggs in one basket so to speak. Choosing different varieties of corn or
soybeans, some with and some without GM traits is one of those means to spread
risk, be a steward of the traited technology, and reduce the risk of
herbicide/insecticide resistance. But the bottom line is we can only grow what
we have a market for. If there is a demand for high oleic soybeans and there is
a grain elevator in our region paying a premium for that trait, we’d be foolish
not to tap into that market. We can’t grow what there isn’t local
infrastructure and market to support. The best example for our farm is growing
canning tomatoes. We only grow canning tomatoes because there is a cannery in
Pennsylvania that provides the harvester and the transportation to get the
tomatoes to the cannery. Growing around 100 acres per year of tomatoes means
that a half million dollar harvester for tomatoes would never cash flow if we had to buy it ourselves, nor would
we ever afford the number of tractor trailer trucks needed to haul the volume
of tomatoes to the cannery. The contract only makes sense because the
infrastructure is provided for us to be able to grow tomatoes successfully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The remainder of the text below is from my earlier 2014 blog with updated numbers in the charts to reflect our 2015 production and costs figures. Is it a perfect analysis? No. But for us these numbers help us determine year to year what performed well and how to make purchase and growing decisions for the next year based on overall performance. A family farm isn't sustainable if it isn't profitable. As I have said many times, what is the incentive for the next generation to return to the farm if the farm is in debt up to their eyeballs, operating in the red. Living on a farm is a lifestyle but is also has to provide a livable income for children to want to return and take over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Recently I was asked to answer a question on <span style="color: blue;">GMO Answers</span> regarding
what the productions costs are comparing <a href="https://gmoanswers.com/ask/what-difference-cost-production-gmo-vs-non-gmo">GMO and nonGMO crops</a>. For my family
farm, that specifically means corn or soybeans. The hay including alfalfa,
tomatoes, green beans, and grapes have not been genetically engineered, they
are "conventional" or traditional hybrids from other means of plant
breeding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Answering the question in terms of costs
necessitates the entire picture of yield and price per bushel, otherwise a
farmer would have an incomplete picture by which to make business decisions
that impact the sustainability of the family farm. The other critical piece
that folks don't seem to grasp is the market demand in various regions. Farmers
grow what there is demand for, plain and simple. What markets are available in
our region and the products they want from farmers. Economics 101. We don't
grow what we can't sell. For us, there is greater demand for GMO derived feed
and imgredients than there is for nonGMO feed and ingredients. Strange isn't
it? You haven't heard that before have you? The media would lead you to believe
otherwise, but the media aren't connected to the farm community or its markets.
If you are believing only what you read in the media, then you are not seeing
the entire picture, just a very small slice of their pie, so to speak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The data below is our data, no one else's data.
We can't make sustainable business decisions based on hypotheticals or someone
else's data. We make decisions for our farm based on our outcomes and
experiences. These figures are not everyone else's figures. These figures do
not extrapolate to our neighbors or farmers in other regions or states. These
figures are what drives our decision making and choices for the coming year. If
the market changes, we change our decision making process. If yield or costs
change, we change our decision making process. In the end, our goal is to have
healthy soils producing healthy foods and have a sustainable family farm to
leave for the next generation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://gmoanswers.com/ask/what-difference-cost-production-gmo-vs-non-gmo"><span style="color: blue;">GMO vs NonGMO Production Comparison</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Will Rogers is credited with the quote:
"The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn't still be a
farmer." Optimistically, each winter we review our harvest data
comparing our crop yield by variety to our cost of production for that crop
that season, in consideration of the type of growing season we had, in order to
decide what seeds to purchase for the coming season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Since 1998, we have been growing both GM and
non-GM corn and soybeans. (We don’t actually use the term “GM” or “GMO” since
all domesticated crops have been genetically modified, but am using the acronym
for the sake of this audience). We run the numbers ever year for every variety
and every crop because that’s the only way to run any successful business. We
collect the data on what worked and what didn’t work and make changes and
improvements or what many businesses call “continuous quality improvement.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2014 & 2015 Corn Production Non-Irrigated</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cost Per Acre</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2014 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NonBt/HT Corn</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2015 NonBt/HT Corn<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2014 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BT/HT corn</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2015 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bt/HT corn<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$65<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$65<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$114<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$121<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fertilizer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$123<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$102<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$123<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$102<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Herbicide/Insecticide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$35.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Crop Insurance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fertilizer Application<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7.5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Planting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nitrogen Application<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$9.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$9.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pesticide Application<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$18.00*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$9.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Harvest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hauling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$25.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$25.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Drying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$60<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$59<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$60<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$59<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Land Rent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$150<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$150<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$150<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$150<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Total Cost of Inputs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$594/ac<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$546<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$615/ac<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$582.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BPA=bushels per acre<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">186 BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">138 BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">221 BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">164 BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Current cash price/bu<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Salisbury, MD)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$4.01<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$4.04<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$4.01<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$4.04<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gross Income/ac<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$745.86<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$557.52<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$886.21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$662.56<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Net Income Difference</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$151.86</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$11.52<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$271</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$80.06<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 110.9pt;" width="148">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 77.2pt;" valign="top" width="103">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 96.75pt;" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.2in;" valign="top" width="115">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">*higher costs due to
additional spraying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2014 & 2015 Soybean Production Full season, Non-Irrigated</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 548px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cost Per Acre</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Non-GMO for Food</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2015<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NonGMO for Food</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GMO High Oleic</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2015<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GMO High Oleic<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seed</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$41</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$38</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$53</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$60<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fertilizer</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$21</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$18</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$21</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Herbicide</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$40</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28.50</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$18</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$18.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Crop Insurance</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$32</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$26</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$32</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fertilizer application</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7.50</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7.50</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7.50</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Planting</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$20</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$20</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$20</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pesticide application</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$24</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$18</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Harvest</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hauling</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$18</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$18</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$9</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Land Rent</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$150</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$150</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$150</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$150<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Total Cost of Inputs</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$372.50</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$362</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$356.50</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$355<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bushels/Ac (BPA)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">35 BPA</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">34 BPA</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">55 BPA</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">45 BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Price/Bushel</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$12.25</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$11.76</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$11.25</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$10.26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gross Income</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$472.5</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$423.36</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$619</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$461.70<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.9pt;" width="139">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Net Income Difference</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.35pt;" width="111">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$100</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$61.36</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$263</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 82.4pt;" valign="top" width="110">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$90.70<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(2015
Update: Different from the 2014 data, I removed “GMO for Feed, & GMO for
Seed” as we grew neither in 2015. Additionally, hauling costs for nonGMO were
increased due to the fact that they are in storage longer and require smaller,
more frequent trips to a seed cleaner, are bagged and sold by the pallet rather
than by the tractor trailer load)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The first year we planted Bt corn was 2000. As
you can see from the chart below, it has out-performed conventional corn every
single year. What is most noteworthy however, is the importance of its
performance in unfavorable growing years. We had drought conditions from
2010-2012. A healthy crop is a more productive crop and in bad years, that can
make the biggest difference to the financial sustainability of the family farm.
I previously had included our organic corn data in this chart but have since
removed it. We grew conventional, biotech, and organic corn simultaneously but
stopped our organic production in 2011. It average was below 50 bushels per
acre and makes a very poor comparison. We decertified our organic ground and
for that reason, I no longer include the data.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: -4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 630px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 40.5pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.1pt;" width="113">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Corn (non-irrigated)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2000</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2004</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 48.2pt;" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2010<br />
(slight drought)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.35pt;" width="76">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2011</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(drought & hurricane)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.45pt;" width="66">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2012</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(drought)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 36.35pt;" width="48">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2013</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 60.35pt;" width="80">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2014</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 53.1pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2015<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 39.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.1pt;" width="113">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Biotech Acres</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">276<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 48.2pt;" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">573<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.35pt;" width="76">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">397<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.45pt;" width="66">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">464<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 36.35pt;" width="48">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">290<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 60.35pt;" width="80">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">275<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 53.1pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">450<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: .5in; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.1pt;" width="113">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Avg Yield BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">171<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">182<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 48.2pt;" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">110<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.35pt;" width="76">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">44<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.45pt;" width="66">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">111<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 36.35pt;" width="48">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">214<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 60.35pt;" width="80">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">220<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 53.1pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">164<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 50.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.1pt;" width="113">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Conventional Acres</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">647<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">415<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 48.2pt;" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">195<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.35pt;" width="76">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">213<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.45pt;" width="66">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">261<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 36.35pt;" width="48">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">75<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 60.35pt;" width="80">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">200<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 53.1pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">150<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: .5in; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.1pt;" width="113">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Avg Yield BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">165<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">167<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 48.2pt;" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">91<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.35pt;" width="76">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.45pt;" width="66">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">57<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 36.35pt;" width="48">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">202<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 60.35pt;" width="80">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">186<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 53.1pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">138<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 50.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.1pt;" width="113">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Biotech/Bt<br />
Yield Advantage</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.4</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 48.2pt;" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.35pt;" width="76">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.45pt;" width="66">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">54</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 36.35pt;" width="48">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 60.35pt;" width="80">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">34</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 53.1pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 33.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.1pt;" width="113">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Price/Bu<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$2.35</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$2.55</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 48.2pt;" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$5.18</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.35pt;" width="76">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$6.47</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.45pt;" width="66">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7.40</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 36.35pt;" width="48">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$4.41</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 60.35pt;" width="80">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$4</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 53.1pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$4.04<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: .5in; mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.1pt;" width="113">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Net income difference</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Due to yield</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$15.04</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 41.3pt;" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$38.25</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 48.2pt;" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$98.42</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.35pt;" width="76">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$168.22</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.45pt;" width="66">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$399.60</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 36.35pt;" width="48">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$53</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 60.35pt;" width="80">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$136</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 53.1pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$105.04<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Likewise in our soybean production history, we
have consistently experienced a better yield in our GM soy over our non-GM soy.
We grow four “classes” of soy: soy for food, soy for feed, soy for seed, and a
specialty GM bean High Oleic (HO) acid beans. The HO beans go for feed but the
oil that is extracted is used in baking and frying which eliminates the
trans-fatty acids from using hydrogenated soybean oil as an ingredient. These
beans are kept segregated and true to their variety in order to have the highest
quality HO oil from the extraction process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 51.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 68.7pt;" width="92">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Soybeans (dryland)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 39.0pt;" width="52">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1998</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.0pt;" width="56">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2000</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 33.0pt;" width="44">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2005</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.35pt;" width="60">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2010</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(slight drought)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 54.7pt;" width="73">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2011</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(drought</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">& hurricane)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 55.6pt;" width="74">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2012</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(drought)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.8pt;" width="57">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2013</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 46.45pt;" width="62">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2014</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.4pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2015<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 42.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 68.7pt;" width="92">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Biotech Acreage</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 39.0pt;" width="52">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">195<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.0pt;" width="56">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">322<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 33.0pt;" width="44">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">416<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.35pt;" width="60">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">270<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 54.7pt;" width="73">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">522<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 55.6pt;" width="74">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">527<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.8pt;" width="57">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">200<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 46.45pt;" width="62">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">300<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.4pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">400<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 43.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 68.7pt;" width="92">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yield bu/a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 39.0pt;" width="52">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">54.2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.0pt;" width="56">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">50.3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 33.0pt;" width="44">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">53.5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.35pt;" width="60">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 54.7pt;" width="73">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">37<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 55.6pt;" width="74">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">43<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.8pt;" width="57">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">48<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 46.45pt;" width="62">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">55<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.4pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">45<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: .75in; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 68.7pt;" width="92">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Conventional Acreage</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 39.0pt;" width="52">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">156<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.0pt;" width="56">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">184<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 33.0pt;" width="44">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">213<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.35pt;" width="60">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">306<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 54.7pt;" width="73">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">750<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 55.6pt;" width="74">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">675<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.8pt;" width="57">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">175<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 46.45pt;" width="62">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">100<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.4pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">200<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 43.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 68.7pt;" width="92">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yield bu/a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 39.0pt;" width="52">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">48.2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.0pt;" width="56">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">43.2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 33.0pt;" width="44">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">46.3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.35pt;" width="60">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 54.7pt;" width="73">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 55.6pt;" width="74">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.8pt;" width="57">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 46.45pt;" width="62">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.4pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 43.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 68.7pt;" width="92">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yield Difference</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 39.0pt;" width="52">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6 bu</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.0pt;" width="56">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.1 bu</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 33.0pt;" width="44">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.2 bu</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.35pt;" width="60">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10 bu</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 54.7pt;" width="73">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 bu</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 55.6pt;" width="74">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7 bu</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.8pt;" width="57">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 46.45pt;" width="62">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.4pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 43.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 68.7pt;" width="92">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Price/Bushel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 39.0pt;" width="52">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$6.90<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.0pt;" width="56">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$6.62<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 33.0pt;" width="44">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7.25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.35pt;" width="60">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$11.30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 54.7pt;" width="73">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$12.52<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 55.6pt;" width="74">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$14.55<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.8pt;" width="57">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$13.55<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 46.45pt;" width="62">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$11.25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.4pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$10.26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 50.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 68.7pt;" width="92">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Income Difference/<br />
Acre</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 39.0pt;" width="52">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$41.40</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.0pt;" width="56">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$47.00</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 33.0pt;" width="44">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$52.20</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.35pt;" width="60">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$113.00</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 54.7pt;" width="73">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$37.56</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 55.6pt;" width="74">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$101.85</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 42.8pt;" width="57">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$312</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 46.45pt;" width="62">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$225</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.4pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$113<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Even when there is a premium involved with
growing a non-GM grain, due to better yields, GM has out-performed non-GM on
our farm every year. We have experienced higher yields in all of our GM crops
in the nearly 17 years we have been using the seeds. We grow what we have
market access to sell in our region. Our choice to buy seed is based on the
success of various seeds we have tried and well as University research
conducted in our area. We don’t pay much attention to data that comes from other
growing regions in the US because it generally isn’t relevant to the conditions
we experience. We use a “prove it” mentality in that we will give a seed a try
on a limited number of acres and do our own compare and contrast to our other
fields. Our decision making is balanced by diversity of the markets we can
access, the demand within those markets, and the productivity that we have seen
for ourselves to justify which type of seeds to plant each and every year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As I said at the beginning, these are our costs
and our production figures. Don't assume they are the same for all farmers.
They are not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-23949721677011421352016-06-07T17:33:00.000-04:002016-06-07T17:33:24.711-04:00Vineyard Health: Being a Dietitian to Plants and SoilSo if you're new to my blog, you may know know that I practiced as a clinical and long term care dietitian for many years before transitioning full time to our family farm. I still use these skills day in and day out as the science of nutrition is still the same, I'm just applying it to a different biological system. If you haven't found me yet on Facebook, I'm known as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/The-Foodie-Farmer-265926840143233/">The Foodie Farmer</a>. I post almost daily what I'm doing on the farm and use Facebook as my mini-blog or "view from the office" and general stuff of interest in ag and random topics.<br />
<br />
Today I walked up and down and up and down about 20+ acres of grapes in our vineyard. This is a critical time of year for grapes as the plants are in bloom. The blossoms need to be pollinated in order for fruit to developed. Cultivated grapes are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both the male and the female parts needed to self-pollinate. Pollinators like bees are not required for grapes to be pollinated. Bees seldom visit grape blossoms, probably because they are near microscopic, not very floral, not very attractive, and offer little nectar for the bee. There are much bigger blossoms around that would be less work for the bee that's for sure.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vR4-wPtdwxaFfAnGsbvkFhNvZN89FqyA9UBro4hkPXLDOn66tHZTkMi5xh0M1snaG_DchgXl9msUoHadtpJ6NhkhttzYeEkA8JKf_sSpH-dG5RRRY44XjZnpLKnmq_U3i5fLXb-xEvc/s1600/2016-06-03+08.02.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vR4-wPtdwxaFfAnGsbvkFhNvZN89FqyA9UBro4hkPXLDOn66tHZTkMi5xh0M1snaG_DchgXl9msUoHadtpJ6NhkhttzYeEkA8JKf_sSpH-dG5RRRY44XjZnpLKnmq_U3i5fLXb-xEvc/s400/2016-06-03+08.02.53.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chardonnay blooms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pRDOFEHa5Aho733UQThtOZgRv7BKlUF7sB99X4Sb4qU5wk0z5O1wZB27XaOQy_E62VzWlaIOus4oX4OwCvCPug4DG6KCCJ7eDqSPmpSzJB5LxT5GdEh_Fd77jFBagB53RYdg-5p9G3s/s1600/2016-06-03+08.01.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pRDOFEHa5Aho733UQThtOZgRv7BKlUF7sB99X4Sb4qU5wk0z5O1wZB27XaOQy_E62VzWlaIOus4oX4OwCvCPug4DG6KCCJ7eDqSPmpSzJB5LxT5GdEh_Fd77jFBagB53RYdg-5p9G3s/s400/2016-06-03+08.01.52.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chardonnay blooms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgOD6X48hIxI3XSApfNMzdYQWYJ5jJAFM8N39WKYPEsskS1T8HV_VHhLUSx_gEbE7lpTSv2n_ioQuTy3gJU6f3GPrO4SnyKDltngTLcP5VbUbhYPbq6S0gDMMgGStfpXXCG34_2tiaZc/s1600/2016-06-07+09.11.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgOD6X48hIxI3XSApfNMzdYQWYJ5jJAFM8N39WKYPEsskS1T8HV_VHhLUSx_gEbE7lpTSv2n_ioQuTy3gJU6f3GPrO4SnyKDltngTLcP5VbUbhYPbq6S0gDMMgGStfpXXCG34_2tiaZc/s400/2016-06-07+09.11.46.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plant and soil health tools of the trade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My goal for today is the pull soil samples to check for nematodes and petiole samples to check the nutrient uptake of the plant at this stage of growth. I need a bucket for collecting soil cores, a soil sampler, and a paper bag for collecting petioles.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4Ygy2rEWU2xbslwFCzSdcvgrtNqzr58-v0PvDDY6RA8LmAAyciAYL2BjQQ1GLY5KqMt2Xj6hGjir8tRF_24FK1hD4gA-J19Yb4z5T94A2eqHpQ18KamNTWMN1GW2LRowDpBsyB_WfdI/s1600/2016-06-07+09.12.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4Ygy2rEWU2xbslwFCzSdcvgrtNqzr58-v0PvDDY6RA8LmAAyciAYL2BjQQ1GLY5KqMt2Xj6hGjir8tRF_24FK1hD4gA-J19Yb4z5T94A2eqHpQ18KamNTWMN1GW2LRowDpBsyB_WfdI/s400/2016-06-07+09.12.44.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling a soil core</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I need about a pint of soil per sample and I've divided my vineyard into blocks basically by variety so I know what I need to do where when the test results come back. I pull more soil than I need, mix it together in a bucket and pour about a pint of soil into a ziplock bag.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvdUG1vGE3PuFDkvDjD-_3T_kyBQQbKUqj3-_m2AXEq6LxpKFl-h7zdEKtIxMqV9xy4Jrt_y-a-eiUQXKAziCIJdZ2NqmCr2bA7ugu8xwX4YcOt9AM9i_SkgUZlkhCYAKcjj0q5sGIkw/s1600/2016-06-07+09.13.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvdUG1vGE3PuFDkvDjD-_3T_kyBQQbKUqj3-_m2AXEq6LxpKFl-h7zdEKtIxMqV9xy4Jrt_y-a-eiUQXKAziCIJdZ2NqmCr2bA7ugu8xwX4YcOt9AM9i_SkgUZlkhCYAKcjj0q5sGIkw/s400/2016-06-07+09.13.00.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4-10" of a soil core is recommended for nematode sampling in a vineyard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5O5ezPqbnBaTBICqA58D6WDb_gc1INNtUxhspvSeldaqUkhth_Py1wxSCsI0z5TMCVn2Doz4FA2e9grA52pB3iPPCLgG48Fma2SburgDH551crqBo5KX7JkJQ6NfE4kN9tzxziNLibdA/s1600/2016-06-07+09.12.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5O5ezPqbnBaTBICqA58D6WDb_gc1INNtUxhspvSeldaqUkhth_Py1wxSCsI0z5TMCVn2Doz4FA2e9grA52pB3iPPCLgG48Fma2SburgDH551crqBo5KX7JkJQ6NfE4kN9tzxziNLibdA/s400/2016-06-07+09.12.12.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soil cores taken at random intervals from the root zone of the grapevine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfYJKiWQKYVPaKtxEgYsZDbHE_bw5WYUycO4mZChlVdfj2dUAnBBAkdkg8Ju1OoWv68tLneG1UAXMEIZXqJ7kl4LIijV5ePpa0g1veHbO_Dk2ZbGspCA6fSLGQUX3Z15fSCqY5IBjcs8/s1600/2016-06-07+10.50.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfYJKiWQKYVPaKtxEgYsZDbHE_bw5WYUycO4mZChlVdfj2dUAnBBAkdkg8Ju1OoWv68tLneG1UAXMEIZXqJ7kl4LIijV5ePpa0g1veHbO_Dk2ZbGspCA6fSLGQUX3Z15fSCqY5IBjcs8/s400/2016-06-07+10.50.29.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rapeseed cover crop to remediate for nematodes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I want to know what level of nematode pressure there is in my vineyard and what types of nematodes are present at what levels. Not all nematodes are bad, some are beneficial. So my approach to remediation has been to plant a cover crop of rapeseed which is in the brassica family. When it is rototilled into the soil and decomposes, it releases glucosinolate, a biofumigant that helps lower nematode populations. In addition, rapeseed is great for breaking up compaction and improving soil filtration. It has a really long taproot that will loosen the soil and improve the soil tilth. So for me, its doing a couple of jobs to help me improve the soil health of my vineyard. We also use it pretty widely as a cover crop before many of our crops for that reason.<br />
<br />
Not only am I sampling for nematodes, but I am also sampling soil nutrient tests. So when I get the results back for the petioles, I know what nutrients were present in the soil at what levels and comparing that info to the nutrients in the petiole analysis, tells me what the plant is able to utilize from the soil. Many factors influence how a plant is able to utilize nutrients from the soil. Just because a nutrient is present in the soil, does not mean is is automatically available to the plant. Things like pH, moisture, temperature, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil, physiologic issues with the plant, and the nutrient must be in the chemical form that the plant can utilize. For example, plants can only utilize nitrogen in the form of ammonium or nitrate. Another nutrient, phosphorus, is only available to the plant if the soil pH is between 5.5 and 7. Outside those parameters, and the plant cannot take up phosphorus as well as other nutrients.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2evAf9eem3fqCh855RMCfetHK2fl8R6O2lzxdZwEQhOeMwY9HaYS05Y3y0FKCz-SyR999tNVjvrN9ACOOG5WIDdTwTkS9c0lEsdUzULbMhehwwW1z6eTadoxMMzCG1icUZd0-BLDa4s/s1600/2016-06-07+09.15.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2evAf9eem3fqCh855RMCfetHK2fl8R6O2lzxdZwEQhOeMwY9HaYS05Y3y0FKCz-SyR999tNVjvrN9ACOOG5WIDdTwTkS9c0lEsdUzULbMhehwwW1z6eTadoxMMzCG1icUZd0-BLDa4s/s400/2016-06-07+09.15.32.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sampling petioles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Petioles are the stems of the grape leaf. At bloom, I want to sample the petiole across from the developing cluster. This will tell me what the cluster is receiving in vine nutrition by sampling the petiole across from it. The analogy I use is that this is like going to the doctor for a blood test. There's a lot of information we health care practitioners can gleen from lab results - plant or human.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YjH7fCAgHPb7ZWNN7ksSusLhgMLs__LYViwbxGqyLV29sRIih9bk7u8xRe0YB1n3KmXmdEYk2g8Q2ZqeB9Ke9FSsqgPX0w54MfEyPT4ZGCUZRTfe7Ope8jpYwMOElPwquPkso6-sMtU/s1600/2016-06-07+09.12.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YjH7fCAgHPb7ZWNN7ksSusLhgMLs__LYViwbxGqyLV29sRIih9bk7u8xRe0YB1n3KmXmdEYk2g8Q2ZqeB9Ke9FSsqgPX0w54MfEyPT4ZGCUZRTfe7Ope8jpYwMOElPwquPkso6-sMtU/s400/2016-06-07+09.12.01.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My petiole samples separated in bags by variety.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXcAP94IqpB_ksuDa9-sZ1tjX3LMjLZlhva-l_yMy8id5kCxa6rlPrXFx6XoJ_eAlKHPI7D9yByOutzljz8Uxhl_4X8EiObgJJsL68bXxKFtHBK4ufg0QJmgcQnLPyXbSR7h0tHX7OEA/s1600/2016-06-07+10.59.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXcAP94IqpB_ksuDa9-sZ1tjX3LMjLZlhva-l_yMy8id5kCxa6rlPrXFx6XoJ_eAlKHPI7D9yByOutzljz8Uxhl_4X8EiObgJJsL68bXxKFtHBK4ufg0QJmgcQnLPyXbSR7h0tHX7OEA/s400/2016-06-07+10.59.42.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off to the Post Office with my samples!<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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Anxious to know my results for the petioles as it will tell me if I need to make any nutrient adjustments in the different varietal blocks. It will also give me a chance to compare the previous year's results to know what direction the different nutrients are headed in so I can see if my long term plant health and nutrition plan is working (see I can still be a dietitian, just with plants and soil instead of humans).Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-2509327780511061762016-05-17T18:00:00.000-04:002016-05-17T18:08:48.552-04:00"GE Crops Are Pretty Much Just Crops"<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The National Academies of Science released their consensus report on genetically engineered crops today. The completion of a 2 year process by a 20 member panel of diverse experts from a variety of backgrounds reviewing the science and perspectives on genetically engineered crops. The study was meant conduct a thorough review and to address and inform the public of the results, to help guide the public discourse which was become ever polarized. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Their mission: "Consumers in the US and abroad get conflicting information about GE crops. Proponents tout the benefits while opponents emphasize the risks. There is a need for an independent, objective study that examines what has been learned about GE crops, assess whether initial concerns and promises were realized since their introduction, and investigates new concerns and recent claims."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">They examined:</span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #333333; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The history of the development and introduction of GE crops and the experiences of developers and producers of GE crops in different countries and regions.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #333333; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The history of GE crops that were not commercialized.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #333333; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The scientific basis of purported negative effects of GE crops (e.g., poor yield growth potential, deleterious effects of GE food on human and animal health, increased use of pesticides and herbicides, the creation of “super-weeds,” reduced genetic diversity, fewer seed choices for producers, and negative impacts on farmers in developing countries and on producers of non-GE crops).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #333333; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The scientific basis of purported benefits of GE crops (e.g., reductions in pesticide use, reduced soil loss and better water quality through synergy with no-till cultivation practices, reduced crop loss from pests and weeds, increased flexibility and time for producers, reduced spoilage and mycotoxin contamination, and better nutritional value potential).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #333333; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The scientific foundation of current environmental and food safety assessments for GE crops and foods and their accompanying technologies.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #333333; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">New developments in GE crop and food science and technology and the future opportunities and challenges those technologies may present, including research and development, regulatory, and ownership, examined through the lens of agricultural innovation and agronomic sustainability.</span></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 25.2px;">While the report is nearly 400 pages in length, the report brief <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/312840975/Report-in-Brief#fullscreen">HERE</a> summarizes their main conclusions.</span><span style="line-height: 25.2px;"> Or you can jump to their 16 page findings and recommendations chapter from the full report <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/312840055/Findings-and-Recommendations#fullscreen">HERE</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 25.2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 25.2px;">I was fortunate to be part of the process when I spoke before the committee in March of 2015. My topic was weed control in cropping systems. I spoke about our farm's experience with biotech, conventional and certified organic cropping systems which we did simultaneously. My presentation "</span></span></div>
<h1 aria-label="Clip Title" class="clip_info-header iris_header iris_header--36" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #40545c; line-height: 1.189; margin: -0.3125rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transform-style: preserve-3d; z-index: 10;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Integrating weed, pest, and disease management across crops within farming</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">can be accessed </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/album/3305839/video/122426524" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 25.2px;">HERE</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;">. </span></span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a result of watching this webcast, I have resumed my efforts to crunch the data from 2015 comparing our GMO to NonGMO production costs and yield data. I last blogged about that in one of my most popular posts <a href="http://thefoodiefarmer.blogspot.com/2014/12/gmo-versus-nongmo-cost-of-production.html">GMO versus NonGMO: The Cost of Production</a>. Its time I did the 2015 update. Preliminary data shows in soybeans, GM out yielded NonGM by over 25 bushels per acre. I haven't gotten to the corn file yet so stay tuned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For me, this is an important report for several reasons, one because I was a presenter but second because I spent 5 years on the Advanced Technology in Food Production workgroup reviewing the same issue and science for the <a href="https://www.andeal.org/topic.cfm?menu=5021">Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Librar</a>y. We were grading research articles to be used as part of the Academy's library as well as for updating the position paper on biotechnology. Our workgroup however, was limited to primary research on humans, no animal studies, no human cell lines studies which limited our results. I'm impressed with the depth and breadth by which the #GECropStudy committee undertook to delve into as many aspects of this issue and come up with as many findings. I look forward to reading their full report (which I ordered because I didn't not want to print 400 pages at home nor sit at the computer reading it for days on end).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The NAS GE Crop Study report affirms what we have seen on our farm since 1998 when we first planted 10 acres of biotech corn as a test plot to see for ourselves. It has been a benefit for our farm year in and year out. We like the lower impact of the herbicide and insecticide traits it provides. We like the premium that growing high oleic oil soybeans provides as a healthier fat for consumer benefits in removing transfats from packaged foods. We like the flexibility it provides us in managing our fields when Mother Nature doesn't cooperate and the reduction in tillage with no till and conservation till biotech contributes to so we preserve our topsoil helping keep sediment out of the Chesapeake Bay. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My title came from a quote by Dr. Wayne Parrot that I saw in the New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/18/business/genetically-engineered-crops-are-safe-analysis-finds.html?login=email&hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0">Genetically Engineered Crops Are Safe, Analysis Finds</a> and which I think is a good assessment: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>“The inescapable conclusion, after reading the report, is the G.E. crops are pretty much just crops. They are not the panacea that some proponents claim, nor the dreaded monsters that others claim.”</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-11423808635525832192016-04-20T12:46:00.002-04:002016-04-20T12:46:43.454-04:00Do GMO's cause food allergies?I recently was interviewed for an article in Forbes.com on GMOs and food allergies. It is an area where I have spent a lot of time reviewing the scientific literature having served for 5 years on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics "<a href="http://www.andeal.org/topic.cfm?menu=5021">"Advanced Technology in Food Production"</a> Evidence Analysis workgroup. We reviewed papers and spent time with renown food allergy expert Dr. Steve Taylor who is a Professor with the University of Nebraska Department of Food Science and Technology and the Co-Founder/Director of the Food Allergy Resource and Research Program.<br />
<br />
My Forbes interview:<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/gmoanswers/2016/04/18/are-gmos-causing-food-allergies/#3d75510b2b73">Are GMOs Causing Food Allergies? A Farmer And RD Sets The Record Straight</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-31115119334187978462015-12-22T19:22:00.000-05:002015-12-22T19:23:23.015-05:00Dear High School StudentIt took a letter from a high schooler to bring me back to this blog. Yes, I've been absent for about 6 months now, not because I'm not blogging, but because I have been using The Foodie Farmer Facebook page as my means of "blogging". It works well for me especially to illustrate whats going on the farm day in and day out, and frankly I didn't have anything to write about. But that has now changed. Today, this post went up on Forbes and yes, the student I am responding to did receive the original letter a couple weeks ago.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/gmoanswers/2015/12/22/farmers-letter-to-concerned-student-about-gmos/">AFarmer’s Letter To A Concerned Student About GMOs</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">POST WRITTEN BY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jennie Schmidt, MS, RD<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jennie
is a Maryland farmer. She is also a registered dietitian who speaks about food and farming systems, sustainability and family farms.</span></div>
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<i>A photograph of Jennie’s farm in Maryland during the annual wheat harvest.
(Image Credit: Jennie</i> <i>Schmidt)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Right after Thanksgiving, I received a letter in the mail
from a high school student concerned about the cost of GMO labeling and
identity preservation based on some readings they had done in class. The first
thought that struck me was how well written, thoughtful, and respectful the
letter was. My second thought was how awesome it was that a teacher would
facilitate such an undertaking with a student when they could have easily taken
it to social media and had an entirely different approach. I knew right away, I
would respond because civil discourse is often what is most lacking in today’s
society and around the topic of GMOs specifically. The student expressed
concern about the cost of identity preservation and segregation of seeds based
on my Foodie Farmer blog “The Cost of GMO Labeling”. They expressed support for
the idea that farmers should be growing “all natural crops without altering
genes.” Responding to the letter gives me the opportunity to welcome further
discussion and if I’m lucky, host them on my farm. As time consuming as it is,
I have found the most effective means to communicate about agriculture and help
consumers understand what farming practices mean and what their implications
are, is to have people visit. I hope the student and teacher take me up on the
offer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dear High School Student, December
9, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank
you for your letter concerning our use of biotechnology on our family farm. I
appreciate that while your position differs from ours, your letter was polite
and respectful. That aspect is often absent in conversations around the topic
of GMOs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our
family farm has been practicing sustainable agriculture in the United States
for 3 generations. We have simultaneously practiced “conventional”, “biotech”
and “certified organic” farming systems on our 2000 acres. Each of these
systems has advantages and disadvantages and what’s important for each family
farm is to decide what is best for their soil. Schmidt Farms has been using
“GMO” seeds since 1998, 2 years after they received government approval. We
also grow NonGMO crops every year however we no longer grow any certified
organic crops. If you read my Foodie Farmer blog “<i>GMO vs NonGMO: The Cost of Production</i>”, you saw that the benefits
to our farm are important. While I haven’t finished calculating the figures for
this year’s harvest, historically crops grown from “GMO” seed have higher
yields than our non-GMO crops. That’s important because if we do not have
enough crops to sell, then the farm cannot pay its employees or pay its bills.
I don’t think anyone would want to work for a business and not bring home a
paycheck. We would also not want to have to sell the farm because we couldn’t
make ends meet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another
reason we grow GMO crops is because they are good for our soils which is good
for the Chesapeake Bay. I’m sure you’ve heard that the water quality in the bay
is poor and that one of the biggest pollutants is sediment. Sediment comes from
exposed soil from housing developments, construction, and exposed fields.
Sediment blows away in the wind and runs off in the rain. About 80% of the farm
fields in Maryland are “no-till” or “conservation tillage” meaning they have
little to no disturbance of the soil and no deep plowing. Biotechnology has
helped facilitate the reduction of sediment into the Chesapeake because farmers
are better able to control weeds without plowing or disturbing the soil. How
agriculture is helping meet the Chesapeake water quality goals can be found at:
stat.chesapeakebay.net/BayTAS. No-Till agriculture is a very important
conservation practice for farmers in Maryland.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of
the “GMO” crops we grow are high oleic acid soybeans. We have to protect their
genetic identity through segregation just like we have to protect the genetic identity
of our nonGMO soybeans which go for tofu. The high oleic acid soybeans have no
transfats which is an unhealthy type of fat and is being used to eliminate
transfats in cooking and packaged foods. These soybeans have to be protected
from nonGMO soybeans because in order to have the benefit of high oleic acid,
they cannot be contaminated by nonGMO beans which don’t have the same fat
content. So this example is the opposite of what most people think. The GMO
crop needs to be protected from the nonGMO crop so that the oil derived has the
high oleic acid content it is supposed to have and not the oil content of other
soybeans. The issue of seed segregation cuts both ways, depending on the market
demand for different traits. My point in the Cost of GMO Labeling blog is that to truly
segregate by trait through the entire supply chain for “commodity” crops ie:
general, non-specialty corn or soybeans would be prohibitively expensive.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There
are a variety of different plant breeding techniques that are used to modify
seeds for crops. You said in your letter
than you wanted to see farmers grow “all natural crops without altering genes”
and unfortunately, that’s impossible. Every crop we eat has been domesticated and
therefore has altered genes. All types of plant breeding techniques alter
genes. That’s
the mechanism by which humans domesticated wild plants over time to become food
crops. Plant
breeding includes: traditional cross breeding, hybridization, mutagenesis, and
genetic engineering<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span>.
Each of these breeding types alters the genes by changing the DNA of plants.
All of them except genetic engineering are approved for use in organic
agriculture so your best bet if you choose to avoid GMO is to buy organic or
buy foods labeled by the NonGMO Project but regardless, all food contains
altered genes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As a
Registered Dietitian, I have studied biotechnology which was the focus of my
Masters degree. In addition, I have served for 5 years on a workgroup for the
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reviewing the science around the safety of
foods produced from biotech crops. The consensus is the safety of these foods
is equal to the safety of foods produced through conventional breeding
practices I mentioned above. As a mom of two high school students myself, the safety
of the food we grow on our farm is critical because my family also eat what we
grow. I encourage you to continue to seek more information. Nothing is better
than to do research on both sides of any issue so that you have the full story
to make a conclusion. Two very good resources are <a href="http://biofortified.org/">Biofortified.org</a> and
<a href="http://geneticliteracy.org/">geneticliteracy.org</a> which publish information about agriculture as well as
health and other genetic issues.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank
you for reaching out to me. Again, I do appreciate civil discourse on this
topic and I appreciate that at your age, you took this step to have an
intelligent discussion on the topic. If you, your teacher, or your class is
ever interested in a tour of our farm, please contact me. We are not
embarrassed or ashamed of what we do and are happy to share our experiences
with farming systems and the crops we grow with folks who are truly interested
in learning where their food comes from.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jennie Schmidt<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Foodie Farmer<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-84965105549679860852015-06-15T09:21:00.002-04:002015-06-15T21:29:03.184-04:00Spraying Isn't DousingEarlier this week, on my Foodie Farmer Facebook page, I shared this post of me spraying in my vineyard.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjws9eWjCbH0QaTSsSWejtPFPAXAyj7LvoYuzSRzzkBHsPadsV7nuchRW0PDXnw43YSVaKf5cXXEGIPilyINJcRmJHGDl5iv-5pBn6Jp7N3N4rR_B2HKfYR1Q6Xr-oIEhhdytQCJh7Qs/s1600/spraying+snip2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjws9eWjCbH0QaTSsSWejtPFPAXAyj7LvoYuzSRzzkBHsPadsV7nuchRW0PDXnw43YSVaKf5cXXEGIPilyINJcRmJHGDl5iv-5pBn6Jp7N3N4rR_B2HKfYR1Q6Xr-oIEhhdytQCJh7Qs/s400/spraying+snip2.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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I've never had a post reach this many people. With over over 9,000 people reached and nearly 50 shares,it is obviously something people are interested in and hopefully want to learn more so figured it was worth a blog post for further discussion.<br />
<br />
First, when we spray, we don't "douse". The definition of "douse" means to drench or to pour.... which is exactly what we are NOT doing. Second, ALL pesticides (fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides) whether they are organic or synthetic have a "rate per acre" which is the concentration they should be mixed and applied to be effective against a target pest. Third, all pesticides (fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides), whether organic or synthetic have a "carrier". A carrier is the means by which a pesticide is conveyed or transported. Most typically this carrier will be water.<br />
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In this picture above, I am towing an air-blast or fan sprayer with a 500 gallon tank. My goal in getting good coverage through the entire canopy of my vineyard is to apply 50 gallons per acre. So I can cover 10 acres with a full tank. I don't have 500 gallons of pesticide in this tank, I have mostly water, almost a gallon of a liquid chemical, and about 50 pounds of 2 dry/powder organic pesticides..<br />
<br />
So let's look at this more closely....<br />
<br />
In this tank, I used 2 fungicides to protect my vineyard from powdery and downy mildew, amongst other things. I mixed OMRI (organic approved) Sulfur at 2 pounds per acre, OMRI listed Copper at 3 pounds per acre. I also sprayed the synthetic insecticide Intrepid at 12 ounces per acre.<br />
<br />
I stink at math so feel free to check my calculations but here is what I mixed:<br />
<br />
I will cover 10 acres with this tank so need the right concentration in order for the product to work:<br />
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2 lb sulfur (its what we call WDG or wettable dry granular) x 10 acres = 20 pounds<br />
<br />
3 lb copper (also granular) x 10 acres = 30 pounds<br />
<br />
12 ounces Intrepid (liquid) x 10 acres = 120 ounces (8 ounces shy of 1 gallon)<br />
<br />
So the dry products will displace some water because of their density, and of course the 120 ounces displaces at least 120 ounces of water in my tank, so to estimate, I'm adding approximately 495 gallons of water to 5 gallons of product (I did not do the Archimedes calculation, this is my ballpark estimate from having 15 years as a pesticide applicator and then erred on the side of caution and rounded down).<br />
<br />
So in dilution i have a full tank of 64,000 ounces of solution to apply across 10 acres.<br />
1 acre is 43,560 square feet, so I have 435,600 square feet to cover with my tank.<br />
<br />
Total tank mixture: 64,000/435,600 = 0.146 ounces of solution per square foot is applied.<br />
<br />
Of that:<br />
<br />
Total Intrepid: 120 ounces/435,600 = .00028 ounces per square foot applied.<br />
<br />
Total sulfur: 20 pounds/435,600 = 0.000046 pounds per square foot applied.<br />
<br />
Total copper: 30 pounds/435,600 = 0.000069 pounds per square foot applied.<br />
<br />
With fungicides in fruits and vegetables, we are spraying to protect the foliage because diseases that impact the health of the leaves will result in fruits and veggies that don't ripen. The leaves function to convert sunlight into carbohydrates to give the plant energy. Without healthy leaves, the plant can't send enough carbs to its "produce" to ripen.<br />
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When I spray with the fan-sprayer in the vineyard, I'm using a higher rate per acre than we would use in our corn or soybeans.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KAwMuT0hSfe6R4egDzh8aIZLdTpU-XJxSXDWwkkd0LMq0N9NZ1y6NzNq1OscanzUrjoHwI6_h9f4oGQfuJxoxEnaAjtcOmcjVelpRMMOZaPWk-p_xNTUF25wI6V7ceGj2mIl9dSxOSk/s1600/IMG_20130416_095755_945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KAwMuT0hSfe6R4egDzh8aIZLdTpU-XJxSXDWwkkd0LMq0N9NZ1y6NzNq1OscanzUrjoHwI6_h9f4oGQfuJxoxEnaAjtcOmcjVelpRMMOZaPWk-p_xNTUF25wI6V7ceGj2mIl9dSxOSk/s320/IMG_20130416_095755_945.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The sprayer above is used in our tomatoes, green beans, wheat, corn and soybeans. We are spraying at the 15-20 gallons per acre rate for herbicides or if the crop including our vegetables needs a fungicide, we are spraying at the 30-35 gallon per acre rate.<br />
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Its a 750 gallon tank so using 15 gallons per acre, this sprayer can cover 50 acres per tank. This equals 2,178,000 square feet.<br />
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750 gallons x 128 ounces in a gallon = 96,000.<br />
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96,000 ounces in that spray tank /2,178,000 square feet = 0.04 ounces per square foot.<br />
<br />
This is pretty far from "dousing".......<br />
<br />
So let's look at these labels a little closer.<br />
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<b>Pesticide<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.95pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b>Class<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.85pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b>OMRI/Synthetic<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 82.15pt;" valign="top" width="110"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b>Signal Word<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Re-Entry Interval<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.95pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b>LD50 (rat oral)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 84.9pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Sulfur</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.95pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Fungicide</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.85pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Organic</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 82.15pt;" valign="top" width="110"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Caution</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 82pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
24 hours</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.95pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
2000 mg/kg</div>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 84.9pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Copper Sulfate</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.95pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Fungicide</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.85pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Organic</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 82.15pt;" valign="top" width="110"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Danger</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 82pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
48 hours</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.95pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
30 mg/kg</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 84.9pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Intrepid</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.95pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Insecticide</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.85pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Synthetic</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 82.15pt;" valign="top" width="110"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Caution</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 82pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
4 hours</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.95pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
5000 mg/kg</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 84.9pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Glyphosate</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.95pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Herbicide</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.85pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Synthetic</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 82.15pt;" valign="top" width="110"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Caution</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 82pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
12 hours</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.95pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
5100 mg/kg</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The signal word is indicative of acute toxicity to the person who is mixing the product.<br />
<br />
The re-entry interval is the time between application and when someone can go into that field to work without have to wear protective equipment.<br />
<br />
The LD50 is a specific measure of acute toxicity by some means of ingestion - oral, inhalation or dermal absorption.<br />
<br />
Make no mistake, these all are pesticides. Whether a product is organic or synthetic is irrelevant. Both are toxic and how it is derived does not necessarily make one safer than another. Pesticides are by definition toxic to something, they have to be or they would not be pesticides. The "cide" part of the compound word "pesticide" is derived from the Latin word meaning "to kill", so fungi"cide", insecti"cide" and herbi"cide" are all by definition toxic to some class of pest. That does not mean that they are universally toxic to everything. Not all insecticides kill every bug, not all herbicides kill every weed. Some are targeted, some are broad spectrum. Don't make assumptions about what we are using without asking or you might be wrong.<br />
<br />
And be careful what you are doing yourself. According to the <a href="http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/Documents/homeowners_guide_frogs.pdf" target="_blank">U.S Fish & Wildlife Service</a>: <b><u>"Homeowners use up to 10 times more chemical pesticides per acre on their lawns than farmers use on crops, and they spend more per acre, on average, to maintain their lawns than farmers spend per agricultural acre." </u></b>More often than not, homeowners are not wearing the mandatory protective equipment that is specified on every pesticide label, exposing themselves and others unnecessarily. Homeowners are more likely to "douse" because you may spray until the liquid drips off the plant. Exactly what we farmers don't do....<br />
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Part II: Spraying not dousing<br />
<br />
I posted this blog this morning. This afternoon, I was back in the vineyard with my weed sprayer. I control the weeds under the vines to reduce the competition for nutrients and moisture. My sprayer has 2 nozzles, one on each side of the row, so I am doing what we call "band" spraying, a 4 foot strip, 2 feet on each side of the row, not spraying the entire vineyard floor.<br />
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I happen to have a paper towel in the cab of my tractor so I put it on the ground.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRYk7HDJRqQ30Au1GMN309L0fLlKA0oBxKWjXUIfTWujxJRznL9HTHLNx7lGzLCaPPh0qBiQSRheGmwSAJA2FGeQjfymxW4DliGTxx5N-gMjACmXqHV3ikU9dNRoWrSMBoAs99-VQxUw/s1600/20150615_164551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRYk7HDJRqQ30Au1GMN309L0fLlKA0oBxKWjXUIfTWujxJRznL9HTHLNx7lGzLCaPPh0qBiQSRheGmwSAJA2FGeQjfymxW4DliGTxx5N-gMjACmXqHV3ikU9dNRoWrSMBoAs99-VQxUw/s400/20150615_164551.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unsprayed paper towel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgdH4FPbWaGxfxl_DZ4LjCUEEkMwAjts_bXrsvrnxsCddfmM7CRsdLRo64YI5GSQghieU3yUdtkX_WcZ2w8hlOfnSSYPi8VROXeriR1O8EU97a0cDJs6Smf8YgpG-DZahWvW1FiP6P7Q/s1600/20150615_164706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgdH4FPbWaGxfxl_DZ4LjCUEEkMwAjts_bXrsvrnxsCddfmM7CRsdLRo64YI5GSQghieU3yUdtkX_WcZ2w8hlOfnSSYPi8VROXeriR1O8EU97a0cDJs6Smf8YgpG-DZahWvW1FiP6P7Q/s400/20150615_164706.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprayed paper towel below my nozzle.</td></tr>
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You can see my single nozzle above the paper towel. </div>
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Because this is spraying and not dousing, I do not need to soak the paper towel. I drove the same speed past the paper towel as i would had I been spraying weeds. If you look closely, you will see that it is orange speckled. above. Below is a closer up pic.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdT97jxDdM9LOecHBUyb0GqXp3wuj1-SvUH77eGmbBlP7QnaDw8DiYvm_HlsWsgv8R_KZJLxt4ep5Gn5Zk2IRtNXD3bKVtAp63zt-Ebs_Ugnlj3LEMikTo26Ic89x-agF1EwLy1S3tgs/s1600/20150615_164711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdT97jxDdM9LOecHBUyb0GqXp3wuj1-SvUH77eGmbBlP7QnaDw8DiYvm_HlsWsgv8R_KZJLxt4ep5Gn5Zk2IRtNXD3bKVtAp63zt-Ebs_Ugnlj3LEMikTo26Ic89x-agF1EwLy1S3tgs/s400/20150615_164711.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer look at what a spray pattern looks like, it is not doused.</td></tr>
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This is it. Those orange speckles are all the 6 inch by 12 inch paper towel received as I sprayed over it. The plants do not get "doused". There is no dripping off of chemical solution. They do not need to be soaked in herbicide to achieve good weed control. There is no saturation. There is no dousing.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-79075336906404006862015-06-05T17:04:00.000-04:002015-06-05T17:04:10.152-04:00Farming Techniques Do Not Belong To One Farming SystemThe subtitle to this blog is "Synergistic Farming: Using the best practices from all farming systems".<br />
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For folks who want to put our family farm "in a box", we are a conventional farm.<br />
<br />
For folks who are of broader minds and philosophies, or can conceptualize that conventional does not equate to "bad", then we are a "synergistic" farm.<br />
<br />
If you have followed me for any length of time, you know I talk a lot about farming systems, sustainability, conservation, and biotechnology. The practices that we use are a melding of various techniques often credited to one type of farming system or another. Rather than holding ourselves to a certain set of "rules" or limiting the tools we are able to use, we choose to practice and maximize the synergies from taking the best of organic, conventional and biotechnology in order to make our family farm as sustainable as possible.<br />
<br />
First, let's look at what I mean by farming systems:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0UpKQ1ughhnl3sxVg-n9_VjQwGTZVttsHKUOhvrSzvj7tWc4szzs_4k3xzRkmW-GaYICCPuHtWpJQqjzyPkPySb1sgYavlxclT-Lc6Lrz1fbHopfwxNFWVxCL1RV76b9keVelThXCDc/s1600/farming+systems+snip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0UpKQ1ughhnl3sxVg-n9_VjQwGTZVttsHKUOhvrSzvj7tWc4szzs_4k3xzRkmW-GaYICCPuHtWpJQqjzyPkPySb1sgYavlxclT-Lc6Lrz1fbHopfwxNFWVxCL1RV76b9keVelThXCDc/s400/farming+systems+snip.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The chart provides a brief illustration about the "main" concept behind each farming system. There is certainly broad overlap between these main "concepts" within each of the 3 farming systems. All 3 systems can use precision agriculture, the latest technology to reduce inputs and be more prescriptive toward each crop. All 3 systems can use modern plant breeding to enhance desired traits in plants however "genetic engineering" or "GMO" are restricted from use in organic agriculture. Conventional and organic plant breeding takes place either by traditional crossing, hybridization, or radiation or chemical mutagenesis. All 3 systems can use techniques that address and enhance soil health. <br />
<br />
Typically what you hear in the media is that one system has cornered the market on "soil health" or another system has cornered the market on "precision agriculture".<br />
<br />
Today, family farms use the synergies that each farming systems offers to maximize sustainability.<br />
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Today, those "farming system" lines are far more blurred.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWc8jtJ_623jV14-77ISqtse2CoSmV9nFsqY5zNRbsFi1XBbTmUZPsyWCjAlgzFjlqvpc-UeHSmPJGARdgVC3ChypQShy_hcIAAPWyG1a-YZZJO5GtsOBjF-if_kvDImKQw5vjblQPq0/s1600/farming+practices+snip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWc8jtJ_623jV14-77ISqtse2CoSmV9nFsqY5zNRbsFi1XBbTmUZPsyWCjAlgzFjlqvpc-UeHSmPJGARdgVC3ChypQShy_hcIAAPWyG1a-YZZJO5GtsOBjF-if_kvDImKQw5vjblQPq0/s400/farming+practices+snip.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today, there is significant cross over between the 3 farming systems. This is what I mean by "synergistic" farming, a melding of the best each system has to offer. The chart about shows what our family farm practices. When we had about 100 acres certified organic, we did not change the way we farmed because we have been using cover crops, green manures, crop rotation, conservation tillage, and IPM for decades. To us, these are just standard operating procedures, they aren't "organic" practices. We followed Rodale's no-till organic recommendations by rolling our cover crops with a buffalo chopper and then no till seeded corn into the residue. It was a mess. The corn yielded 47 bushels per acre as compared to 110 bushels per acre in our conventional corn that same year, both dry land or unirrigated. Other years we would rotary hoe and cultivate numerous times to control for weeds but soil disturbance is soil disturbance and not something we like to do here in our Chesapeake Bay watershed. Disturbing top soil encourages erosion. Wind and rain take sediment away from disturbed top soil. Phosphorus is adsorbed to sediment so when sediment moves, so does phosphorus. The extensive tillage and yield loss in our organic field led us to choose to be synergistic rather than purely organic for the sake of being certified. For us, it was the most sustainable choice we could make.<br />
<br />
By doing what's best for our fields, we are focused on soil health, enhancing the soil profile without excessive tillage, practicing more conservation not less, choosing the safest most effective pest control as possible whether its "natural" or "synthetic". Just because a product is organic or natural, does not make it nontoxic. Sometimes, a synthetic product is safer than an OMRI approved product. Again, that's determining for our family farm, the synergies that work in our environment and in our soils.<br />
<br />
There is no "one" system that is "best", There is no "one" way of doing things that should be done carte blanche by every farmer, everywhere. There is no "cookie cutter" system that should be applied to every farm. What we farmers should be doing is maximizing the synergies of all best management practices that meld together the best for our soils while preserving our inputs and natural resources.<br />
<br />
Family farms continue to move along the sustainability continuum and are fundamentally changing "farming systems" so that the synergies of each best management practices mean we do not fit into a cookie cutter mold of a certain "type" of farm.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-24393534834402088292015-03-19T16:32:00.002-04:002015-03-19T18:32:54.454-04:00Nutrients Are Pesticides: The Dose Makes The Poison<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people find it odd that I am a Registered Dietitian who is licensed as a commercial pesticide applicator. I actually find it quite advantageous because what I studied in my nutrition degrees both undergrad and grad school, applies across multiple biological systems, not just human systems, but soil and plant systems too. Because I have a solid understanding of the science of nutrition, I therefore have a solid understanding of the science of pesticides. Many of the nutrients I studied as an RD, have applications as pesticides.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paracelsus was correct when he coined the term "<i><b>The dose makes the poison</b></i>". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, lets start with some definitions:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nutrient: <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">"Chemical substances obtained from food and used in the body to provide energy, structural materials, and regulating agents to support growth, maintenance and repair of teh body's tissues. Nutrients may also reduce the risk of some diseases" <i>Whitney & Rolfe, Understanding Nutrition, 9th edition</i> (yes I know, my copy is dated. This is the one I used to tutor undergrads during grad school, not my copy as an undergrad!)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Pesticide:<a href="http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/" target="_blank"> </a></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/" target="_blank">A pesticide is a chemical used to prevent, destroy, or repel pests.</a> (EPA)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any chemical can be toxic, whether its natural or synthetic, depending on how much you eat, drink or absorb. Nutrients are the chemicals make up of food. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nutrients in high doses work as pesticides to control bacteria, fungi, molds and mildews, mainly in fruit and vegetable crops. Nutrients are typically used as protectant fungicides, meaning they are used proactively before disease appears to protect the foliage of the plant. Remember from high school biology how important photosynthesis is in the growth and development of a plant? Without foliage, or if foliage is damaged from mildews, a plant cannot photosynthesize efficiently. Photosynthesis is the process that converts sunlight into energy (carbohydrates). Photosynthesis is required for fruits and vegetables to ripen. Without sufficient foliage on the plant, grapes wouldn't ripen and turn sweet, tomatoes wouldn't turn red, watermelon wouldn't get sweet and pink, strawberries wouldn't turn red and sweet. Fungicides, in the form of nutrients like sulfur, copper, zinc, and manganese protect the plant in advance of any disease. They are not "treatments" and do not work after a plant has developed a disease, they only work to protect the plant from developing the disease. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, let's look at the recommended dietary intake of nutrients for humans:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nutrient<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 139.5pt;" valign="top" width="186"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RDA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Major functions:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zinc<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8-11 mg/d</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">40 mg/d</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cellular metabolism</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Protein
synthesis</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wound healing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cell
division</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DNA
synthesis</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manganese<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 139.5pt;" valign="top" width="186"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.8-2.3 mg/d</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11 mg/d</span></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Activates
many enzymes that are critical to metabolism, bone development, and wound
healing.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Copper<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">700-900 µg/d</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5000-10000 µg/d</span></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Critical
in the function of enzymes that control energy production, connective tissue
formation, and iron metabolism.</span></div>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 72.9pt;" valign="top" width="97"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sulfur<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 139.5pt;" valign="top" width="186"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No RDA-<i>Metabolic<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">breakdown of the<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">recommended intake for<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">protein and sulfur amino<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">acids should provide<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">adequate inorganic sulfate<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for synthesis of required sulfur-containing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">compounds.</span></i></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No UL</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.45in;" valign="top" width="235"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The body
does not use sulfur as a nutrient by itself. Contributes to protein
structure. Acts as a bridge between amino acids in hormones like insulin.</span></div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): average daily level of
intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%-98%)
healthy people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): maximum daily intake
unlikely to cause adverse health effects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, let's look at the recommended application rates of these nutrients as pesticides as approved by EPA:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 72.9pt;" valign="top" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pesticide</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rate/Acre</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oral LD50 </span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Controls
For:(grapes/tomatoes)</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 72.9pt;" valign="top" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zinc</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-4
lb/acre</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1400 mg/kg</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phomopsis,
Black Rot, Botrytis, Downy Mildew</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 72.9pt;" valign="top" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manganese</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-4
lb/acre</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5000 mg/kg</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anthracnose,
Early Blight, Late blight, Bunch rot, Downy mildew</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 72.9pt;" valign="top" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Copper</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">0.75 – 1.75
lb/acre</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1847 mg/kg</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Downy
Mildew, bacterial spot, anthracnose,</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 72.9pt;" valign="top" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sulfur</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-20
lb/acre</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2000 mg/kg</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Powdery
Mildew, spotted mite, red spider mite.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For comparison purposes - Vitamin D is highly toxic with an LD50 of 10 mg/kg, whereas table salt (sodium chloride) has an LD50 of 3000 mg/kg.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is LD50?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ag101/pestlethal.html" target="_blank">Oral LD50</a>: <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">An LD50 is a standard measurement of acute toxicity that is stated in milligrams (mg) of pesticide per kilogram (kg) of body weight. An LD50 represents the individual dose required to kill 50 percent of a population of test animals (e.g., rats, fish, mice, cockroaches). Because LD50 values are standard measurements, it is possible to compare relative toxicities among pesticides. The lower the LD50 dose, the more toxic the pesticide.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A pesticide with an LD50 value of 10 mg/kg is 10 times more toxic than a pesticide with an LD50 of 100 mg/kg.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went from milligrams per day as a recommended dietary allowance to pounds per acre to control for disease. The vastly escalated dose converted these nutrients from dietary healthfulness into effective pesticides. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">You can see, although these pesticides are "natural", as in nutrients, they are still toxic. By definition, a pesticide must kill or control something. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">There is no such thing as a nontoxic pesticide. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a good graphic that depicts the toxicity of natural versus synthetic pesticides:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/7x6q5yr9-1400349145.jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sense About Science</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If this topic is of interest to you, I recommend these excellent additional readings:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<a href="http://ei.cornell.edu/teacher/pdf/ATR/ATR_Chapter1_X.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Dose Makes The Poison</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/87/19/7777.full.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dietary Pesticides (99.9% all natural)</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<a href="http://geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/12/09/myth-busting-are-synthetic-pesticides-used-with-some-gmos-more-dangerous-than-natural-ones/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are Synthetic Pesticides More Dangerous Than Natural Ones?</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an RD, I know these nutrients are essential for health and wellness in our diets.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a pesticide applicator, I know these pesticides are essential for the health and wellness of my fruit and vegetable crops.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The nutrients in your multi-vitamin are not toxic but these nutrients are not edible at the pesticide dose.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dose makes the poison. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 1.3em;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-74464676874567423802015-02-21T20:11:00.000-05:002015-03-02T14:53:57.076-05:00Dietary Guidelines & Sustainability: 25 Years Late To The PartyAs both an RD and a farmer, I've been following the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's (DGAC) work with great interest. Since Thursday's release of the committee's recommendations for the 2015 Dietary Guidelines, there has been much chatter on social media about what's "in" (cholesterol & caffeine) and what's "out"(saturated fats, added salt & sugar). But my real interest is in their inclusion of "sustainable diet" in their recommendations, so I downloaded Chapter 5 hoping for "something new" to the discussion of food production as it interplays with nutrition and health. I was most disappointed. I'm really taking off my RD hat and looking at this chapter from a farmer's perspective.<br />
<br />
I think the dietary guidelines advisory committee is 25 years late to the party.....<br />
<br />
Congress addressed sustainability in the food and farming system as far back as the 1990 Farm Bill. Under the law of the 1990 Farm Bill, the term sustainable agriculture means<br />
<br />
<i>"an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having site specific application that will, over the long term:</i><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i>satisfy human food and fiber needs.</i></li>
<li><i>enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends.</i></li>
<li><i>make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls.</i></li>
<li><i>sustain the economic viability of farm operations</i></li>
<li><i>enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole."</i></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
From what I read, the DGAC did not acknowledge the 25 year old Congressional definition anywhere in the chapter on Food Sustainability and Safety. Instead they offered a modified Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) definition:<br />
<br />
<i>"<u>Sustainable diets</u>: Sustainable diets are a pattern of eating that promotes health and well-being and provides food security for the present population while sustaining human and natural resources for future generations.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><u>Food Security</u>: Food security exists when all people now, and in the future, have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life."</i><br />
<br />
The document continued by offering the following graphic:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpKFWf3uSt8lezr9ORsHdCr9pgeBVyOsvBxjfko9BXx-jfRkqJiw_MpsCrRRbH-H_b6MlKChPR_mOzAI52efFcuAnlwHfI1-HOCK5JjWwvfkBvukTrFihpZ4u6znONoX6ZLKXxNi3Cmk/s1600/DGAC+sustainable+diet+graphic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpKFWf3uSt8lezr9ORsHdCr9pgeBVyOsvBxjfko9BXx-jfRkqJiw_MpsCrRRbH-H_b6MlKChPR_mOzAI52efFcuAnlwHfI1-HOCK5JjWwvfkBvukTrFihpZ4u6znONoX6ZLKXxNi3Cmk/s1600/DGAC+sustainable+diet+graphic.JPG" height="275" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/10-chapter-5/" target="_blank">Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, Chapter 5, Food Sustainability and Safety</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This graphic is interesting when compared to the 1990 Farm Bill definition because it basically mirrors what was implemented 25 years ago. What the DGAC is saying is we now need to move toward sustainability in these new dietary guidelines.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What the DGAC is missing is that US farmers have already been moving along the sustainability continuum. We got the message 25 years ago and have been doing our due diligence to ensure that our food and farming system is both resilient and sustainable. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So over the last 25 years, what has happened in our food and farming system to improve sustainability? According to the USDA annual <a href="http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/arms-farm-financial-and-crop-production-practices.aspx" target="_blank">Agriculture Resource Management Survey (ARMS)</a>: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Use of commercial fertilizers and pesticides has been declining in recent years, due to improvements in technology. </li>
<li>Adoption of "best management practices" (BMPs) in fertilizer use (rate, timing and application method to conserve the resource and maximize plant uptake) has increased. A full 35% of all cropland has met <b>ALL</b> 3 nutrient BMPs, and a significant portion of remaining cropland has some BMP practice implemented.</li>
<li>US Farmers have increase resource efficiency, producing more food on less land with fewer inputs.</li>
<li>There are <a href="http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/489-no-till-movement-in-us-continues-to-grow" target="_blank">96 million acres</a> of cropland planted in no-till farming systems and that percentage has been increasing over time at a rate of 1% per year (<a href="http://harvestingthepotential.org/" target="_blank">Howard G. Buffet Foundation</a>).</li>
<li>According to the <a href="http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/resourcedisplay/281/" target="_blank">Conservation Tillage Information Center</a>, 109 million acres of the 239 million acres of US cropland practice conservation agriculture. </li>
<li>As a result of conservation tillage, soil health has improved. Erosion has declined, microbial life has increased, and we are on track to making continuous quality improvements as a whole. </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0100e/a0100e1n.jpg" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0100e/a0100e0d.htm" target="_blank">The Food & Agriculture Organization</a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
These statistics were confirmed by the metrics analyzed by the<a href="https://www.fieldtomarket.org/report/national-2/PNT_SummaryReport_A17.pdf" target="_blank"> Field to Market</a> report which looks at national sustainability trends in US agriculture (also not referenced by the DGAC). Which perhaps behooves the question: were the experts were not aware that the 1990 Farm Bill defined sustainable agriculture, and why did they not use the plethora of data and statistics on sustainability practices from the agency charged with implementing the Dietary Guidelines (USDA),<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But you ask, what about livestock? This is the crux of what the DGAC focused on in their call for American's to lower their meat consumption. That a meat-based diet consumes more resources than a plant based diet. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNWXttKsirLcBGtd_X9pvwIa5fNSh9ZPe5EkHjJuQi9FpJ-e30z0NtfQ5LKi816EQRaHXWf_0HHvul7_CVpo47nFbTMEFm77tJxMngqptq0VVHc4TeWmh__0-UiJ2t3K5s9exirKoyiY/s1600/animal+ag+sustainability.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNWXttKsirLcBGtd_X9pvwIa5fNSh9ZPe5EkHjJuQi9FpJ-e30z0NtfQ5LKi816EQRaHXWf_0HHvul7_CVpo47nFbTMEFm77tJxMngqptq0VVHc4TeWmh__0-UiJ2t3K5s9exirKoyiY/s1600/animal+ag+sustainability.JPG" height="237" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.animalagalliance.org/educate/" target="_blank">Animal Agriculture Alliance</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There has been great improvement in the resources animal agriculture once used compared to today's production. Farmers and ranchers are producing more food with less resources than in decades past. While the DGAC fingers agriculture, specifically livestock, as contributing "up to 30% of human-generated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the data shows otherwise: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVTB3evIozd6W9DibbkYP9_KBX8R0B_zUegXmJq2hJ9_0Yswvkb6b5rEOcImRx8pHRGqKaMPrbSDOcm_jRqXGY-i6z7VA8lyF6QSscEvyO60KAhTimGYdytx3bP54eaU30U5D-peVE7E/s1600/GHG+contributors.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVTB3evIozd6W9DibbkYP9_KBX8R0B_zUegXmJq2hJ9_0Yswvkb6b5rEOcImRx8pHRGqKaMPrbSDOcm_jRqXGY-i6z7VA8lyF6QSscEvyO60KAhTimGYdytx3bP54eaU30U5D-peVE7E/s1600/GHG+contributors.png" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/detail.aspx?chartId=46468&ref=collection&embed=True&widgetId=39734" target="_blank">USDA Economic Research Service</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
According to the EPA "<i>Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2012</i>", agriculture represents 10% of the GHG contribution. Where did the DGAC get 30%? Obviously not from the EPA. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So am I saying that agriculture isn't a factor in the loss of resources? No, we're part of the problem, as is all human activity. We are also part of the solution.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Am I saying that agriculture has done its part? No, we have more to do. Science and research will direct the way for us to continue along the sustainability continuum. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Am I saying that the DGAC should not consider sustainability in the dietary guidelines? I think that if this section of the recommendations remains in the final guidelines, it will need to be validated by experts in the field of agriculture and sustainability.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So I applaud the DGAC for the work they have done. It was no doubt a huge undertaking. As an RD and a mom, I appreciate the emphasis on eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing whole grains, things that we have known and continue to strive for. But I am disappointed in their lack of recognition of how far agriculture has come in the last 25 years moving our food and farming system greatly along the sustainability continuum. Sustainability is part of our daily lives on our family farms. As I blogged about last summer, <a href="http://thefoodiefarmer.blogspot.com/2014/06/sustainable-ag-were-certified-stewards.html" target="_blank">Stewardship</a> is our middle name. The DGAC came a little late to the party.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-41662601061862096402015-01-31T21:02:00.001-05:002015-01-31T21:02:20.560-05:00Writer's BlockI have several topics I've started and deleted this month. Nothing is flowing. I don't write unless it flows. If someone wants to lob a question or suggest a topic they want me to write about that may unstuck my writer's block, I'd be appreciative :)<br />
JennieUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-37898472299226921572014-12-29T12:06:00.002-05:002016-08-13T08:07:05.886-04:00GMO versus NonGMO: The Cost of ProductionRecently I was asked to answer a question on <a href="http://www.gmoanswers.com/" target="_blank">GMO Answers</a> regarding what the productions costs are comparing GMO and nonGMO crops. For my family farm, that specifically means corn or soybeans. The hay including alfalfa, tomatoes, green beans, and grapes have not been genetically engineered, they are "conventional" or traditional hybrids from other means of plant breeding.<br />
<br />
Answering the question in terms of costs necessitates the entire picture of yield and price per bushel, otherwise a farmer would have an incomplete picture by which to make business decisions that impact the sustainability of the family farm. The other critical piece that folks don't seem to grasp is the market demand in various regions. Farmers grow what there is demand for, plain and simple. What markets are available in our region and the products they want from farmers. Economics 101. We don't grow what we can't sell. For us, there is greater demand for GMO derived feed and imgredients than there is for nonGMO feed and ingredients. Strange isn't it? You haven't heard that before have you? The media would lead you to believe otherwise, but the media aren't connected to the farm community or its markets. If you are believing only what you read in the media, then you are not seeing the entire picture, just a very small slice of their pie, so to speak.<br />
<br />
The data below is our data, no one else's data. We can't make sustainable business decisions based on hypotheticals or someone else's data. We make decisions for our farm based on our outcomes and experiences. These figures are not everyone else's figures. These figures do not extrapolate to our neighbors or farmers in other regions or states. These figures are what drives our decision making and choices for the coming year. If the market changes, we change our decision making process. If yield or costs change, we change our decision making process. In the end, our goal is to have healthy soils producing healthy foods and have a sustainable family farm to leave for the next generation.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gmoanswers.com/ask/what-difference-cost-production-gmo-vs-non-gmo" target="_blank">GMO vs NonGMO Production Comparison</a><br />
<br />
Will Rogers is credited with the quote: "The farmer has
to be an optimist or he wouldn't still be a farmer." Optimistically,
each winter we review our harvest data comparing our crop yield by variety to
our cost of production for that crop that season, in consideration of the type
of growing season we had, in order to decide what seeds to purchase for the
coming season.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since 1998, we have been growing both GM and non-GM corn and
soybeans. (We don’t actually use the term “GM” or “GMO” since all domesticated
crops have been genetically modified, but am using the acronym for the sake of
this audience). We run the numbers ever year for every variety and every crop
because that’s the only way to run any successful business. We collect the data
on what worked and what didn’t work and make changes and improvements or what
many businesses call “continuous quality improvement.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2014 Corn Production Non-Irrigated</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Cost Per Acre</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Non BT Corn</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>BT Corn</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Seed<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$65<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$114<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Fertilizer<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$123<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$123<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Herbicide<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$40<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$21<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Crop Insurance<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$40<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$40<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Fertilizer Application<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$7.50<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$7.50<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Planting<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$28<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$28<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Nitrogen Application<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$9.50<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$9.50<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Pesticide Application<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$20.00<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$9.00<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Harvest<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$28.00<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$28.00<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Hauling<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$25.00<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$25.00<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Drying<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$60<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$60<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Land Rent<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$150<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$150<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Total Cost of Inputs<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$596/ac<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$615/ac<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
BPA=bushels per acre<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
186 BPA<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
221 BPA<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Current cash price/bu<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Salisbury, MD)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$4.01<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$4.01<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
Gross Income/ac<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$745.86<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
$886.21<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Net Income Difference</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$149.86</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.75pt;" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$271</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2014 Soybean Production Non-Irrigated</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 567px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-row-margin-right: 48.25pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cost Per Acre</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Non-GMO for Food</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GMO for Feed</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GMO for Seed</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 67.45pt;" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GMO High Oleic</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-row-margin-right: 48.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Seed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$41<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$53<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$53<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 67.45pt;" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$53<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Fertilizer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Herbicide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Crop Insurance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$32<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$32<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$32<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$32<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Fertilizer application<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$7.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$7.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$7.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$7.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Planting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pesticide application<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$24<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Harvest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hauling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Land Rent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$150<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$150<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$150<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$150<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Total Cost of Inputs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$372.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$356.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$356.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$356.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Bushels/Ac (BPA)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">35 BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">50 BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">50 BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">55 BPA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Price/Bushel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$12.25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$9.60<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$11.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$11.25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Gross Income<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$472.5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$480<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$575<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 21.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$619<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.8pt;" width="138"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Net Income Difference</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 83.3pt;" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$100</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$124</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.45pt;" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$219</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="height: 22.55pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 115.7pt;" width="154"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">$263</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first year we planted Bt corn was 2000. As you can see
from the chart below, it has out-performed conventional corn every single year.
What is most noteworthy however, is the importance of its performance in
unfavorable growing years. We had drought conditions from 2010-2012. A
healthy crop is a more productive crop and in bad years, that can make the
biggest difference to the financial sustainability of the family farm. I previously had included our organic corn data in this chart but have since removed it. We grew conventional, biotech, and organic corn simultaneously but stopped our organic production in 2011. It average was below 50 bushels per acre and makes a very poor comparison. We decertified our organic ground and for that reason, I no longer include the data.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: -4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 606px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 40.5pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Corn (non-irrigated)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2000</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2004</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2010<br />
(slight drought)</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2011</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>(drought & hurricane)</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2012</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>(drought)</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" width="54"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2013</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 40.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 76.5pt;" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2014</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 39.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Biotech Acres</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
10</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
276</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
573</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
397</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
464</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" width="54"><div class="MsoNormal">
290</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 39.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 76.5pt;" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
275</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: .5in; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div class="MsoNormal">
Avg Yield BPA</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
171</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
182</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
110</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
44</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
111</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" width="54"><div class="MsoNormal">
214</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 76.5pt;" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
220</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 50.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Conventional Acres</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
647</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
415</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
195</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
213</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
261</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" width="54"><div class="MsoNormal">
75</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 76.5pt;" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
200</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: .5in; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div class="MsoNormal">
Avg Yield BPA</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
165</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
167</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
91</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
18</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
57</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" width="54"><div class="MsoNormal">
202</div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 76.5pt;" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
186</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 50.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Biotech/Bt<br />
Yield Advantage</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>6.4</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>15</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>19</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>26</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>54</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" width="54"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>12</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 76.5pt;" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>34</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 33.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div class="MsoNormal">
Price/Bu</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$2.35</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$2.55</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$5.18</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$6.47</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$7.40</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" width="54"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$4.41</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 33.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 76.5pt;" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$4</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: .5in; mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 1.25in;" width="120"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Net income difference</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Due to yield</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$15.04</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$38.25</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$98.42</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 58.5pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$168.22</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$399.60</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" width="54"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$53</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .5in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 76.5pt;" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$136</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Likewise in our soybean production history, we have
consistently experienced a better yield in our GM soy over our non-GM soy. We
grow four “classes” of soy: soy for food, soy for feed, soy for seed, and a
specialty GM bean High Oleic (HO) acid beans. The HO beans go for feed but the
oil that is extracted is used in baking and frying which eliminates the
trans-fatty acids from using hydrogenated soybean oil as an ingredient. These
beans are kept segregated and true to their variety in order to have the highest
quality HO oil from the extraction process.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 51.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Soybeans (dryland)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1998</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2000</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2005 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2010</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>(slight drought)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2011</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>(drought</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>& hurricane)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.0pt;" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2012</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>(drought)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2013</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 51.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2014</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 42.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Biotech Acreage</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
195<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
322<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
416<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
270<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
522<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.0pt;" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
527<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
200<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 42.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
300<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 43.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
Yield bu/a<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
54.2<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
50.3<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
53.5<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
46<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
37<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.0pt;" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
43<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
48<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
55<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: .75in; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Conventional Acreage</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
156<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
184<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
213<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
306<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
750<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.0pt;" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
675<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
175<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: .75in; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
100<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 43.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
Yield bu/a<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
48.2<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
43.2<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
46.3 <o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
36<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
34<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.0pt;" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
36<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
25<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
35<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 43.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Yield Difference</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>6 bu</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>7.1 bu</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>7.2 bu</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>10 bu</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3 bu</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.0pt;" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>7 bu</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>23</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>20</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 43.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
Price/Bushel<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
$6.90<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
$6.62<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
$7.25<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
$11.30<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
$12.52<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.0pt;" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
$14.55<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
$13.55<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 43.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
$11.25<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 50.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Income Difference/<br />
Acre</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$41.40 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b> $47.00 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$52.20</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$113.00</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$37.56</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 57.0pt;" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$101.85</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$312</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 50.25pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 49.5pt;" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$225</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even when there is a premium involved with growing a non-GM
grain, due to better yields, GM has out-performed non-GM on our farm every
year. We have experienced higher yields in all of our GM crops in the nearly 17
years we have been using the seeds. We grow what we have market access to sell
in our region. Our choice to buy seed is based on the success of various seeds
we have tried and well as University research conducted in our area. We don’t
pay attention to data that comes from other growing regions in the US because
it generally isn’t relevant to the conditions we experience. We use a “prove
it” mentality in that we will give a seed a try on a limited number of acres
and do our own compare and contrast to our other fields. Our decision making is
balanced by diversity of the markets we can access, the demand within those
markets, and the productivity that we have seen for ourselves to justify which
type of seeds to plant each and every year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I said at the beginning, these are our costs and our production figures. Don't assume they are the same for all farmers. They are not.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-90881507471516012182014-11-26T16:25:00.003-05:002014-11-28T11:52:09.971-05:00Is that not #RealFood?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Despite being the biggest producer of grains as well as fruits and vegetables in the State of Maryland, the Eastern Shore farming community has seemingly been labeled as not "real food farming."</div>
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Last week, the Baltimore Sun ran an article by reporter <a href="https://twitter.com/DanRodricks" target="_blank">Dan Rodricks</a> about the purchase of a Kent County farm using tax payer funded "Program Open Space" monies which was discussed by the Board of Public Works who approves such purchases. Besides the fact that the State paid $2.8 million or nearly $11,000/acre, nearly $5000 per acre more than current farmland values, it was also proposed that the farm be leased directly to a lawyer/farmer for $1 per year, bypassing the otherwise required statewide competitive bidding process required for any of the rest of us Maryland farmers to lease state-owned land. The land would be used as part of a "Food Hub" nonprofit also supported by this lawyer turned farmer who has been a noted financial backer to the Democratic party. Thus the Comptroller deemed the deal "sleazy".<br />
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My issue is not about the purchase of the farm though do question why outgoing Governor O'Malley would waste taxpayer dollars by paying such a ridiculous amount for farmland. (And go on about how the State out-competes farmers by paying exorbitant prices that would never cash-flow a farming operation and disadvantages farmers by giving landowners artificial economic value.) Rather, my issue is with the premise that there is a lack of "real food" grown on the Eastern Shore. I dispute the notion that there is not "real food farming" here on the Delmarva. If you are a Marylander who never gets off of Route 50 on your way to the beach in the summer, then maybe that is your impression. Or if you're an urbanite who doesn't know a lima bean from a soybean plant or sweet corn from field corn, you may have no idea what you see as you drive past our farms. If you have never talked to a farmer except at a farmer's market, you may not know the sheer volume of "real food" grown here because farmers like me, do not sell to consumers, but sell directly to companies who make products like spaghetti sauce or who distribute directly to the grocery store.<br />
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The full article is linked here: <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-rodricks-1120-20141119-column.html" target="_blank">"Behind 'sleazy' deal, a good idea about food." </a><br />
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My issue with the "good idea about food" is this (emphasis mine). The article says:<br />
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<i>"Separate from the Wick Farm deal, Braver wants to lease land from the town of Easton, in Talbot County, and build a large warehouse-style building where Eastern Shore farmers can bring their fruits, vegetables and meats to be distributed and sold throughout the region. She also wants to create an apprenticeship program for new farmers who will <u>grow things people eat.</u><br /><br />Right now, of course, that kind of farming — farmers' market farming — is dwarfed by the soy, corn and wheat farming that goes on here, along with dairy and Big Chicken.</i><br />
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<i>Braver, an organic farmer, thinks we need to move to <u>real-food farming</u> for a bunch of good reasons: Fresh, local food is healthier, in part because it doesn't have to travel as far to market; it doesn't require as much fossil fuel to ship. We could put more Marylanders to work growing our own, right in our own backyard, and eventually become more "food secure" — that is, less reliant on produce or protein grown or raised hundreds of miles away.<br /><br />"Currently, just 3 percent of the country's farmland is used to grow and harvest fruit and vegetable crops," Braver says, "And it's less than 2.5 percent in Maryland. We are not creating our own food. <u>We want to expand real-food production on the Eastern Shore.</u>"</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">.....As if real-food production doesn't already exist on the Eastern Shore....?</span></div>
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First a few statistics using the 2012 USDA Ag Census:</div>
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Between the 9 Eastern Shore Counties, there are 30,023 acres of <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_County_Level/Maryland/st24_2_028_028.pdf" target="_blank">vegetables</a> and nearly 700 <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_County_Level/Maryland/st24_2_030_030.pdf" target="_blank">orchard</a> acres. This does not include 200 or so acres of <a href="https://www315.safesecureweb.com/mdgrower/members/Statistics.php" target="_blank">winegrapes</a> that have taken root on the Shore over the last 10 years or so. This doesn't include greenhouse production of which there is quite a bit as well.</div>
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By value, fruits and veges add up to a very nice diversification for quite a few farmers. Combining the 9 Eastern Shore counties, the value of fruits and veggies produced on nearly 31,000 acres is over $46 million. Those are some real dollar values to "<u>grow things people eat</u>."</div>
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So to illustrate this, here are some folks who "grow things people eat" right here on the Eastern Shore, many who have been at it for generations. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSK8PZBP8WWRBQ1EKkur6XS8zioAFdHiPDmy10JOV7RjaPIVNxpPWrL7TJVPuZ_dsYDu-SrtMhUDkQtbQdjVWXfNMxg-NDwY98au8_6_ZXVmxGi7RUWNu36sFPR6bilE0BSKSAEnrUds/s1600/20140807_161802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSK8PZBP8WWRBQ1EKkur6XS8zioAFdHiPDmy10JOV7RjaPIVNxpPWrL7TJVPuZ_dsYDu-SrtMhUDkQtbQdjVWXfNMxg-NDwY98au8_6_ZXVmxGi7RUWNu36sFPR6bilE0BSKSAEnrUds/s1600/20140807_161802.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">My farm grew 7.21 million pounds of Roma tomatoes for spaghetti sauce & stewed tomatoes. Furmano's distribution is through the MidAtlantic and East Coast.<br />Is that not </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/realfood" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">#RealFood</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">?</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RzBvO3f_V20FOUN1WYxs_X7JOL8CraoEdvKdYpEDKzlPoxh2LBvUl6zdaczVeUol2yejw_-S5jJO4rLM9UKoTufZ2OQpPph5v90e7vLp5mX6-kaux9bv8mIRAMw21UhcHcIMo5FQ9-Y/s1600/soybean2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RzBvO3f_V20FOUN1WYxs_X7JOL8CraoEdvKdYpEDKzlPoxh2LBvUl6zdaczVeUol2yejw_-S5jJO4rLM9UKoTufZ2OQpPph5v90e7vLp5mX6-kaux9bv8mIRAMw21UhcHcIMo5FQ9-Y/s1600/soybean2.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Chesapeake Fields Farmers Cooperative grow 5.4 million pounds of </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/soybeans" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">soybeans</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> for </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/tofu" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">tofu</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> each year. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">These soybeans are sold to Asian food processors in DC, Baltimore, Philly, NYC & Boston markets.<br /> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Is that not </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/realfood" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">#RealFood</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">? <br /><br />The article goes onto note that the Delmarva will be the future source of food for the New York City region.... So Columbia University's Earth Institute apparently is unaware of the current food distribution along the East Coast to know that this is already happening.<br /></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0UgVyG8xFPpi3lp2Well46FAaFN89GHF_Up_HR_sTTMNwES_q9haSdvHczPM-Ul9cVlCAnoANORzdnDCNvrxhgjEg2JSg0Cmb5EgmF35Ia5etKwBM4zFgiVT0ijXGGpkcvcqQRJkqJs/s1600/cuke+harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0UgVyG8xFPpi3lp2Well46FAaFN89GHF_Up_HR_sTTMNwES_q9haSdvHczPM-Ul9cVlCAnoANORzdnDCNvrxhgjEg2JSg0Cmb5EgmF35Ia5etKwBM4zFgiVT0ijXGGpkcvcqQRJkqJs/s1600/cuke+harvest.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My friend Hannah who farms in Caroline County, grew 10 million pounds of cucumbers this year which end up as pickles and pickled products in Vlasic, Mt. Olive, and B&G pickles. These are brands with national and regional regional distribution.<br />Is that not #RealFood?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Picture" src="http://www.wegrowlettuce.com/uploads/3/1/0/1/3101945/463869_orig.jpg" height="298" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wegrowlettuce.com/" target="_blank">Chesapeake Greenhouse </a>grows hydroponic lettuce, 42,000 heads per rotation, year round.<br />Is that not #RealFood?<br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/cecildaily.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/ec/0ec8617b-cccf-5421-865f-b5a10ce8da1f/0ec8617b-cccf-5421-865f-b5a10ce8da1f.image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.phillipsmushroomfarms.com/warwick1.html" target="_blank">Warwick Mushroom Farm</a> in Kent County picks 500,000 pounds of mushrooms per week.<br />A half million pounds of mushrooms every week!<br />Is that not #RealFood?<br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmWNYdsI07V3ZHd8QNrWL054UFt4wfRW4aW0-xFuhOj9UYCCmjxEWgSktYEJ_GwLeStklIv6z5dxvTzn5FEhtDGJxWp-1hLos-l_dlhLHjXtRwF0PQRI6w88kq3k2yJxSAc7GXPYNVEw/s1600/MDfarmTV_Wheat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmWNYdsI07V3ZHd8QNrWL054UFt4wfRW4aW0-xFuhOj9UYCCmjxEWgSktYEJ_GwLeStklIv6z5dxvTzn5FEhtDGJxWp-1hLos-l_dlhLHjXtRwF0PQRI6w88kq3k2yJxSAc7GXPYNVEw/s1600/MDfarmTV_Wheat.JPG" height="342" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">1773 Maryland farmers grow soft red wheat at a $86 million value and supplies Auntie Anne's <br />with flour for their pretzel dough.<br />Is that not #RealFood?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Lisa and Tom Godfrey, owners of Godfrey's Farm-Locally Grown Fresh Fruit, Vegetables, Flowers & Plants in Sudlersville, Maryland" src="http://www.godfreysfarm.com/images/tom_lisa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: <a href="http://www.remsberg.com/" target="_blank">Edwin Remsberg</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.godfreysfarm.com/" target="_blank">Godfrey's Vegetable Farm</a> who are my neighbors in Sudlersville grow over 250 acres of fruits and vegetables including asparagus, cantaloupe, peaches, peppers, strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, and watermelon and sell whole sale to grocers like Whole Foods in Annapolis. </div>
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Is that not #RealFood?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPa8WKEFGLihXh0G8HsoKNo3Ok-eDKBd4ExbqFaP7z-TRSHb7xvQYfIXt8q5HmT59s9QPkIF23Hb-AZfpwglo-QTgqKa0OXexXqakSfYZe6naUEu4SrTEQu1tamJu1K0-uiPBpQDrF6s/s1600/MDFarmTV_Arnold+Farms.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPa8WKEFGLihXh0G8HsoKNo3Ok-eDKBd4ExbqFaP7z-TRSHb7xvQYfIXt8q5HmT59s9QPkIF23Hb-AZfpwglo-QTgqKa0OXexXqakSfYZe6naUEu4SrTEQu1tamJu1K0-uiPBpQDrF6s/s1600/MDFarmTV_Arnold+Farms.JPG" height="366" width="400" /></a></div>
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Arnold Farms, outside Crumpton in Queen Anne's County grows 350 acres of vegetables including sweet corn, eggplant, squash and sells to Whole Foods and Giant.</div>
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Is that not #RealFood?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_ZIaCUzvmmWQlvZiIPfEfSEfKRSdt5DHUHVfAc0yCEkMwgFkjOCSRNUYfmHEZsGfBfzpR80c1SkdTuZC807IEYZCmk5zy526CCy7_DUrhBrzL8uzzSUTEllrSurKQtY9U7h9LMGFDL4/s1600/green+bean+pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_ZIaCUzvmmWQlvZiIPfEfSEfKRSdt5DHUHVfAc0yCEkMwgFkjOCSRNUYfmHEZsGfBfzpR80c1SkdTuZC807IEYZCmk5zy526CCy7_DUrhBrzL8uzzSUTEllrSurKQtY9U7h9LMGFDL4/s1600/green+bean+pile.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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Every year we grow nearly 200 acres of green beans. This year we grew 22,500 bushels of fresh green beans which are distributed up and down the East Coast from Florida to Maine and states in between and a variety of grocery stores. In addition we donated 2000 pounds of green beans to the Maryland Food Bank's Farm to Food Bank program providing fresh produce to food bank recipients.</div>
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Is that not #RealFood?</div>
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Later in the article, it says</div>
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"<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">We could put more Marylanders to work growing our own, right in our own backyard, and eventually become more "food secure" — that is, less reliant on produce or protein grown or raised hundreds of miles away.</span></div>
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So as to not leave my livestock farming friends out because sourcing local protein should not be a problem for consumers....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK7KZJIanaaRxM3dwwQmJsQSrP28XX8FyGGIvDnG8uIe2ytt2rFDAgXwUkLyemWEZ2qztTpCZRkrovuFue4vCVIPi7kVT1xE1GXGMy9EH56aG-1nrG_J-ZL_dGGufRjoyHxskIkSDT0Q/s1600/Jen_HogFarmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK7KZJIanaaRxM3dwwQmJsQSrP28XX8FyGGIvDnG8uIe2ytt2rFDAgXwUkLyemWEZ2qztTpCZRkrovuFue4vCVIPi7kVT1xE1GXGMy9EH56aG-1nrG_J-ZL_dGGufRjoyHxskIkSDT0Q/s1600/Jen_HogFarmer.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: <a href="http://www.remsberg.com/" target="_blank">Edwin Remsberg</a></td></tr>
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My friend Jen and her family operate one of the few hog farms left in the region. They produce about 2.5 million pounds of pork sold throughout the MidAtlantic and NorthEast region.</div>
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Is that not #RealFood?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBs4-60Q699IBBPhw6radQ59GPYBadTF2qtUkObAAtjT3vZPJzl7uLmdiUwAhz-URJQVZTSOKUh1qCygdBgYOPojAN0j-TiOqqbRRDtzeZusJyPLUYvPWh3GHIr_lvxba-o8Y76xSB4w/s1600/jrhodes_poultry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBs4-60Q699IBBPhw6radQ59GPYBadTF2qtUkObAAtjT3vZPJzl7uLmdiUwAhz-URJQVZTSOKUh1qCygdBgYOPojAN0j-TiOqqbRRDtzeZusJyPLUYvPWh3GHIr_lvxba-o8Y76xSB4w/s1600/jrhodes_poultry.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo:<a href="http://www.remsberg.com/" target="_blank">Edwin Remsberg</a></td></tr>
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My other friend Jenny and her sons raise broiler chickens, which are mentioned in the article as "Big Chicken". Her farm produces about 2 million pounds of chicken each year. One of the many ways farmers diversify is to add poultry barns in order to have a revenue stream that allows for the next generation of young farmers to return home and make a living farming.</div>
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<b>A</b>. Is that not #RealFood?</div>
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<b>B</b>. Is that not how we raise up the next generation of family farmers by affording them a way to return to the farm?</div>
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Are we Eastern Shore farmers not already "growing things people eat"?</div>
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I grow #RealFood.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-32963967277614877652014-11-18T12:47:00.001-05:002014-11-19T15:00:31.613-05:00Cover Crops: How to Grow a Shag CarpetYes, I pretty much just dated myself as a child born in the late 60's, grew up in the 70's with that title. If you're old enough to enough to remember raking the carpet as something on your chore list, then we might be of the same age, especially if you remember having a chore list that didn't end with an allowance!<br />
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So if you've followed my blog for any length of time, you know that we've been doing cover crops for more than 40 years. You'll remember this picture from the 1960's of my father in law getting ready to seed No Till cover crops into the corn field to the right of this Hi-Boy cover crop seeder. Cover crops are part of our family farming operation because they are what helps us grow a shag carpet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1UwBh6dA9ImcOvtRygHo-cFythT8sBV-c3akAo-iGNQyt0qjMMLQeuYnVfsFLF4BFRWvTr2n_Zd0q4iWpIGdJzcj56gNPZhtCZWmgU-2VyO2-X0p1gHalEJxFGk-Xs-W4picGFM-MYk/s1600/notill+Hiboy1964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1UwBh6dA9ImcOvtRygHo-cFythT8sBV-c3akAo-iGNQyt0qjMMLQeuYnVfsFLF4BFRWvTr2n_Zd0q4iWpIGdJzcj56gNPZhtCZWmgU-2VyO2-X0p1gHalEJxFGk-Xs-W4picGFM-MYk/s1600/notill+Hiboy1964.jpg" height="400" width="395" /></a></div>
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If you remember walking on a shag carpet, especially after it has been recently raked, you know that the carpet has deep pile, something you could sink your toes into. That's the goal of our soil management program on our farm... to have soil that feels like a shag carpet when you walk on it. In agronomic terms, we call this "tilth". Tilth is the physical condition of the soil that allows for a healthy root system to support plant growth and plant health. Having soil with good tilth or that feels like a shag carpet means that the soil has large pore spaces for oxygenation and water filtration.<br />
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While Maryland farmers use a lot of cover crops in an effort to help reduce nutrients from leaving the soil for the protection of the Chesapeake Bay, that is really a secondary reason for us to use cover crops. We use cover crops primarily to improve our soil health, and specifically our soil tilth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSqynsW3eqrKE6V9TJqVejQtjc72g_VcD9rlq98jVIuYWrXvqhhXKYo_tFmazM-cE08Z-4HVImpkNlXCuuP1yaBb9nNCanf6nwkGUFhr0IS64eovo9k_1G3O2vpqWWJmDtv8xbnnKPqo/s1600/covercrops.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSqynsW3eqrKE6V9TJqVejQtjc72g_VcD9rlq98jVIuYWrXvqhhXKYo_tFmazM-cE08Z-4HVImpkNlXCuuP1yaBb9nNCanf6nwkGUFhr0IS64eovo9k_1G3O2vpqWWJmDtv8xbnnKPqo/s1600/covercrops.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here are some of the cover crops we plant and why:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtwC-Vrd4F6-bvSFPCEz769FLEhVvU36v_MP08UOSP9NCJ_LNEV03bPEsUu8Hy4H2IiMZaZmCUJmfUpKvtolosWSzgFI7TQGtYjS4xrY8EvoHJON5pq-PB3YTSotw-XeASMnRHWUd8lw/s1600/crimson+clover.jpg-large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtwC-Vrd4F6-bvSFPCEz769FLEhVvU36v_MP08UOSP9NCJ_LNEV03bPEsUu8Hy4H2IiMZaZmCUJmfUpKvtolosWSzgFI7TQGtYjS4xrY8EvoHJON5pq-PB3YTSotw-XeASMnRHWUd8lw/s1600/crimson+clover.jpg-large" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Crimson Clover: We use a lot of this as a slow release nitrogen source for perennial crops like our grapes. Besides being a legume which adds nitrogen to the soil, also provides a lot of biomass when it is incorporated into the soil. This organic matter helps add structure to the soil which helps stabilize the soil from erosion, improves water holding capacity of the soil, and its decomposition adds microbial activity to the soil. Besides that they're a good habitat when in bloom in the spring for attracting beneficial insects.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEj4tV6obvgs7j0fTVSZWf6viw52HYC9eJG-kBG1FEMCsZCJnSzUxGzH938bk0ZL03nh6lOzqMJvVs15hYUzFG-95aK1M9pYRLjUofHYvRUtRmZvngFL0lrHSnDPI8M1GrFGRBdO-FTno/s1600/20141113_093850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEj4tV6obvgs7j0fTVSZWf6viw52HYC9eJG-kBG1FEMCsZCJnSzUxGzH938bk0ZL03nh6lOzqMJvVs15hYUzFG-95aK1M9pYRLjUofHYvRUtRmZvngFL0lrHSnDPI8M1GrFGRBdO-FTno/s1600/20141113_093850.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tillage Radish: I took this picture while combining corn last week. The radish seed was aerial seeded rather than drilled or planted (we no longer have that old fashioned Hi-Boy seeder from the 1960's.) Aerial seeding allows us to spread the cover crop early enough in the late summer or fall to allow for good germination. In order to get a good stand of any crop, you need good seed to soil contact, adequate sunlight and warm temperatures for germination. Today it is 26 degrees at Noon. It is too cold for seeds to germinate at this point. Tillage radish grows a long tap root which creates nice pores in the soil which help break up compaction from driving across fields with equipment, as well as acts as a "sink" for nutrients that the previous crop did not use this season. The radish stores those nutrients in its root. When it winter kills and the ground thaws out, the radish will decompose and release those nutrients back into the soil for the next crop to take up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F9WkoJvblbGu9txeSTHD89vuvLyK4X68J_1_8JJXhY1R5mqI8uv4XuFuS9DOex-KxkNelen64HJ6yn8FuVjzncYjUOjHMj-TYUWE_l6gekLF9FvrienNMNUWNPB59Ouze0YzgMtMxho/s1600/20141118_100505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F9WkoJvblbGu9txeSTHD89vuvLyK4X68J_1_8JJXhY1R5mqI8uv4XuFuS9DOex-KxkNelen64HJ6yn8FuVjzncYjUOjHMj-TYUWE_l6gekLF9FvrienNMNUWNPB59Ouze0YzgMtMxho/s1600/20141118_100505.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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The aerial seeded tillage radish seen above is mixed with annual rye. It was seeded before we harvested the corn, then once the cover crop is no longer fully shaded by corn, it greens up and gets to work on the soil tilth. Along with decomposition of the corn stalks into the soil, over time, we work to increase the organic matter and create a soft, well structured soil that feels like a shag carpet when you walk across it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdvp8BBtuElAxACl_YKKlUFW66etzYjXWtDUNRmPAJTbjTmIlzifhZGgQBtD__RGdZRrZLcnQK_vnpcD4WW5YZQYEkIHLEpfoXiKwnoXnGiQnLZxLS1XcWgTUsxxmc4Tawg66YPLVtPI/s1600/20141118_100632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdvp8BBtuElAxACl_YKKlUFW66etzYjXWtDUNRmPAJTbjTmIlzifhZGgQBtD__RGdZRrZLcnQK_vnpcD4WW5YZQYEkIHLEpfoXiKwnoXnGiQnLZxLS1XcWgTUsxxmc4Tawg66YPLVtPI/s1600/20141118_100632.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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This field above has a mixed species cover crop of tillage radish, crimson clover, and barley. It was drilled rather than aerial seeded. When we do a mixed species cover crop, it is to address several issues. Barley is good a taking up excess moisture and suppressing weeds which combined with the nutrient scavenging of crimson clover and the compaction reduction of tillage radish, is one of our preferred cover crop mixes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjND8q6qAPQ9eqH-kcMRxdWmJjyCLtv0THpyoHvH6tEAkxiI0OEzluijT8QjbUtEqSUUqk-nvJRFSL04eYl1Pb9YmBq3QluIGjntWqzJXtgzt60kv5muZVVs5iMPczFvvqG-_0O3-y-FrM/s1600/20141118_100637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjND8q6qAPQ9eqH-kcMRxdWmJjyCLtv0THpyoHvH6tEAkxiI0OEzluijT8QjbUtEqSUUqk-nvJRFSL04eYl1Pb9YmBq3QluIGjntWqzJXtgzt60kv5muZVVs5iMPczFvvqG-_0O3-y-FrM/s1600/20141118_100637.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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So cover crops is only part of the shag carpet equation. The package deal is that soil management is a practice of adding organic matter, reducing compaction, improving the nutrient profile, and working at improving the structure of the soil so that the next season of crops is grown in healthy soils and so that the next generation of our family has healthy soils to continue of family farming legacy. To maintain a profitable family farm, you need to be constantly improving your soils. Decades of cover crop management has shown us the benefits to doing so.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-58026466688448392202014-10-01T09:29:00.000-04:002014-10-01T09:29:08.637-04:00Playing Catch Up.It dawned on my yesterday that I hadn't blogged for the month of September, at least not on this particular blog. But I have done some writing on various topics so I am going to link those articles here. Being that we are in the midst of harvest and crazy busy kids schedules, when I sit down at the computer, it isn't to write but to do bookwork.<br />
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Here is a sampling of what I wrote for other blogs over the last month or so:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>National Food Safety Education Month</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3otppf1102MafrWcgxASjzTTrvS_wA9A_gpb7uWWoKC84pWu2sW2Aou6etzle-V9PPhZMOEp1OH95Jx6uzbOg3bmxpeCqVQBnSXBB8t96NE_m97Fa-IhM9KqtNGnrBTAimItFMmtgkc/s1600/2+BFFs+(4).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3otppf1102MafrWcgxASjzTTrvS_wA9A_gpb7uWWoKC84pWu2sW2Aou6etzle-V9PPhZMOEp1OH95Jx6uzbOg3bmxpeCqVQBnSXBB8t96NE_m97Fa-IhM9KqtNGnrBTAimItFMmtgkc/s1600/2+BFFs+(4).png" height="222" width="400" /></a></div>
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September was National Food Safety Education Month and I was asked by the International Food Information Council to write about food safety. I chose the title "<a href="http://www.foodinsight.org/FoodSafetyBFFs" target="_blank">My 2 BFFs: Water & a Thermometer"</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>National Farm Safety and Health Week</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTJrwWbpNbWBzfhE6uBuGJ_NPphC6AmNJUfIdqYl-TjON5-4Q5XOBFciQH49SPW3lHx3irka3qK6ikZKBAKFBApANR1iaytQdJ7fJ1z_AzJBWeYR2JPqcNeh6ZxHiVqJ6Eq8sXKBL8BY/s1600/tractor+on+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTJrwWbpNbWBzfhE6uBuGJ_NPphC6AmNJUfIdqYl-TjON5-4Q5XOBFciQH49SPW3lHx3irka3qK6ikZKBAKFBApANR1iaytQdJ7fJ1z_AzJBWeYR2JPqcNeh6ZxHiVqJ6Eq8sXKBL8BY/s1600/tractor+on+road.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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September was also National Farm Safety and Health Week. I was asked to write about this topic for the Food and Nutrition Magazine. Click here to read this blog: <a href="http://www.foodandnutrition.org/Stone-Soup/September-2014/A-Closer-Look-at-National-Farm-Safety-and-Health-Week/" target="_blank">A Closer Look at National Farm Safety and Health Week </a>. Many thanks to my nephew Tyler pictured in the blog for posing while mowing the vineyard wearing all the appropriate garb!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>GMOs and Food Allergies</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7c80sYJ3SIHQ5YtjPz8FXdSwEsMzFvsi7-oLhk9BxJeYGquBPZei8IidauqmjK2B3Ns5e90suukfpULR6BLNGwATQVc3mFEPgouMi7wD69gnbOoIwNdqvM82kO5phkU0HvNrHQy0MkQ/s1600/GMO+answers+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7c80sYJ3SIHQ5YtjPz8FXdSwEsMzFvsi7-oLhk9BxJeYGquBPZei8IidauqmjK2B3Ns5e90suukfpULR6BLNGwATQVc3mFEPgouMi7wD69gnbOoIwNdqvM82kO5phkU0HvNrHQy0MkQ/s1600/GMO+answers+logo.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Finally, back in August, I was sent a question from GMO Answers to respond to about food allergies and any connection to the consumption of foods derived from crops that have been genetically modified. That blog can be read here: <a href="http://gmoanswers.com/ask/do-you-believe-it-valid-associate-gm-foods-rise-food-allergies-and-if-not-then-what-would-you" target="_blank">GMOs and Food Allergies.</a><br />
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And that my friends, is why there was nothing posted on my Foodie Farmer blog for September. Really, I was just remiss in making these links available. I have no other excuse! Thanks for the read!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-74118685041829746162014-08-30T13:51:00.002-04:002014-08-30T13:51:37.441-04:00Non-GMO Food Labeling: Is it truth or deception?Recently I responded to a tweet from @BioChicaGMO who posed the question:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYwISN1eCF0M_XEbc_oLiSxgt2NEhxtxBCUpYJ5mH0zjscdYmQS3g28JW_RakVMNI6WFnwF9v1T_FMGqtRQEeTFj020c-YocRk9TlnEfsbsS82FDrJq_Qi4cUXNfuImI6UMDBLCP9MNU/s1600/BioChicaGMO+snip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYwISN1eCF0M_XEbc_oLiSxgt2NEhxtxBCUpYJ5mH0zjscdYmQS3g28JW_RakVMNI6WFnwF9v1T_FMGqtRQEeTFj020c-YocRk9TlnEfsbsS82FDrJq_Qi4cUXNfuImI6UMDBLCP9MNU/s1600/BioChicaGMO+snip.JPG" height="140" width="400" /></a></div>
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To which I responded:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ70xMJUVk-Rtsh7ytXxXN0lYqhMzhmZGMaCewcVoL_XNymfgi_LUXQboYPLfxrkpG5r48FjsWEYnwe9VgMYzEeLkKp-pA7dRsuMUaDDDlwnyROfvsVvpoiA95faws38K1nkk0wo-yEB8/s1600/biochicaGMO+response+snip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ70xMJUVk-Rtsh7ytXxXN0lYqhMzhmZGMaCewcVoL_XNymfgi_LUXQboYPLfxrkpG5r48FjsWEYnwe9VgMYzEeLkKp-pA7dRsuMUaDDDlwnyROfvsVvpoiA95faws38K1nkk0wo-yEB8/s1600/biochicaGMO+response+snip.JPG" height="62" width="400" /></a></div>
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As a result, @BioChicaGMO reached out to me and asked me to coauthor a blog for the <a href="http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/" target="_blank">Genetic Literacy Project. </a>We took differing approaches toward the issue of labeling on Non-GMO foods. Last week the blog was posted:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization that provides “<a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/about/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px none; color: #164c9d; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">North America’s only third party verification and labeling for non-GMO (genetically modified organism) food and products</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">You may have seen its seal on various products in supermarkets, particularly at Whole Foods.<a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/product-verification/process/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px none; color: #164c9d; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The organization works with three companies or technical administrators</a> including <a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/2014/08/05/non-gmo-project-expands-verification-capacity/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px none; color: #164c9d; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">SCS Global Services</a> to evaluate if products comply with its standards. Most recently, it has expanded its labeling services to include restaurants and delis.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">The Non-GMO Project claims to verify more than 20,000 products. “We currently have more than 2,200 participating brands, and are receiving an average of 70-80 new verification inquiries every week,” <a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/2014/08/05/non-gmo-project-expands-verification-capacity/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px none; color: #164c9d; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">says</a> Megan Westgate, Executive Director of the Non-GMO Project, was recently <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/046579_non-gmo_project_organic_foods_gmos.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px none; color: #164c9d; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">quoted</a> as saying. The organization claims sales of its verified products tops $7 billion annually.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">For those concerned about consuming GMOs, this voluntary label, together with products that exist under the USDA’s organic label, provides many options. For those who oppose mandatory labeling of GMOs, the label provides an example of how voluntary labeling can work without imposing costs on others.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">However, a seemingly grey area exists when a product is labeled as non-GMO, yet a GMO counterpart does not exist. For example, should an avocado be labeled as non-GMO if GMO avocados don’t exist? What about salt? Crushed tomatoes? A<a href="http://thefarmerslife.com/biotechnology/avoid-gmo-popcorn/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px none; color: #164c9d; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">recent article</a> highlighted that some brands of popcorn are advertised as not containing genetically modified corn when there is no genetically modified corn of the popcorn variety on the market. Some people might argue that such labeling practices are misleading and dishonest; others don’t have a problem with it. This article provides opinions from both perspectives.</span></div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9ead3; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px none; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Labeling as GMO-free is disingenuous – Jennie Schmidt</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">It seems to me to be disingenuous to label foods as “non-GMO” when the counterpart GMO food doesn’t exist. The “Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1966” directs the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission to regulate labeling of foods and consumer commodities to “…to prevent unfair or deceptive packaging and labeling of many household consumer commodities.” I consider “non-GMO” labeling to be deceptive when the equivalent GMO product doesn’t exist in the marketplace. It’s akin to the claim that peanut butter is cholesterol free. Since cholesterol is produced in the liver and peanuts don’t have livers, peanut butter has always been cholesterol free. To advertise it as cholesterol free is deceptive because it wasn’t there to begin with. <a href="http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/08/27/debate-are-non-gmo-labels-deceptive/" target="_blank">Read the rest of the article here</a>.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-14327751298646550582014-08-08T17:57:00.004-04:002014-08-08T17:57:38.362-04:00Food Giveaway! Guess the Pounds of Tomatoes in Our 2014 Harvest!<div>
I'm doing my first give away! The person that guesses the number of <b><u>POUNDS</u></b> of tomatoes we harvest this year (or comes the closest) will win a gift pack of <a href="http://www.furmanos.com/index.asp" target="_blank">Furmano Foods</a> canned tomato products! </div>
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We have 150 acres of "processing" tomatoes this year. That means they are field grown Roma tomatoes that we grow for <a href="http://www.furmanos.com/schmidt-family-farm.asp" target="_blank">Furmano Foods</a> in Pennsylvania. We have been growing tomatoes for Furmano for about 10 years. Its nice to grow for a company whose products are high quality, tasty, and that we enjoy eating!<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5lU9i2RDLIWTR3g77Bin2JUO6BiD2ZINOubsfioMV9uVldAUwbjya6NK5o_PzVcpuRG8RUO35z6B5d-uBL0SrUsZuPE_3Uz1i01xYjltUO6mjpL_yae7H4OfMHo666o_8j8zsZDyf8A/s1600/20140807_161816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5lU9i2RDLIWTR3g77Bin2JUO6BiD2ZINOubsfioMV9uVldAUwbjya6NK5o_PzVcpuRG8RUO35z6B5d-uBL0SrUsZuPE_3Uz1i01xYjltUO6mjpL_yae7H4OfMHo666o_8j8zsZDyf8A/s1600/20140807_161816.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our 2014 tomato fields.</td></tr>
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These are cannery tomatoes that go for grocery items like diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, whole peeled tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce, etc... Canned tomatoes are so versatile in so many recipes, I can't imagine my pantry without them!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2SYisbSMKv1xIuT0Dy98V8FPa5yAaNHeXwmTj9pK0S5ACBRfIrDVGg9_u4Tywxpef1Tp2MwIVZINkWWlpJ2wMqGm4jC93Vcz1ItVRZJiu8J1mjZ8rdJ2n5o2kw0ddGtNXEQJf8vr2vk/s1600/schmidt_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2SYisbSMKv1xIuT0Dy98V8FPa5yAaNHeXwmTj9pK0S5ACBRfIrDVGg9_u4Tywxpef1Tp2MwIVZINkWWlpJ2wMqGm4jC93Vcz1ItVRZJiu8J1mjZ8rdJ2n5o2kw0ddGtNXEQJf8vr2vk/s1600/schmidt_3.png" height="217" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's what the label looks like before they head to the cannery!</td></tr>
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Tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene and provide a good source of vitamins C & A. While they are delicious picked fresh, in season from the field, canned tomatoes are very versatile in many recipes, and are an easy, economical, and nutritious choice. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zS1THr2gUWv8ATCQfEqZmNGoK75w8_28-FS-CGPgsWa3xPsF4wNHL5So8JZzqQwtIKL4YspKRls3lvMUx3tb43ypwQMrPERuaxmWpjW_4ddgKsnbQf2UfNj0SXr43KooZtXvVthWehw/s1600/20140807_161831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zS1THr2gUWv8ATCQfEqZmNGoK75w8_28-FS-CGPgsWa3xPsF4wNHL5So8JZzqQwtIKL4YspKRls3lvMUx3tb43ypwQMrPERuaxmWpjW_4ddgKsnbQf2UfNj0SXr43KooZtXvVthWehw/s1600/20140807_161831.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are machine harvested and loaded onto these trailers then hauled to the cannery and within 24 hours are processed into yummy tomato products!<br /></td></tr>
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So what do you need to do to win this prize? Guess the number of pounds that we will harvest from 150 acres of tomatoes this year. I will give you <u>ONE</u> clue, we are expecting an "above average" crop this year. I won't answer questions like "How many tons do you typically harvest?" but feel free to do some research on that. You can see, we have filled one tractor trailer load above. There are days when we fill 20 tractor trailers. The cannery tells us how many loads they need per day based on who else in the region is also harvesting. </div>
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Rules:</div>
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1. The guess must be posted here in the comments section of the blog.</div>
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2. Family & employees are excluded from the contest (sorry Mom & Ernie).</div>
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3. I will only ship to a US address.</div>
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4. If you are the winner and you are outside of the USA, I will ship it to a friend or family of your choice in the USA or will donate it on your behalf to our local food pantry.</div>
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5. Harvest usually takes about 3 weeks, depending on Mother Nature and how well the equipment runs. Sorry I can't give you an "award" date but let's say by early September I should have all the harvest data and can determine a winner around that time. I will update the timeframe on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Foodie-Farmer/265926840143233" target="_blank"> facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FarmGirlJen" target="_blank">twitter</a> so you know when we are approaching the end of harvest. </div>
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6. I will close the comment section when the last tractor trailer load of tomatoes leaves the farm. No entries will be accepted after than.</div>
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7. That's more rules than I had expected to come up with....</div>
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Now... Post your guess in the comments section here on the blog! The person closest to the number of pounds that we harvest wins! Happy guessing!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-54272551931813971632014-07-31T15:58:00.003-04:002014-07-31T21:25:58.550-04:00Coexistence: Organic & GMO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: left;">I drove to a customer's vineyard yesterday to do some scouting as Japanese beetles have been incessantly pesky this year. As I drove up the back lane it dawned on me that I had the perfect image and topic for a blog, one that I've mentioned in the past, and that is of the coexistence of both biotech and organic crops.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMWW_9XhAB0qIUecuB7Q24Csadoxg3jxzkdPQCIyCJVTfuZL5x1uzqxQZrN2QSG1XGrqyiCCOHtE-Y_YVhza-zUX2yG7V7_jJ7jV0_3wPTXGShURuPKMd1tS0Np5vguJK7tU8I91TSCg/s1600/coexistence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMWW_9XhAB0qIUecuB7Q24Csadoxg3jxzkdPQCIyCJVTfuZL5x1uzqxQZrN2QSG1XGrqyiCCOHtE-Y_YVhza-zUX2yG7V7_jJ7jV0_3wPTXGShURuPKMd1tS0Np5vguJK7tU8I91TSCg/s1600/coexistence.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect example of organic and biotech crop coexistence.<br />
The right is organic corn.<br />
The left is biotech corn.<br />
They cannot "drift" or "contaminate" each other, read on to find out why.</td></tr>
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In the rhetoric of social media, you wouldn't know it, but along the back roads of rural America, biotech and organic crops get along, and so do their farmers (at least the ones I know). I love living and being neighbors in the farmland of rural America. We hear the "noise" of social media, but it doesn't usurp our world. Our world is open, quiet, and peaceful. Neighbors still know each other and wave as they pass by. The polarization of our food and farming systems is on our phones, our iPads, our TVs, our laptops, but not in our fields.<br />
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This farm is not mine as I've written before, we no longer farm organically. It is the farm of a landlord I know who is not a farmer. He leases the farm out to different farmers, and it just so happens that one is certified organic and the other is conventional. You wouldn't know this if you passed by the farm. There's no billboard or signage announcing one or the other. There are no battles or controversies surrounding these fields. There is just peaceful coexistence. I know because I personally know the landlord and the farmers. Just 2 farmers farming the land and trying to make a living doing what they love.<br />
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So why can these 2 corn crops coexist?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAvEMNuRO7cCf2gKCur2vQ_ug2lMIz0kNMffcZ4SkND24hq9EfAHuYgvq3KgueOmQmNE-FAjBO0cBioHlG7c4r-__fZZ8zgGZ6zxLDufoaNac3gBAAPG1igXuYgxbRfCmPcU2YNgP4wc/s1600/biotech1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAvEMNuRO7cCf2gKCur2vQ_ug2lMIz0kNMffcZ4SkND24hq9EfAHuYgvq3KgueOmQmNE-FAjBO0cBioHlG7c4r-__fZZ8zgGZ6zxLDufoaNac3gBAAPG1igXuYgxbRfCmPcU2YNgP4wc/s1600/biotech1.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biotech corn past pollination. </td></tr>
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This biotech corn is fully developed. If you read my "corn sex" (AKA #50shadesoffarming) post on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Foodie-Farmer/265926840143233?ref=hl" target="_blank">Foodie Farmer Facebook </a>page, you are aware of the fact that the way corn has "sex" is by dropping pollen from the tassel at the top of the stalk to the silk which is the hair on the ear of the corn in order to reproduce and form kernals. This biotech corn is way past pollination because the silk has dried up and turned brown. Pollination happens over the course of about 10 days to two weeks given good pollination conditions such as no extreme heat, no excessive rain, etc...<br />
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So you're still wondering why this organic farmer would risk putting his corn next to the biotech farmer right? (Or vice versa as the case may be).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGe8bBN5DFRxqxVKdmvROps8GpjG0HMF1oTbo8DwTIbtsGJG47EfxxyKSZ-u8EES-aINQGAtAYTJavJd4mPAtB5ta0QFARn5q9_2mx-ysEuibCQsKhM2oHMM-3MTnml3zEdfqvb06-RM/s1600/organic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGe8bBN5DFRxqxVKdmvROps8GpjG0HMF1oTbo8DwTIbtsGJG47EfxxyKSZ-u8EES-aINQGAtAYTJavJd4mPAtB5ta0QFARn5q9_2mx-ysEuibCQsKhM2oHMM-3MTnml3zEdfqvb06-RM/s1600/organic2.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organic corn not yet having reached pollination.</td></tr>
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This organic corn is not in pollination stage yet. There are no tassels and there are no ears of corn with silks yet. There is no way for the biotech corn to pollinate this organic corn because 1) the biotech pollen is gone, this corn is well past pollination, it has no "male sperm" so to speak, 2) the organic corn has no ears of corn so no "female" parts by which to receive the "male" pollen. So to be biologically correct, the male pollen just like sperm, has a short life. Once released, it is only viable for <a href="http://ohioline.osu.edu/agf-fact/0128.html" target="_blank">18-24 hours</a>. Pollen is not able to reproduce indefinitely. So once the silks on the ear have dried up, the pollen is pretty much past its ability to contribute to reproduction.<br />
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Given the different stages of growth these 2 fields of corn are in, it is biologically impossible for them to "drift" to one another. That's the management of field planning, something all we farmers do.<br />
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Coexistence is an extremely manageable situation and happens more often than you are lead to believe by the media. We practiced organic, conventional, and biotech farming systems simultaneously for 7 years and continue to do specialty seed production which still requires the same level of management to ensure purity. That's all coexistence is, management and planning.<br />
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So despite what you may hear in the media, know that it is very doable and happens often. We farmers have been managing it well despite those who would lead you to believe otherwise.<br />
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Likewise, when we have specialty grains or seeds, that needs storage, we clean, then we clean, and then we clean some more. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaBKpdHsdgRlfTLMbbl4RaKTgAkaiQdTnJxF6ePdgQEZHRLhL5Us05AwwNfXhvU0tzPq8toyN0505QT_fRN1uf8SOJ-VICClcql4MwZIh_7rQ6lObQRVaCCRaP8B4TDclBeZQWMLTGp8/s1600/2012-11-01_08-04-59_293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaBKpdHsdgRlfTLMbbl4RaKTgAkaiQdTnJxF6ePdgQEZHRLhL5Us05AwwNfXhvU0tzPq8toyN0505QT_fRN1uf8SOJ-VICClcql4MwZIh_7rQ6lObQRVaCCRaP8B4TDclBeZQWMLTGp8/s1600/2012-11-01_08-04-59_293.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We clean this.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91pIh3TOyoeqY3w951EttvynKzZ5rjljTSpSCSiJWXlrrU-Bv9u8RZMuuLzt8SfKkCf8_kP2IIC9M_ZrjiKzjP4mbzZ9G8XJzUXa0trX1rHlsBlWin5I5Q1duXl4Hq4j_mQwZ2h4D5xI/s1600/schmidtloadcorn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91pIh3TOyoeqY3w951EttvynKzZ5rjljTSpSCSiJWXlrrU-Bv9u8RZMuuLzt8SfKkCf8_kP2IIC9M_ZrjiKzjP4mbzZ9G8XJzUXa0trX1rHlsBlWin5I5Q1duXl4Hq4j_mQwZ2h4D5xI/s1600/schmidtloadcorn2.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We clean these.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU288vMEbyQcHwW_QqjihL09SrBctQn8_SkM51bydvngngGuzvk_-Dytz0gE2NobZYSOvnrm0aAzT0ooj_lJuwuqJl52r6Orz4XYNGxo3JkIZG9tcLRPts1tMq8hZ3gz03wBwyecReUUs/s1600/remsberg_12040294029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU288vMEbyQcHwW_QqjihL09SrBctQn8_SkM51bydvngngGuzvk_-Dytz0gE2NobZYSOvnrm0aAzT0ooj_lJuwuqJl52r6Orz4XYNGxo3JkIZG9tcLRPts1tMq8hZ3gz03wBwyecReUUs/s1600/remsberg_12040294029.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we clean these.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We clean what I refer to as our farm "infrastructure", the grain tanks, the grain trailer, the seed carts, the planters, the combine, anything that comes in contact with multiple crops that need to be kept segregated. Again, tedious work but simply just a management tool to allow for coexistence of commodity crops with specialty crops, those that need to be kept segregated from the rest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We recognize that there are pros and cons to all types of farming. There is no "one" best farming system that is without flaw. There is no "one" cookie cutter system that all farmers should universally follow because we all have different soil types and microclimates that impact what and how we grow. But know that we do respect each other, coexist with each other even when we farm with different methods. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We farmers coexist and so do our crops. The world would be a better place if others followed suit.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-83894125540957947632014-06-20T17:04:00.000-04:002014-06-20T17:36:10.766-04:00Sustainable Ag: We're Certified Stewards!Sustainability isn't a hot topic on our family farm, it is a way of life. Recently, our way of life was certified by Maryland inspectors as being a "Certified Agricultural Conservation Steward" under the <a href="http://mascd.net/FSCAP/default.html" target="_blank">Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program</a>. (FSCAP). The program is sponsored by the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, and farmers must meet the <a href="http://mascd.net/FSCAP/Certification%20Standards%20As%20Approved,%205.09.pdf" target="_blank">ACSCS standards</a> in order to gain the status of "Certified Steward".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoTvRq46CBZ6DvpuQ17qRsLCHMGIb_uBvFGpdKeFDRzcF2XDBZS83I-TvXCesS-VIFtxmA5bo8N_S8vrzXrl0KtyocQGCAtIBRTbDApCtP69LMvwcDwahSRSxgZQt0_ye0bcDLcV6LB0/s1600/FSCAP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoTvRq46CBZ6DvpuQ17qRsLCHMGIb_uBvFGpdKeFDRzcF2XDBZS83I-TvXCesS-VIFtxmA5bo8N_S8vrzXrl0KtyocQGCAtIBRTbDApCtP69LMvwcDwahSRSxgZQt0_ye0bcDLcV6LB0/s1600/FSCAP.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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Under the FSCAP program, we voluntarily submit to inspections of both recordkeeping and have all our fields inspected to ensure that not only have we documented the conservation we have put on the ground, but that we maintain and preserve those practices to ensure that excess nutrients and sediment do not leave our farm.<br />
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Going through our mandatory nutrient management plan, the inspectors look for soil, manure, and plant tissue analysis and that what we apply to our plants and soils is what is required by the crop. They look at our approved soil conservation and water quality plan to make sure that all the conservation recommendations were implemented as directed. They make sure our fertilizer receipts match our application records. They make sure we correctly complete and submit to the Maryland Dept of Agriculture the mandatory Annual Implementation Report (AIR) for all fertilizer use.<br />
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Once the records pass inspection, they walk the fields, inspecting the conservation on the ground. These are practices that provide natural resource protection such as buffers around bodies of water seen below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHk_-ZGxjYLz_bePFnfWSRPEHwacf_pTEtMha_cYtG6eI2gEARfStNrXHdB2EoiPAxZ3RGKdODAoIXw5vMT-oRB7roOrEwBqFFscHvt7J_QLYgsUD6zsRDR5LrzUDTM4sSJ9g_ENlNGM/s1600/buffers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHk_-ZGxjYLz_bePFnfWSRPEHwacf_pTEtMha_cYtG6eI2gEARfStNrXHdB2EoiPAxZ3RGKdODAoIXw5vMT-oRB7roOrEwBqFFscHvt7J_QLYgsUD6zsRDR5LrzUDTM4sSJ9g_ENlNGM/s1600/buffers.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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We're required to have a 30 foot buffer but ours is more like 1000 feet from this stream. On the right, you see trees that were planted as part of the <a href="http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=cep" target="_blank">Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program</a> (CREP). This program is a voluntary land retirement program that removes production agriculture from sensitive land such as this one adjacent to the stream. The practice of setting aside land that is sensitive is a very sustainable approach that actually benefits the larger downstream community more directly than it benefits us. In total, we have taken 120 acres of land out of agricultural production over the last 15 years, in addition to the implementation of many other active conservation practices.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLyyJ-bPsqQ90osjP02Tt3x7YGkEyKCUsAK7DKpZgRVtEoqsFjeVUdof4WDn5lMkOULsEVMyJwATGzNuOLCDEJLeKQNfWgq2a0dW354saRvjqJeW5DhQf2gi_WfKaSHcy_Jbrk3tbY78/s1600/DSC_1416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLyyJ-bPsqQ90osjP02Tt3x7YGkEyKCUsAK7DKpZgRVtEoqsFjeVUdof4WDn5lMkOULsEVMyJwATGzNuOLCDEJLeKQNfWgq2a0dW354saRvjqJeW5DhQf2gi_WfKaSHcy_Jbrk3tbY78/s1600/DSC_1416.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cover crops is also another conservation practice we put into place on as many acres as we can every fall. These crops take up any remaining nutrients in the soil left over from the crop we just harvested, and then slowly release those nutrients in the spring as the crop decomposes in the field acting as a sort of green manure. This practice adds to the sustainability of our soils by enhancing the qualities, improving the nutrients and organic matter and overall soil health which is critical to the sustainability of the farm for future generations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wiur8cwqxat8a9tMfIoz4fLRsEF9hOE4eKleqwSaxpd3BXSNHE681toL7ecYkBzQu_WC0O4FMPzhWIWda0qgbyaE3seWrLp-fwbjAMfsO6SHaVxpyNAyK1VIPDHzZ0ihPyMEQPvGaBA/s1600/IMG_20130416_094100_555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wiur8cwqxat8a9tMfIoz4fLRsEF9hOE4eKleqwSaxpd3BXSNHE681toL7ecYkBzQu_WC0O4FMPzhWIWda0qgbyaE3seWrLp-fwbjAMfsO6SHaVxpyNAyK1VIPDHzZ0ihPyMEQPvGaBA/s1600/IMG_20130416_094100_555.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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Precision ag is another sustainable practice that we have employed on our family farm. Using the newest technology allows us to use less fertilizer by reading the chlorophyll content of the plant and the computerized technology in the tractor adjusting the rate of the fertilizer based on the specific crop. This saves us both economic resources and provides an environmental benefit to the larger watershed community around us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T0amiTGkf8l9QLSy_at3gbtkbuQQRqs5H9HzCKhl7snAD7UK-kFOXwtxi_FKn35e8z6uFggNMqFpinchF1AqQBybAlyU8mwYsGk4eG3MTfh0UiAWW_tE0A4uDVnBlB3phUZoZra5DJc/s1600/DSC_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T0amiTGkf8l9QLSy_at3gbtkbuQQRqs5H9HzCKhl7snAD7UK-kFOXwtxi_FKn35e8z6uFggNMqFpinchF1AqQBybAlyU8mwYsGk4eG3MTfh0UiAWW_tE0A4uDVnBlB3phUZoZra5DJc/s1600/DSC_1134.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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Conservation tillage is a big part of our sustainable agricultural practices. We use both no-till and conservation tillage. Above you see Hans getting ready to no-till which means he is seeding a new crop directly into the residue of the previous crop (note the brown corn stalks on top of the soil). No till means we do not plow and therefore do not turn over the soil, exposing it to erosion, sediment and phosphorus loss. Our top soil and its health is our livelihood. We do all that we can to preserve and protect it.<br />
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All human activity has an impact on the environment, agriculture included. Sustainable agriculture is about being responsible to preserve and protect the resources that we have that provide food and fiber for our neighbors, while protecting the soil, water and environment for the now and the future. There is nothing at greater stake than the future sustainability of family farms like mine. Certification in agricultural conservation is striving for the best for our land, the best for our surrounding and downstream communities, and most importantly, the best stewardship for the next generation to operate this family farm.<br />
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Visit our conservation stewardship page at: <a href="http://mascd.net/FSCAP/Schmidt%20Family%20Farms.pdf" target="_blank">FSCAP Schmidt Farms Inc.</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-25702650274506213612014-06-12T20:06:00.004-04:002014-06-12T20:06:54.146-04:00I AM a Corporate Farm!For years now I've been using this family pic during my farming presentations saying "We are a corporate farm and here's our Board of Directors." I was actually being facetious because our farm is a family farm, large yes, but still, what you see below is pretty much what you get (plus a few years). Little did I know that today, I'd discover it wasn't tongue in cheek, it was actually true! We are a "corporate" farm!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ3558Z1Gp-LGbBmjW8p70SgLJEEw7BdZMzIXbB0BXx1m85VP9EUpojPM7QGtmChPx_6aSef3utup38KzHzrspv1qxuLvkPSjGFllIAr3_rqzaaOfiHutR4H4jgmK9q5wnpLhJs13lNY/s1600/remsberg_07114744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ3558Z1Gp-LGbBmjW8p70SgLJEEw7BdZMzIXbB0BXx1m85VP9EUpojPM7QGtmChPx_6aSef3utup38KzHzrspv1qxuLvkPSjGFllIAr3_rqzaaOfiHutR4H4jgmK9q5wnpLhJs13lNY/s1600/remsberg_07114744.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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This pic was taken in the fall of 2007, as one of the Maryland farm families who were inducted into <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2__wDcKxDw&index=6&list=PL2224BFDC73E2DF2E" target="_blank">Maryland's Agriculture Hall of Fame. </a> So the kids now are all either in high school or have graduated. But this is it, the family who operates the family farm... and it happens to be a corporate farm.<br />
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I was researching USDA 2012 Ag Census data for an upcoming webinar I am speaking at on U.S. Agriculture 101. One of the questions I was asked to define was the difference between family farms and corporate farms. As I started looking at the statistics and asking questions of the folks at National Ag Statistics Survey (great guys, very helpful BTW), I was amazed at what I found out!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/" target="_blank">2012 U.S. Agriculture Census</a> data shows: </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1F5Ztq6n26RAi7kM-CxA-wSYWenp8ydsdXTDKILdNryyet62_BC5v47p9so3SkZ0bHJT4HnQl2IIxyA-X2s-dsw1BKqIc1KWNdcxTJDNX3jfuOZkFgHi_e2G_7XUT2eoAzo9SK-usZ4/s1600/familyfarms+2012.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1F5Ztq6n26RAi7kM-CxA-wSYWenp8ydsdXTDKILdNryyet62_BC5v47p9so3SkZ0bHJT4HnQl2IIxyA-X2s-dsw1BKqIc1KWNdcxTJDNX3jfuOZkFgHi_e2G_7XUT2eoAzo9SK-usZ4/s1600/familyfarms+2012.gif" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Source: <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Ag_Atlas_Maps/Operators/Farms_by_Type/12-M117.php" target="_blank">U.S. Ag Census Atlas Maps</a><br />Nearly 87% of farms in the U.S. are family owned, usually a sole proprietor, or husband and wife but<br />with no tax or liability structure for protection<br />(that's scary in this day of age)</span><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5buJUbcd-QMgT7Vbs3zEtNximL6gKH2bN1a4Ah6g6L9UtA9ckuWZBm4wbKZP-oXGVFMfX__V_I9zbxuGXccYNENdxj9j22WwGKBDupiTdUo23xFXqKtgLlwx5joNO_VCm8QrAbmeOzWI/s1600/familyfarmpartnerships+2012.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5buJUbcd-QMgT7Vbs3zEtNximL6gKH2bN1a4Ah6g6L9UtA9ckuWZBm4wbKZP-oXGVFMfX__V_I9zbxuGXccYNENdxj9j22WwGKBDupiTdUo23xFXqKtgLlwx5joNO_VCm8QrAbmeOzWI/s1600/familyfarmpartnerships+2012.gif" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Source: <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Ag_Atlas_Maps/Operators/Farms_by_Type/12-M118.php" target="_blank">U.S. 2012 Ag Census Atlas Map</a><br />Another 7% are owned in family partnerships, but does not include family farms operated by<br />a husband and wife. </span></td></tr>
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That's a total of 95% of U.S farming operations, owned and operated by families.... </div>
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And here's the doozy.....!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZDqKDcfABgpZNX5HVptSGgsNDkzSJGli3cnsflMYJ0dH_Vlw2gCw1LycWHtwTf6eWGyPux9iziGZUTgP5hD5jKXy6evyLh1xK6ZZ-hCHd_IdSa0U8dn0GwTbfPaJbnYMe8FADk1o8xU/s1600/farms+corporate+2012.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZDqKDcfABgpZNX5HVptSGgsNDkzSJGli3cnsflMYJ0dH_Vlw2gCw1LycWHtwTf6eWGyPux9iziGZUTgP5hD5jKXy6evyLh1xK6ZZ-hCHd_IdSa0U8dn0GwTbfPaJbnYMe8FADk1o8xU/s1600/farms+corporate+2012.gif" height="308" width="400" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Ag_Atlas_Maps/Operators/Farms_by_Type/12-M119.php" target="_blank">2012 U.S Ag Census Atlas Maps</a></div>
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The remaining 5% are those horrible "corporate" farms the media is always slamming.... right?</div>
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THOSE are the ones we want to do away with right?</div>
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But wait, there's still more.....</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm one of "THOSE"</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMzb32OfMVf6CtBDa19Nor2rl8_nVJiIRCQODMrqZeiBu_q0ehE8gYu7Y5EH8cL2m1EA28bGtvQhjynZBcBXuckHrx0T84XKPaOXrA4PH1Q6jzDmY6eLopUMEFe7-Z99GeXrSVKotHmU/s1600/corp+farms+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMzb32OfMVf6CtBDa19Nor2rl8_nVJiIRCQODMrqZeiBu_q0ehE8gYu7Y5EH8cL2m1EA28bGtvQhjynZBcBXuckHrx0T84XKPaOXrA4PH1Q6jzDmY6eLopUMEFe7-Z99GeXrSVKotHmU/s1600/corp+farms+2012.JPG" height="75" width="400" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/st99_1_067_067.pdf" target="_blank">U.S. 2012 Ag Census, Table 67</a></div>
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In case that chart is too small, here is the link to the <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/" target="_blank">2012 Ag Census</a>, check it out on Table 67. </div>
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Of the 5% that are defined as "corporate",</div>
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(you know, those "Farmed and Dangerous" farms that Chipotle slams or those big "industrial" farms run by robots and cartoon scarecrows devoid of all ethical behavior, yeah those)</div>
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Corporate farms are defined by USDA as those that are "incorporated under state law". </div>
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So this would be an LLC, an S-Corp, or a C-Corp. </div>
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So Schmidt Farms Inc meets USDA's definition of a corporate farm when all along we thought we were a just a good old, family farm.</div>
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Or maybe there are more of us "good old family farms" than you're being led to believe.</div>
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What the census data tells us is:</div>
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Total U.S Farms: 2,109,303<u></u><u></u></div>
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Family Held Corporations: 95,142<u></u><u></u></div>
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Other than Family Held Corporations: 11,574<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>Percentage of US Farms that are Other than Family Held Corporations: 0.5% </u></b> (11,574/2,109,303)<u></u><u></u></div>
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Percentage of US Farms that are incorporated: 5.1% (95,142+11,574)/2,109,303</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Less than 1/2 of 1 % are non-family held "corporate" farms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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But the small farmer is being squeezed out by "Big Ag" right?</div>
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Hmmmm, let's look....</div>
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The average U.S. farm is 434 acres, that the median between us big guys and the small guys. Except that USDA defines farms based on gross sales, not by size or numbers of acres. Suburbia and urbanization have resulted in pretty obvious loss of farmland when you look at this map. It looks like the small guy is getting the squeeze doesn't it?</div>
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Let's take a closer look:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj2qio1zsYI7mO6vuPYt0kaCdNLYqcsqPyP5Bok9Vxk5LTtW58r1f2h2Fi5djQgtLDJNPDkKCzznJU11deoGOhSxHjn02cBWqmGWfO7PZ7xTHPXmy_3zntpnXDRa092n4_YgcL2mBDkE/s1600/farm+size+by+acres+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj2qio1zsYI7mO6vuPYt0kaCdNLYqcsqPyP5Bok9Vxk5LTtW58r1f2h2Fi5djQgtLDJNPDkKCzznJU11deoGOhSxHjn02cBWqmGWfO7PZ7xTHPXmy_3zntpnXDRa092n4_YgcL2mBDkE/s1600/farm+size+by+acres+2012.JPG" height="337" width="400" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/st99_1_008_008.pdf" target="_blank">U.S. 2012 Ag Census, Table 8</a></div>
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The majority of the acres are held by small farms, the largest segment being farms under 49 acres total.</div>
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Family farms like mine that are over 2000 acres represent only 1.4% of U.S. agriculture. </div>
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More than half of all U.S. Farmers 52.2% reported agriculture was NOT their primary income source:</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Ag_Atlas_Maps/Operators/Principle_Occupation/12-M121.php" target="_blank">2012 U.S. Ag Census Atlas Map</a></div>
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That's a lot of part time farmers. </div>
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But historically, small farms are difficult to cash flow. </div>
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Nearly 57% of all farms have gross sales of less than $10,000. </div>
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That's well below the poverty line so off farm income really isn't option to make ends meet.</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Ag_Atlas_Maps/Economics/Farms_by_Size/12-M009.php" target="_blank">2012 U.S. Ag Census Atlas Maps</a></div>
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So in summary:</div>
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1. The majority of ALL farms incorporated and unincorporated in the U.S. are family owned & operated. Non family, "Corporate" agriculture makes up less than 1/2 of 1%. Tax and liability structure tells you <b><u>nothing </u></b>about the values of that business and how it operates. Let's lose the word "corporate" as a label for the way we look at farms and how they operate. </div>
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2. The majority of U.S. farms are "small" and those farmers rely on other off farm income to earn a living. (I had a friend say they work to support their farming habit). Support your local farmers who do direct sales to consumers and farms like mine who sell wholesale to distributors which you buy at the grocery store.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
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Next time you hear in the media that "big ag" is putting small farms out of business, think again.</div>
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Next time you hear the media say that "corporate" farms are taking over family farms, think again.</div>
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In fact, I'm beginning to wonder why we don't think more for ourselves and pay way less attention to media and its false marketing messages.... we might learn something if we #FactCheck what we hear.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-3061848382204642512014-05-25T08:23:00.000-04:002014-05-25T19:57:06.288-04:00Family Farms: Get Big or Leave HomeLast week I was invited to speak at the Eastern Shore Local Government Exchange on the topic of agricultural diversification. The title of my talk was "Family Farms: Get Big or Leave Home" and actually was equal parts agricultural diversification versus farm succession to the next generation.<br />
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Our family farm is probably one of the most diversified, large farm in the State of Maryland. We grow a variety of grains, seeds, hay, processing vegetables, and of course, winegrapes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAevVKxgMco2Vu0tC2RzMN5IvAgspnJaa8gkFwD3Wt8C1hweUoc0xB2CdJwU5nSif5VBiwS2tGeAHGwAXsGd9UkrX4oxkArpB8z6bFrQoIOlTboauxIlm_C3tfO1KCGoR_Mht5SX-r-0/s1600/SFI+diversity.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAevVKxgMco2Vu0tC2RzMN5IvAgspnJaa8gkFwD3Wt8C1hweUoc0xB2CdJwU5nSif5VBiwS2tGeAHGwAXsGd9UkrX4oxkArpB8z6bFrQoIOlTboauxIlm_C3tfO1KCGoR_Mht5SX-r-0/s1600/SFI+diversity.JPG" height="283" width="400" /></a></div>
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The picture you see here is our "Board of Directors", as we are an incorporated farm, which simply means we have a business structure for tax and liability purposes. The picture is about 7 years old so the four kids are now all teenagers, one in college, the rest in high school.<br />
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Our challenge as a farm family is 2 fold:<br />
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1) How to interest the kids who will be the 4th generation to want to farm.<br />
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2) How to diversify enough that there would be enough work and enough income to support them and their eventual families should all 4 decide to return to the family farm.<br />
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As we as a family have talked about farm succession, we've agreed that the 4 kids (2 are mine, 2 are my brother in laws) need to have at least 2 years of post high school education. That can be college, military, or technical school. They also need to work full time off the farm for 2 years for someone else, not necessarily on a farm, so that they gain an understanding and an appreciation about what employment for someone else is like. Lastly, and most importantly, they have to want to farm. Our family farm is not their fall back position in the event that they cannot find other work. The farm does not have the obligation to employ them simply because they're family. They need to have the skills and interest to return to the farm and the the farm has to need those skills and have the financial wherewithal to provide them with full time employment. Despite our current size and diversity, the farm does not currently have that capacity.<br />
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So back to my presentation title "Go Big or Leave Home". Currently, the farm employs myself, husband, brother in law, parents in law, 1 full time non-family member, and a crew of part time and seasonal workers including the 4 kids. With our current size, structure, and diversification, we do not have full time work or year round work for additional family members. To do so, we need to add more acres to the operation in order to add more work so that we can then, add more employees. We need to "get bigger" to support additional family members on the family farm.<br />
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Family farms are businesses and need to be profitable in order to make a living for the entire family. With multi-generational farms, this includes the oldest living generation to the youngest working-age generation.<br />
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Thus the premise of my presentation title "Get Big or Leave Home", the reality is to take on additional family members, there needs to be work for them to do, and income to support their payroll. Its just the reality of running any business, farm or nonfarm.<br />
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We will always need farmers. Diversification is only one part of the solution. Size plays a major role in the ability of a family farm to support multiple generations, so that the kids have the option of not leaving home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646386271436746120.post-65092016735657577632014-04-08T13:55:00.003-04:002014-04-08T14:23:34.015-04:00The Costs of GMO LabelingThere has been much discussion over whether or not the labeling of "GMO" foods would add to the cost of food production or not. This was one of the supporting arguments for GMO labeling at the legislative hearing at the Maryland House of Delegates Committee on Health and Government Operations during which Doug Gurian-Sherman of the Union of Concerned Scientists and Michael Hansen of the Center for Food Safety, both insisted that labeling costs would be minor at best.<br />
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So does <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2013/10/would-gmo-labeling-jack-food-prices" target="_blank">Mother Jones</a></div>
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So does <a href="http://grist.org/food/would-gmo-labeling-increase-food-prices/" target="_blank">The Grist</a><br />
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Wow, do these scientists and journalists have any understanding of the food supply chain from farm gate to grocery shelf?</div>
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Apparently not, nor does anyone else who thinks that "GMO" labeling won't increase the cost of food.</div>
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Here is my pictorial analysis of the food supply chain from my farm gate:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8R_SQuNgMm0SC8hnl9DVCT9Pnj2vczaTrx3sBBy0a4Z3ZjXYm7WRCbwqMAOdmjeX6k9OQ7UjntZxBeR66G852H1s4teW_bRy6CMHF_bNc-JYyrg20AQ94XqQOEde9F6sy6Q6SwpFg7c/s1600/seed+corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8R_SQuNgMm0SC8hnl9DVCT9Pnj2vczaTrx3sBBy0a4Z3ZjXYm7WRCbwqMAOdmjeX6k9OQ7UjntZxBeR66G852H1s4teW_bRy6CMHF_bNc-JYyrg20AQ94XqQOEde9F6sy6Q6SwpFg7c/s1600/seed+corn.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seed corn is ordered and delivered to farm, then planted in the spring around May.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iO-hRCx2qQXoKm41vbkOJ45GFlwOoegqrwY9S_sIintbMgvuwStxaPQ3PvTsJ-Qk_3DszwsuBGHAauVlkTqkl_MfjVVDZTx91xb7MnqMYWCpWiquCh7neUDVB_KtVot8k3ZraE3kPa0/s1600/corn-stalks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iO-hRCx2qQXoKm41vbkOJ45GFlwOoegqrwY9S_sIintbMgvuwStxaPQ3PvTsJ-Qk_3DszwsuBGHAauVlkTqkl_MfjVVDZTx91xb7MnqMYWCpWiquCh7neUDVB_KtVot8k3ZraE3kPa0/s1600/corn-stalks.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By summer, it looks like this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvJ3YaoZAFIsBu5aFvjDGPyZw93QVNJvxdrsnXRvQqERFTk9S71N72ABNx19a8zDAT_9xsjK1s-GxXJpor5-9-6Jz0lKhAQjxc7mEbHfaD1lP47hy5_WDF7L2JDE4fYcXZOLKBy-7A90/s1600/corn+stalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvJ3YaoZAFIsBu5aFvjDGPyZw93QVNJvxdrsnXRvQqERFTk9S71N72ABNx19a8zDAT_9xsjK1s-GxXJpor5-9-6Jz0lKhAQjxc7mEbHfaD1lP47hy5_WDF7L2JDE4fYcXZOLKBy-7A90/s1600/corn+stalk.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By fall, it looks like this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru1GFJ3P1i0Iita-z0iOvQw4mu9vSSX6fnjh6KohLW4TsNjVtf2xw7MdhJ56P3MsNtpTLqhUUHEEjEYzpxqiXJKzycI0o897fbXhJSwwP4lxb633h0QR1zBzTE7Bw1AbPaRFnvqqPWuw/s1600/9hr+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru1GFJ3P1i0Iita-z0iOvQw4mu9vSSX6fnjh6KohLW4TsNjVtf2xw7MdhJ56P3MsNtpTLqhUUHEEjEYzpxqiXJKzycI0o897fbXhJSwwP4lxb633h0QR1zBzTE7Bw1AbPaRFnvqqPWuw/s1600/9hr+view.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">It gets harvested between September and November.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_-R59m2DKz7Ep6ko9TH1m_Anx75VnsvVdKyW2GWGQkbRZ07vYUxgGaodyOdw5H8zbMHMkpu_-dxt6REMVZdnif4JhHtAIgrNd2hiap-yNJ_aU_vgwhxjvavlYPHP8s0IYp4ojzGmoJ0/s1600/dumping+corn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_-R59m2DKz7Ep6ko9TH1m_Anx75VnsvVdKyW2GWGQkbRZ07vYUxgGaodyOdw5H8zbMHMkpu_-dxt6REMVZdnif4JhHtAIgrNd2hiap-yNJ_aU_vgwhxjvavlYPHP8s0IYp4ojzGmoJ0/s1600/dumping+corn.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Corn is transferred from the combine to a tractor trailer truck.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIsl35RLYkulitWdN0T2wSTcqrPh5PBevyISjRgDVSMFVj4aES2QeowOhQNFemLSSe5edYHwiaInNP5PHbswIW4adPkbmjgYbCnYn_uyKx3yfUij0Ls7WiNzLyPkdz8TkOyzWB_AhRVA/s1600/SFI+truck+and+bins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIsl35RLYkulitWdN0T2wSTcqrPh5PBevyISjRgDVSMFVj4aES2QeowOhQNFemLSSe5edYHwiaInNP5PHbswIW4adPkbmjgYbCnYn_uyKx3yfUij0Ls7WiNzLyPkdz8TkOyzWB_AhRVA/s1600/SFI+truck+and+bins.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The grain is hauled here to our on-farm grain bins for storage.<br />
We have storage for about 50,000 bushels, less than 25% of our total<br />
yields in a normal year for corn, soybeans, wheat and barley, all of which need<br />
to be stored until they're needed by our customers. This includes the specialty seeds we grow<br />
that require segregation from commodity grains.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrKcZQq4sqOIuazXNbmzd2mclXLhWDcKCZAeA7vC8CctVpo_xpY8oeH0WZDmBxEm2DibyKqtlaiiTvXOKeRT-6g191t2MUN-0MUv_hU_xQMwwMhzske5kpTf-lziXHWlxtJNBcPGEICo/s1600/schmidtloadcorn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: start;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrKcZQq4sqOIuazXNbmzd2mclXLhWDcKCZAeA7vC8CctVpo_xpY8oeH0WZDmBxEm2DibyKqtlaiiTvXOKeRT-6g191t2MUN-0MUv_hU_xQMwwMhzske5kpTf-lziXHWlxtJNBcPGEICo/s1600/schmidtloadcorn2.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">When its time to sell, we reload the trucks and haul it to the local grain elevators.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQFH-7JXdLqs5B_NE8E3K2fQpiwhe9WC2H9GzjoXjqAqAQE9r-IbeMa4XpfYT6CZLfCtpy5JviXuRJ1lncME8kG5FCbzoq0IHPHaL326y2oFa0lC_s3N7zocYZt56VC2Qk8Fq3IUIC6A/s1600/RobertsSta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQFH-7JXdLqs5B_NE8E3K2fQpiwhe9WC2H9GzjoXjqAqAQE9r-IbeMa4XpfYT6CZLfCtpy5JviXuRJ1lncME8kG5FCbzoq0IHPHaL326y2oFa0lC_s3N7zocYZt56VC2Qk8Fq3IUIC6A/s1600/RobertsSta.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tractor trailer delivers the corn here</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRQGriUxFi0mqq9r4W5psxLO670KHMrsmCPEj3CJPAYYu47QGFf09tnAEa4jQwQbNs9pnIrCZGYONU0_UxJou0WvLQ77OcAN_ZnwavvcKu3-s1cdUS1052tB-wG4J7_zX2QllaTN8Rp4/s1600/SouthernStates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRQGriUxFi0mqq9r4W5psxLO670KHMrsmCPEj3CJPAYYu47QGFf09tnAEa4jQwQbNs9pnIrCZGYONU0_UxJou0WvLQ77OcAN_ZnwavvcKu3-s1cdUS1052tB-wG4J7_zX2QllaTN8Rp4/s1600/SouthernStates.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or here</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F6SqdlUhL4PebHWrtsr1KyJY3eFATpgJ2tjL1jP7M108S0KRa0A4wwHlvt9pLWFE7fkS3oZ7NeLJlWBEaXDxL73q9Akjm1eGRAKO4N5g3XkEn-BFGFYTELKDNNW0ikfqA4ulTJ5IzII/s1600/PerdueSeaford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F6SqdlUhL4PebHWrtsr1KyJY3eFATpgJ2tjL1jP7M108S0KRa0A4wwHlvt9pLWFE7fkS3oZ7NeLJlWBEaXDxL73q9Akjm1eGRAKO4N5g3XkEn-BFGFYTELKDNNW0ikfqA4ulTJ5IzII/s1600/PerdueSeaford.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or here</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrKcZQq4sqOIuazXNbmzd2mclXLhWDcKCZAeA7vC8CctVpo_xpY8oeH0WZDmBxEm2DibyKqtlaiiTvXOKeRT-6g191t2MUN-0MUv_hU_xQMwwMhzske5kpTf-lziXHWlxtJNBcPGEICo/s1600/schmidtloadcorn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
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And that's just 3 of the local grain elevators. We have several other options depending on who is buying our grain. We and all our farming neighbors deliver to the same elevator and unload grain. This is called "commingling" where our crop is combined with everyone else who delivers to the same elevator and stored together in these large bins, regardless of what variety or trait of corn was grown.<br />
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So where's the cost you ask? Well, every farmer in the region is hauling grain usually around the same time... to the same group of elevators. Hopefully you read my blog on <a href="http://thefoodiefarmer.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-myth-about-seed-choice.html" target="_blank">seed choice</a> last year and realize that all farmers determine their own purchases for seed and we don't all grow the same thing. In fact, we grow 3-4 different varieties of corn ourselves. Why? Because we match the varieties of corn to our soil types. That's called good stewardship and good business practice.<br />
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The food supply chain in the United States relies on a system of commingling, grain delivered to the elevator by farmers throughout the region. <a href="http://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/Ag_Overview/stateOverview.php?state=MARYLAND" target="_blank">Maryland has 2 million acres of farmland</a>, nearly a half million of which grew corn in 2012. In a not very good growing year, Maryland farmers produce 53 million bushels of corn.</div>
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If GMO labeling were to pass, that would require a HUGE addition to both on and off farm storage. Nationally, we're talking billions of dollars in infrastructure needed to segregate grain. What none of these labeling laws is clear about either is how to achieve this segregation? Should it be segregated by trait? by variety? both? The more layers of segregation, the more infrastructure is required and the more the costs escalate. </div>
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Segregation is costly. We know because we do it every year, year in and year out, and have for years. We do it because we get paid a premium for ensuring that the specialty grains and seeds we grow are "identity preserved", very much like the certified organic process, involving higher management, higher tracking, and systems in place to ensure that the grains and seeds are <span style="color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20.591999053955078px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: inherit;">genetically consistent and true to their traits, of highest quality meaning they are uniform in size, shape, color, free of weed seed and contamination. We will have 900 acres of grains and seeds this year that will require some protocol for identity preservation. They will be tested for the presence of GMO and tested to ensure that they are genetically consistent to parent seeds. This requires us to use some of our grain tanks for segregation. It requires us to do more "housekeeping", cleaning equipment, trucks, trailers, planters, harvesters, grain bins, etc... all along the food supply chain to ensure that we have preserved the identity of that crop. It is an inherently more costly system.</span></span></div>
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So what are the costs? Here is my rudimentary analysis from the <a href="http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProdSu/CropProdSu-01-10-2014.pdf" target="_blank">USDA Crop Production 2013 Summary</a>. </div>
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There is <a href="http://www.agweb.com/article/jan._10_grain_stocks_on-_and_off-farm_grain_storage_capacity_NAA_AgWebcom_Editors/" target="_blank">13 billion bushels </a>of on farm storage in the United States.</div>
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There is <a href="http://www.agweb.com/article/jan._10_grain_stocks_on-_and_off-farm_grain_storage_capacity_NAA_AgWebcom_Editors/" target="_blank">10.4 Billion bushels</a> of off farm storage in the United States.</div>
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Last year, <a href="http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProdSu/CropProdSu-01-10-2014.pdf" target="_blank">U.S. Farmers grew</a> the following crops ALL of which require storage:</div>
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<li>13.9 billion bushels of corn</li>
<li>389 million bushels of sorghum</li>
<li>421 million bushels of rice</li>
<li>3.3 billion bushels of soybeans</li>
<li>2.1 billion bushels of wheat</li>
<li>215 million bushels of barley</li>
<li>1 million bushels of oats</li>
<li>7.6 million bushels of rye</li>
<li>18 million bushels of millet</li>
<li>3 million bushels of flax seed</li>
<li>7.8 million bushels of safflower</li>
<li>1 million bushels of canola</li>
<li>65 million bushels of sunflower</li>
<li>38 million bushels of rapeseed and mustard seed</li>
<li>301 million bushels of lentils</li>
<li>937 million bushels of dry peas</li>
<li>250 million bushels of peanuts</li>
<li>1.5 Billion bushels of other dry edible beans including:</li>
<ul><ul>
<li>light red kidney</li>
<li>dark red kidney</li>
<li>Great Northern</li>
<li>baby limas</li>
<li>large limas</li>
<li>pinto beans</li>
<li>small white</li>
<li>navy beans</li>
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So 2013 produced roughly 23.5 billion bushels of 26 different grains and seeds, including those already in some form of identity preservation protocol, and have storage capacity of 23.6 billion bushels... without the extra infrastructure to segregate "GMO" from "nonGMO". To segregate, additional infrastructure would be required along the entire food supply chain from farm gate to grain elevator to processor to manufacturer, in order to separate corn, soybeans, and canola. </div>
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A new grain bin cost approximately $2/bushel to buy and install, so a 50,000 bushel bin will cost $100,000. If we currently have sufficient storage for commingled grains and seeds, what will be the astronomical figure to segregate them by trait? That answer is dependent on how we are going to segregate. In order to have <b><u>true</u></b> traceability, GMO seeds and grains would have to be segregated by trait, so RoundUp ready traited grains would have to be segregated from Bt traited grains, and the stacked or combined traited grains would have to be segregated from those that are just Bt or just RoundUp Ready, and the combinations of traited grains would have to be segregated by the combination or stack of traits in the seeds too, because otherwise, you don't have "truth in labeling" to say which GMO is in the product. </div>
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I mean surely, we need to label it by GMO trait right? because otherwise "we don't know". This is the premise by which the activists say is the problem right? The uncertainty of GMO? We can't commingle traited seeds and grains because then we no longer have <b><u>true</u></b> traceability. Absolute and utter segregation by trait or combination thereof is required to meet the demands of what is being called for in the GMO labeling legislation across the U.S.</div>
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True GMO labeling will require vast capitalization of infrastructure to segregate grains and seeds by trait. (Read $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$).</div>
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And I've only been talking about the costs of grain storage. I can't even begin the fathom the costs that it would take to segregate all along the <b><u>entire</u></b> food supply chain, keeping GMO corn, soybean or canola ingredients segregated by trait from conventional counterparts from the farm to the processor to manufacturer. We're talking billions of dollars in order to maintain the absolute traceability of a certain genetic trait in a seed from farm to final product. </div>
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Those who say GMO labeling won't add to the consumer's grocery bill need to go back to Economics 101 and some basic high school math. </div>
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True traceability in our food supply system will be hugely expensive.</div>
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Its likely that as a nation, we'd never capitalize all that infrastructure to achieve true traceability.</div>
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Which goes to the crux of the matter - this isn't about labeling, as I cited in <a href="http://thefoodiefarmer.blogspot.com/2014/03/i-grow-gmo-not-ashamed-or-embarrassed.html" target="_blank">my last GMO blog</a>, labeling is a means to an end. As noted by many activist groups, the ulterior motive behind labeling is not about a consumer's right to know, it is about banning the technology. </div>
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Say NO to mandatory GMO labeling. Stand for science.</div>
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