Terry Stevenson’s Agricultural Weblog

 In a recent blog of mine discussing seed hybrids and Canadian agriculture, I mentioned that I would be heading to tour the Monsanto Chesterfield Village Research Facility and the Crop Analytic Laboratories in St. Louis, Missouri. I made that trip this week with a number of AGRIS Co-operative crop sales specialists. It is difficult to truly describe the broad scope of research operations underway at Monsanto.

 First I should quantify that I am not an agronomist and therefore not technically proficient in fully understanding all of the research being conducted at Monsanto. That being said, it is obvious that this is a world class research facility. I should also tell you that I was not allowed to bring my camera along during the tour, so unfortunately I have no pictures other than with our group shown above.

 Security is very tight with pre-printed name badges and mandatory sign-in signatures required. I now understand why. Literally millions of dollars have and are being spent on research into seed genetics and breeding of new seed hybrids. The amount Monsanto spends in this area is about $200 million dollars a year. This is more than their three main competitors spend on research combined.

 Both facilities are a hub of activity with scientists and lab personnel in the various stages of conducting seed research. Most of the robotic equipment they use is designed and built in house. Full time designers, millwrights, computer experts and workman are on site. It was explained to us that this substantially cuts down on development time and of course if something breaks down whom better to fix it than the people that actually built it. Many robotic machines that were developed and in use were shown to us and in fact almost all of them have patent protection.

 These scientists are working on various projects including plant DNA and trying to identify specific traits that will help farmers around the world in combating difficult growing conditions such as disease, drought conditions, pests, weeds and improved yields. They even boast their own magnetic resonance imaging unit at a cost of over two million dollars. Scientists are using tools like molecular markers to mine their genetic library. By combining technology like molecular markers with other breeding tools they increase the probability of discovering the best germplasm. They are also able to take any developments they make in one crop and try to apply it to another, saving valuable time and money.   

 The tours were conducted by Monsanto scientists and researchers and I was impressed by their passion and drive that was clearly evident when they spoke. Some were retired and were working part-time because they love their work. Our tour of the Monsanto research facilities in St. Louis was very informative, they were excellent hosts and I look forward to the opportunity to visit them again, if ever given the chance in a few years.

Alvinston area farmer David Ball with Wanstead Farmers   Co-operative crop sales specialist, Mike Parker

Every year new experimental hybrid seed varieties are developed and some are brought to market. These hybrid seeds are often grown in test plots in conjunction with the seed company, the seed dealer and farmers. Often varieties are grown in “side by side” plots to allow for direct comparison. Once these crops are mature enough, usually in early September, plot tours are arranged for farmers and industry people to review the results.

AGRIS Co-operative recently hosted two of these plot tours highlighting the latest in seed hybrids for farmers. During the morning plot tour our AGRIS Co-operative Thamesville team of Nick Zwambag, Marty Osborne and Jeff Meredith featured multiple hybrid seed plots at David Sherman’s farm. Representatives from NK, Dekalb and Mycogen Seeds reviewed each of their plot varieties including growing characteristics of each one.

After the formal plot tours, farmers moved back to the Thamesville branch and shifted their attention to presentations from AGRIS Co-operative general manager, Jim Campbell and the general manager of Agri-Food Laboratories, Dale Cowan. Campbell explained in detail to farmers the unique global market conditions that are at work in the continuing escalation of fertilizer prices. Cowan reviewed and stressed the importance of soil sampling and managing each fields fertility results in order to maximize crop yields and help control input costs.

In the afternoon, the location moved to Essex County for plot tours that were hosted by our AGRIS Co-operative team from Cottam, Chris Snip, Wayne Heffernan, Alex Michinski and Chuck Belanger from our Pointe-aux-Roches branch. The second part of the plot tours saw Jim Campbell and Dale Cowan follow with their respective presentations for farmers at John Sauvé’s farm in Woodslee.

Wanstead Farmers Co-operative followed up the very next day with a plot tour at their Alvinston branch. During that morning plot tour our Wanstead Farmers team of Mike Parker, Jennifer Bryson, Jason Migchels, Roy Searson and Don Lunn featured multiply hybrid seed plots for farmers. Again representatives from NK, Dekalb and Mycogen seeds were in attendance to answer questions and review each of their plot varieties.

 After the formal plot tours, farmers moved back to the Alvinston branch and heard presentations from Phillip Shaw and the general manager of Agri-Food Laboratories, Dale Cowan. Shaw gave farmers a detailed overview why fertilizer prices are rising so dramatically and factors affecting commodity markets. Cowan again for a different audience reviewed and stressed the importance of soil sampling and managing each fields fertility results in order to maximize crop yields and help control input costs.

 These plot tours also demonstrated the friendly co-operation and competition between seed companies whose plots were grown beside each other. Everyone is very respectful of the other’s varieties and farmers interact with all the seed company representatives. Once these test plots are harvested later on in the fall, both AGRIS and Wanstead Farmers Co-operative will publish the final test results for all to review. This data will include such things as yield per acre, test weights, moisture, row width and any special crop protection products that may have been applied. The end result is that the seed companies have an excellent forum in which to showcase their hybrid seed varieties and farmers have an ideal situation in which to see them first hand in the field. This will help them make informed seed purchase decisions during the early winter months and give them a head start developing their plans for the 2009 crop year.