Mobile Technology Gives Look At Ag Innovations
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
The Unit will be at Gilsinger Implement Inc. John Deere dealership, Leesburg, until Thursday evening.
The exhibit is sponsored by seed company Monsanto Co. Free tours are available to the public and area farmers from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The MTU arrived in Leesburg Tuesday. Ag educators guide tours through the unit, which includes video presentations and interactive displays that demonstrate breeding and biotechnology innovations designed to produce new, higher-performing products for farmers. The exhibit also includes a display that shows the steps in producing ethanol.
Monsanto public relations specialist Rachel Nivens said the company spends about $2 million per day on research. The results are used to develop seeds with higher crop yield, better disease resistance, stronger genetic traits and more nutrition value.
During a tour Tuesday, Monsanto agriculture educator Kathy Sehnert described how researchers are working to develop soybeans which can be used to produce oil with omega-3, a fatty acid traditionally found in fish which helps fight cardiovascular disease. Soy oil is widely used for cooking in America. Omega-3 comes from the algae fish eat, and, Sehnert said, through biotechnology, algae genes can be extracted and inserted into soy tissue. The result is a cooking oil that is beneficial instead of harmful to the consumer's health.
"We're just reusing mother nature to improve nature," Sehnert said.
Local farmer Everett Tom, Leesburg, toured the MTU Tuesday. Tom will turn 80 next week and said he has been farming his whole life. During that time, Tom said he's seen the effects of technological advances in agriculture.
"How much more food we can raise and how much better for the environment farming can be; those are the two biggest things," Tom said. "We used to be happy with 60 or 70 bushels per acre, now, I hear about some getting close to 300."
Greg Rowland, Claypool, works at Tom Farms, Leesburg.
"All of it was really interesting because that's what we do every day," Rowland said. "More yields, more bushels, that's what we're after."
Tom Walberg, Monsanto account manager for northeast Indiana, said increased production is a major focus for his company. "As population increases and as land decreases, we have to be more productive," Walberg said.
The MTU began its tour of the country in July. Before that, farmers had to travel to St. Louis, Mo., to tour Monsanto's research facility for a look at the innovations in process.
Mark Eads, Leesburg, said the MTU provides a good opportunity for local farmers.
"I just think it's great that they're bringing it to the countryside so guys who don't have time to go down to St. Louis and tour the facility," Eads said.
The dealership is at 6287 N. Ind. 15.[[In-content Ad]]
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The Unit will be at Gilsinger Implement Inc. John Deere dealership, Leesburg, until Thursday evening.
The exhibit is sponsored by seed company Monsanto Co. Free tours are available to the public and area farmers from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The MTU arrived in Leesburg Tuesday. Ag educators guide tours through the unit, which includes video presentations and interactive displays that demonstrate breeding and biotechnology innovations designed to produce new, higher-performing products for farmers. The exhibit also includes a display that shows the steps in producing ethanol.
Monsanto public relations specialist Rachel Nivens said the company spends about $2 million per day on research. The results are used to develop seeds with higher crop yield, better disease resistance, stronger genetic traits and more nutrition value.
During a tour Tuesday, Monsanto agriculture educator Kathy Sehnert described how researchers are working to develop soybeans which can be used to produce oil with omega-3, a fatty acid traditionally found in fish which helps fight cardiovascular disease. Soy oil is widely used for cooking in America. Omega-3 comes from the algae fish eat, and, Sehnert said, through biotechnology, algae genes can be extracted and inserted into soy tissue. The result is a cooking oil that is beneficial instead of harmful to the consumer's health.
"We're just reusing mother nature to improve nature," Sehnert said.
Local farmer Everett Tom, Leesburg, toured the MTU Tuesday. Tom will turn 80 next week and said he has been farming his whole life. During that time, Tom said he's seen the effects of technological advances in agriculture.
"How much more food we can raise and how much better for the environment farming can be; those are the two biggest things," Tom said. "We used to be happy with 60 or 70 bushels per acre, now, I hear about some getting close to 300."
Greg Rowland, Claypool, works at Tom Farms, Leesburg.
"All of it was really interesting because that's what we do every day," Rowland said. "More yields, more bushels, that's what we're after."
Tom Walberg, Monsanto account manager for northeast Indiana, said increased production is a major focus for his company. "As population increases and as land decreases, we have to be more productive," Walberg said.
The MTU began its tour of the country in July. Before that, farmers had to travel to St. Louis, Mo., to tour Monsanto's research facility for a look at the innovations in process.
Mark Eads, Leesburg, said the MTU provides a good opportunity for local farmers.
"I just think it's great that they're bringing it to the countryside so guys who don't have time to go down to St. Louis and tour the facility," Eads said.
The dealership is at 6287 N. Ind. 15.[[In-content Ad]]
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