Syngenta Thrive

by

The right stewardship best practices do more than streamline your crop protection to-do list. Following stewardship best practices protects pollinators while preserving long-term farm productivity and overall biodiversity. Farming for pollinators is farming for the long haul.

The BeSure! campaign promotes the safe usage of crop protection products. Through BeSure!, Syngenta offers practical guidance and resources on everything from personal protective equipment to practices that promote biodiversity.

Activating On-Farm Stewardship

The BeSure! campaign breaks stewardship into practical steps that are easy additions to growers’ routines:

  • Follow label directions for appropriate storage, use and disposal practices.
  • Use advanced seed flow lubricants that minimize dust when planting treated seed.
  • Communicate with neighboring beekeepers, and be aware of nearby hives before making an application.
  • Remove and properly dispose of all treated seed. Keep all treated seed out of commodity grain channels.

These simple reminders make a big impact. Following label directions is the most effective way to make sure crop protection products don’t impact pollinators and wildlife that contribute to healthy agricultural systems. The benefits extend beyond your fields by protecting the surrounding environment and the future of farming. After all, honeybees alone pollinate more than 130 fruits and vegetables grown in the U.S.

Collaborating to Make A Difference

alt Slide Image
A monarch in Greensboro, NC in August 2022. Photo by Caydee Savinelli.
alt Slide Image
A monarch in Greensboro, NC in August 2022. Photo by Caydee Savinelli.
alt Slide Image
Monarchs flying in Michoacan, Mexico in January 2025. Photo by Caydee Savinelli.
alt Slide Image
Monarchs in Michoacan, Mexico in January 2025. Photo by Caydee Savinelli.
alt Slide Image
A monarch in Oak Ridge, NC in October 2021. Photo by Caydee Savinelli.

Monarch butterflies are especially valuable to the agricultural landscape. As they travel, they contribute to pollination and biodiversity, supporting the overall health of nearby land. Syngenta recognizes the importance of protecting these pollinators and, through collaborations with conservation partners like Monarch Joint Venture, is actively working on behalf of growers and retailers to support that effort.

“Beyond application practices, there are simple ways growers and their families can contribute to monarch conservation right at home,” says Caydee Savinelli, Ph.D., the U.S. stewardship team and pollinator lead at Syngenta. “Planting a small pollinator garden with milkweed, native plants or diverse flowers can provide habitat and nectar for monarchs. Even a few square feet of habitat can make a difference during migration.”

These practices don’t just benefit pollinators ― they can also directly benefit your farm. Monarch habitats promote biodiversity and sustainability near productive farmlands by:

  • Attracting pollinators
  • Improving soil health and water quality
  • Housing natural predators of crop pests
  • Increasing wildlife diversity

Syngenta also supports larger-scale habitat restoration through its Operation Pollinator program.

“Operation Pollinator is a global Syngenta initiative that helps growers and land managers establish pollinator habitats in non-crop areas like field borders, buffer strips and marginal land,” adds Savinelli. “By planting region-specific wildflower mixes, the program provides essential forage and shelter for native bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects — supporting biodiversity and improving ecosystem health right alongside productive farmland.”

Hear more from Caydee Savinelli about the benefits of pollinators and the campaigns that protect them.

by

Causes of crop stress lurk everywhere. Harsh weather, tough soil conditions and pest pressures steal yield potential throughout the season.

Fortunately, effective crop stress management recommendations abound. Select the right seed. Scout frequently. Apply inputs on time.

Tyler Harp, fungicide technical product lead for Syngenta, highlights another effective crop stress management recommendation with years of data backing it up.

“Make an in-season fungicide application a standard agronomic practice, rather than just a situational decision,” he says. “More than a decade of large-scale research shows that Syngenta’s next-gen fungicides provide value beyond disease control.”

Harp explains that fungicides with ADEPIDYN® and SOLATENOL® technologies both inhibit respiration in pathogens and slow senescence, or leaf browning, in crops.

“We call these our Cleaner and Greener* fungicides,” he says. “Treating row crops with Miravis fungicide brands, including Miravis Neo, Miravis Top and Miravis Ace, as well as Trivapro fungicide, mitigates crop stress and protects yield potential.”

Cleaner: Fighting Disease

According to Harp, “cleaner” refers to keeping crops free of disease, as the active ingredients in these fungicides deliver potent, long-lasting disease control.

As pathogens, biotic or living stressors, attack crops, the active ingredients in Miravis® fungicide products and Trivapro® fungicide interfere with their cell respiration, a critical function. Controlling these pathogens quickly prevents or minimizes disease infections.

Syngenta formulates these fungicides to stay on leaves for several weeks, so as new pathogens move into fields, the crop remains protected. Without disease lesions to interrupt, leaves carry out more photosynthesis.

These fungicides also move through the plant fighting pathogens. Keeping ears, pods and grain heads cleaner protects crop quality and yield.

Greener: Managing Abiotic Stress

Harp says “greener” refers to how these fungicides support healthier, more efficient crops.

He explains that a growing understanding of ADEPIDYN and SOLATENOL technologies reveal how fungicides help crops mitigate abiotic, or environmental, stresses like heat or dry conditions. These active ingredients not only attack pathogens but can also preserve yield potential under stressful conditions.

Late-season environmental stress triggers senescence, natural late-season leaf browning. Delaying senescence with these fungicides keeps leaves greener and capturing light energy longer. In late crop-growth stages, that energy often goes into grain fill. Thus, crops have more time to maximize yield potential.

Transpiration is the process where plants release water vapor from their leaves through pores called stomata. Water also evaporates through open stomata. Plant-health fungicides reduce transpiration and water loss, improving water and nutrient use efficiency.

“For high-yielding ‘racehorse’ corn hybrids that don’t conserve water efficiently, reducing transpiration can make all the difference.,” Harp says. “I’ve observed trials where several days after fungicide application, untreated corn has rolled leaves, while leaves in treated corn remain fully expanded.”

As a result of extended greening and more efficient growth, crops tend to pack on more yield for a more profitable and efficient harvest. Healthy crops grow stronger stalks that lead to less lodging and higher-quality grain.

Profitable: Return on Stress Mitigation Investment

Does managing both biotic and abiotic stress really pay? According to Harp, 80% of the time, the yield increase with fungicide treatments more than pays for the product and application.

“Our data shows that on average, over a five-year period of time, four out of those five treatments will be profitable1,” he says. Because of the amount of stress that is typically seen in the field, plant health fungicides give an average yield increase of 6 to 8 bu/A over untreated in soybeans1 and 15-18 bu/A in corn, regardless of disease pressure2.

It doesn’t stop there. “Of those four profitable years, one of those often sees a hit-it-out-of-the-park yield response of 10 bushels or more in soybeans1 or 20 or more bushels in corn2,” he adds. “A year like that can pay for all five years of your fungicide application.”

It’s about shifting your thinking from one season to year-over-year profitability. “That’s where plant health fungicides can really help you maximize your yield potential — when they’re used as part of standard agronomic practice rather than a situational decision,” says Harp. “Our data over several seasons demonstrates that using these products every year can help increase grower profitability over a three-to-five-year period by consistently providing more yield on the farm.”

Find the value of Syngenta Cleaner & Greener fungicides in your region at BoostYourBushels.com.

*No claim is being made herein about the environmental attributes of any product. References to “cleaner and greener” indicate plant health benefits (e.g., less disease and increased crop efficiency and productivity) from foliar fungicides and the visible color of the plants.

*Product performance assumes disease presence.

1 Data from 475 on-farm grower/strip trials from 2018-2022. Locations: AR(58), KS(23), IN (13), MO (46), NE (47), OH (14), IL (96), IA (74), WI (30), MN (49), SD (24). Application Rates: Miravis Neo or Miravis Top fungicide at 13.7 floz/A applied at R2-R3 soybean.

2 Data from 567 on-farm grower/strip trials from 2018-2023. Locations: MN (142), WI (37), KS (35), NE (10), MO (13), IA (108), IN (16), IL (100), OH (19), SD (63), AR (24). Application Rates: Miravis Neo or Trivapro fungicide at 13.7 floz/A applied at VT – R1 on corn.

by

Sustainability is proving to be more than a buzzword in agriculture, especially for food crop producers. Eighty percent of consumers are in favor of supporting sustainable practices in agriculture, which leads to value chain partners expecting more from their supply chain. Sustainable practices do more than contribute to product marketability. They also support long-term success on the farm and potential cost savings by optimizing resource requirements.

The downside? Understanding where to start can be complicated, and reporting is labor-intensive. That’s why Syngenta developed the Cropwise™ Sustainability app.

What is Cropwise Sustainability?

Cropwise Sustainability helps improve insights to a grower’s productivity without sacrificing efficiency. It enables growers to differentiate themselves in the market, improve their sustainability practices and save time on reporting. It is available as a mobile app and free to download on iOS and Android devices.

How Does Cropwise Sustainability Work?

Growers can review insights on which practices are working and ways they can improve based on the Sustainable Outcomes in Agriculture standard. Recommendations are tailored to their specific operation based on the information they enter during setup. If they’re part of a participating community, growers can view a leadership dashboard comparing their performance to the rest of the community of growers. Value chain partners can similarly view anonymized, aggregated data on their growers and identify areas of improvement to discuss with their suppliers. If growers choose, they can share their info with value chain partners.

Creating reports that are useful for retailers and value chain partners can be time-consuming without the app, but they need information that can help them better understand their various grower customers’ operations. Cropwise Sustainability helps streamline reports for retailers or value chain partners within minutes by using data they’ve already entered when setting up the app.

Initial setup for growers takes an hour, and annual updates only take about 25 minutes. From there, all the app’s key features are available to them.

Cropwise Sustainability Partnerships and Certifications

Cropwise Sustainability has more than one thousand users across the country. Syngenta partners with organizations to bring the app to a wider audience, reinforce data security and provide new features to users.

In 2024, Syngenta partnered with the Potato Sustainability Alliance, a group of growers, supply chain partners, non-profit organizations and advisers working to advance potato sustainability. Thanks to this partnership, just under half of the potato product in America is produced by growers using Cropwise Sustainability.

Cropwise Sustainability and all the tools associated with the Cropwise integrated farm management platform are Ag Data Transparent certified, addressing data security concerns growers may feel about tools that require them to enter proprietary information. Growers can feel confident that they maintain ownership of their data.

The Cool Farm Tool (CFT), a globally recognized carbon quantification tool, is integrated into the app. CFT enables growers to easily measure estimated greenhouse gas emissions on their farm. Growers can pair their CFT results with the Cropwise Sustainability insights and recommendations.

These partnerships empower growers to unlock opportunities for their operations without spending hours behind the computer. Growers are already at the forefront of sustainability. Tools like Cropwise Sustainability help drive that progress forward and help growers tell their sustainability story.

by

When you think about careers in agriculture, what comes to mind first? Most people would say “a farmer!”, but the industry offers many more opportunities on and off the farm.

A survey released by the National 4-H council confirms that awareness is lacking: Only 36% of students surveyed felt they were familiar with diverse careers in agriculture.

The truth is, agriculture is an ever-growing field with a wide variety of job opportunities that positively impact the economy and environment. If you’re an aspiring innovator and changemaker, agriculture might be in your future! Here are some ag careers that you might not have heard of but are likely to spark your interest.

1. Field Development Scientist:

Field development scientists play a critical role in bringing reliable crop protection products to market. A lot of their time is spent with boots on the ground, putting active ingredients or formulations that look promising in the lab to the test in the field. By giving products their first “real world” test, field development scientists make sure they live up to Syngenta standards outside the lab.

2. Plant Breeder

Ever wonder where your favorite new varieties of fruits and vegetables come from? The answer is simple: plant breeding! Plant breeders are geneticists who develop new varieties that are productive and resilient to environmental challenges like drought, pests and climate change. They use molecular technology to develop varieties that don’t compromise yield for disease or stress tolerance. These advances play a vital role in increasing global food security and meeting consumer demands.

3. Agricultural Educators

Agriculture education is in high-demand, with 92% of University of Minnesota graduates finding immediate career placement within the agricultural education profession. Not only is there a growing need for ag education, but students also demonstrate an increasing interest in the environment, climate and food systems. Agricultural educators bring ag into classrooms across the country, from big-city schools to rural neighborhoods.

4. Plant Biochemist

Similar to plant breeders, plant biochemists play a huge role in improving nutrition and addressing food security challenges. They study chemical reactions in plants to improve quality and overall nutritional value. They can also help improve crop health and growth by studying how changes in internal processes affect photosynthesis and nutrient uptake.

5. Disease Trait Scientist

Crop diseases can directly affect our health and the food we depend on. Disease trait scientists study how certain diseases affect plants and, through various screening trials,  how different seed varieties can help provide resistance against those diseases. By using genomic technology, these professionals can help develop more resistant seed varieties.

6. Sustainability Specialist

Sustainability specialists help companies follow sustainable practices related to waste management, greenhouse gas emissions practices and more. Sustainability specialists often make recommendations to the stakeholders at their companies for how to handle certain processes efficiently and safely, keeping our environment clean and healthy.

7. Agriculture Lawyer

Agriculture lawyers do exactly what you would expect them to do: They advise on legal issues that affect agriculture industries. But there are more applications to their role than you might realize. Agricultural lawyers cover everything from farm policies, land use and zoning. Often, they help growers and retailers obtain certain licenses and permits.

8. Demand Planner

A demand planner’s job is to make sure the supply chains can keep up with market demands. In agriculture, this can look like forecasting what crop protection inputs growers and retailers need and supporting new product development and launches. By getting growers what they need, demand planners help secure our food supply.

9. Food Scientist

Which fruits and vegetables are the most nutritious? How can we make processing safer and more efficient? How can we find new ways to add to our food supply? Food scientists answer these questions and more by studying everything from ingredients to production processes. This may not seem like your typical ag career, but food scientists rely on a strong understanding of agriculture. And you can find them working anywhere from the lab to the field.

10. Aerial Applicator

Aerial applicators take pest management to new heights — literally! Aerial applicators take to the skies to apply pesticides more quickly and precisely than your typical ground rig. Modern technology means that aerial applicators are constantly optimizing their applications and making them more accessible to more farmers. Many pilots take pride in their work keeping crops healthy.

by

Megan Lawrence
Megan Lawrence is a beginning farmer and agronomy resource representative at Syngenta.

For many growers, farming is in their blood and a part of their earliest memories. Stepping into a role on the farm often means working alongside or taking over for family, who have stewarded the land for generations.

For newcomers to agriculture, the journey looks a little different. Getting started is intimidating. But passion, strategy and community can make all the difference.

That’s the case for Megan Lawrence, agronomy resource representative for technical services at Syngenta and a first-generation farmer. We recently talked to Lawrence about how she has been able to break ground on her new operation and what advice she has for aspiring growers.

Q: How did you first connect with agriculture?

A: Though I wasn’t raised on a farm, I grew up in a rural agricultural community in Kentucky. My early experiences of helping friends on their family farms, setting tobacco and baling hay, along with participating in FFA during high school sparked my passion for agriculture. Witnessing both the successes and struggles of farm families inspired me to pursue a career in this field before I set out to start my own operation.

Q: Where did your education and career take you before starting your farm?

A: My lifelong interest in plants and my love of working outdoors naturally led me to agriculture. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural science, majoring in agronomy, from Murray State University in my home state. During my master’s program, I started working at Ag Connections, a Syngenta subsidiary. That marked the start of my journey with the company.

Since then, I’ve held various roles including AgriEdge® specialist in Kansas and technical lead in the Digital Ag Solutions research and development group. Currently, I’m a technical agronomy resource representative on the technical services team, covering the South and East Coast. Now, I live in Kentucky again, where I have family roots.

Q: What motivated you to not only work in agriculture, but start your own operation?

A: I’m fascinated by the intricate factors that affect how farmers feed the world, particularly plant diseases and insects. The challenge of applying modern knowledge and technology to agriculture excites me.

Moreover, I feel a responsibility to educate the public about food production and dispel misconceptions about agricultural technologies. I believe farmers are uniquely positioned to share this message and demonstrate responsible land stewardship.

Q: What is your operation like today?

A: My operation is in its early stages since I’ve recently returned home. I’m starting with an acre of pumpkins, both for decoration and culinary use, for fall sales at the local farmers market. We’re also planning to plant flowers like peonies, tulips and ranunculus for future farmers market sales. Long-term plans include expanding into produce and livestock as resources allow.

Q: What was it like to start your own farm?

A: The process has been incredibly fulfilling. From physical labor to problem-solving and planning, every aspect has been a learning experience. I’m doing many things manually as I start up, which has deepened my appreciation for the work involved in farming.

Starting from scratch on long-uncultivated land has been both challenging and rewarding. I’ve learned to navigate the unpredictability of weather, balance perfectionism with practicality, and accept that many factors are beyond my control. This hands-on experience has been invaluable for my work as well, providing insights that will benefit both my customers and Syngenta.

Q: What advice do you have for folks who want to get into farming?

A: Ask questions! Reach out to other farmers and utilize available resources. There are so many resources available for those who want to get started. Don’t be afraid to look for them.

Have a learner’s mentality. Be prepared for setbacks and expect a steep learning curve. This is something that’s been difficult for me, but I remind myself that every failure is another step toward success. And finding out what you don’t want to do is just as important as learning what you do want to do.

Start small and scale up gradually. It will feel like you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Breathe and know that it’s normal! Once you’re ready to scale up, make a business plan before expanding.

Prioritize soil health from the beginning. It might seem counterintuitive to leave a field out of production for an extra year in the beginning, but taking the time to remedy the soil will serve you well in the long term.

Don’t do it alone. Network with other farmers and join agricultural groups for education and community. With that, don’t be afraid to seek multiple opinions from trusted connections you make.

Document your learnings and data for future reference. Write down the good and the bad, refer to it next year, and share it with your friends, family and community.

Consider techniques to extend your growing season. For crops like pumpkins and other vegetables, row covers or high tunnels can help accomplish this.

Practice integrated pest management from the start. Even small operations can and should pursue this route. Not only will you have peace of mind, it’ll also be much easier to adopt practices on a larger scale once you’ve set the foundation.

Most importantly, continue to educate yourself. The industry is constantly evolving, but so are we!

Q: What do you wish you knew before you started farming?

Don’t underestimate the importance of business planning and financial management. That includes understanding risks, such as inclement weather, and other factors like regulations and paperwork involved in farming and farmers markets.

Fortunately, I’ve also learned the value of community support and networking. A strong network does more than help you navigate risks and regulations. It can also help you continue your education and keep your chin up on tough days.

I also encourage potential new farmers to ask the following questions before getting started:

  1. Do I know and understand the local farming regulations?
  2. What livestock or crops suit my specific conditions?
  3. What regional pests and diseases do I need to consider?
  4. Are there local mentorship programs or Extension services?
  5. Do I have the startup capital I need?
  6. How can I diversify my revenue streams?
  7. What marketing channels are available?
  8. Can I create a sustainable crop rotation plan?
  9. Can I access the equipment I need to get started?
  10. How should I plan for off-season work or income?

Beginning farmers need to get used to expecting the unexpected, but asking the hard questions up front helps newcomers navigate challenges and enjoy the journey.

by

Farmers are persistent, staying focused on tough tasks until they are finished. Planting as much as possible before a downpour. Customizing complex fungicide spray programs to protect high-value crops. Harvesting on processing plant schedules. Growers are constantly adapting to new challenges.

They deserve crop protection products that do the same.

Syngenta’s ADEPIDYN® technology, containing active ingredient pydiflumetofen, mimics that tenacity when it comes to disease control.

“ADEPIDYN technology provides excellent disease control across a wide spectrum of crops and diseases,” says Katie Neufeld, fungicide technical product lead for Syngenta focusing on specialty and vegetable crops. “It’s amazing to have an active ingredient be so effective across so many different pathogens.”

She credits its development to a rigorous discovery process, during which Syngenta screens hundreds of thousands of potential new active ingredients.

“For fungicide development, our team tests potential active ingredients on 13 key pathogens,” she explains.

When they see significant activity, active ingredients move forward in the process. For the most promising options, chemical engineers optimize the molecular structure to improve activity against the intended disease targets. As new active ingredients progress from the lab to the greenhouse and eventually the field, Syngenta scientists become intimately familiar with how they work.

“ADEPIDYN technology is engineered so that each segment of the chemical structure helps it bond tightly to target enzymes in pathogens,” Neufeld says. “That gives it unique strength.”

Potency and Broad-Spectrum Activity

ADEPIDYN technology is a succinate-dehydrogenase inhibitor or SDHI fungicide, meaning it interrupts respiration in many disease-causing pathogens. It actively works against mycelial growth, the root-like structure of a fungus, by binding tightly to a common cellular process responsible for respiration.

“Because of the intrinsic activity, it only takes a small amount of the active ingredient to effectively control disease,” Neufeld says.

This characteristic makes ADEPIDYN technology a valuable tool to defend against pathogens in a wide range of crops. It protects peanuts from leaf spots, potatoes from early blight and white mold, almonds from brown rot and much, much more.

Persistence: Long-Lasting Control

Its molecular structure also causes ADEPDIYN technology to bind very tightly to the waxy layer within plant leaves. That bond allows ADEPIDYN technology to remain stable within the leaf for a longer period of time to protect crops against disease pressure for extended periods of time.

“For example, we have seen unprecedented control of leaf spots in peanuts that lasts up to 28 days,” Neufeld says. “That is notable in a crop that typically receives fungicide treatment in 14-day intervals.”

The ability to bind tightly to both plant leaves and pathogens gives farmers and agronomists more flexibility in planning spray programs for high-value crops.

ADEPIDYN technology powers Miravis® brand fungicides from Syngenta:

  • In addition to leaf spots in peanuts, Miravis fungicide protects against powdery mildew, Alternaria diseases and various rots in fruit trees.
  • For tree nuts, Miravis Duo fungicide adds a curative treatment to the preventive action of ADEPIDYN technology.
  • Miravis Prime fungicide defends against yield-robbing diseases in potatoes, vegetables, strawberries and more.

“Local Syngenta agronomic service representatives gladly help growers customize their fungicide spray programs to incorporate Miravis products,” Neufeld says. “Our team understands the flexibility of these fungicides, creating plans that ensure farmers benefit from the advantages of technology.”

In some cases, growers may even be able to reduce the number of passes in a spray program. Use of a Miravis product could also be scheduled prior to periods when other farm work or weather conditions make it tough to ensure timely application of the next fungicide spray.

ADEPIDYN technology sticks tightly to pathogens and plants, protecting against diseases with a tenacity growers can rely on.

by

As part of its sustainability initiatives, Syngenta provides support to grower- and conservation-focused organizations, creating partnerships that amplify farmer-led projects and drive the growth of regenerative agriculture across the United States.

“We’ve seen from a sustainability standpoint that projects started by the farmers themselves have more longevity and get better buy-in,” says Liz Hunt, head of North America sustainability at Syngenta. “Farmer-led programs have a better chance of succeeding long term.”

Trent Wimmer, sustainable solutions key account manager at Syngenta, agrees.

“When local growers know their neighbors and understand the agronomic pressures they’re feeling, the likelihood of success to address those pressures goes way up when they’re led by their peers,” he says.

The company also looks for organizations with direct funding or learning opportunities at the field level, Hunt says, and that can provide insights for improving programs and meeting Syngenta sustainability goals.

Sand County Foundation: Developing Farmer-led Groups

One of the organizations Syngenta partners with is the Sand County Foundation (SCF) in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1965, the national nonprofit takes its name and vision from the 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold, who is often referred to as the father of modern conservation. Sand County Foundation partners with self-initiated farmer groups to facilitate peer-to-peer education on regenerative ag practices. Currently, Sand County Foundation is the lead partner for a multimillion-dollar U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program project to develop and fund farmer-led groups.

Heidi Peterson, vice president of agricultural research and conservation at Sand County Foundation, says Syngenta supported SCF’s grant proposal by covering costs for time and resources to develop the application and recruit collaborators.

“The grant from Syngenta supported six months of planning and coordinating,” she says. “It was huge to have that support, to show there was industry interest and get the ball rolling toward conservation progress.”

alt Slide Image
A Sand County Foundation event brings growers together for peer-to-peer education.
alt Slide Image
Sand County Foundation helped seed over 8,500 acres of cover crops in Iowa.

Craig Ficenec, senior director of agricultural conservation at Sand County Foundation, says one benefit of the grant is the opportunity to streamline processes for growers to participate in conservation projects without taking time away from their other work.

“We can do clever things like not making each farmer submit an application for drone-seeding of cover crops then wait a year to get funded,” he says. “We can just hire pilots, buy bulk seed, have the farmers sign up and get cover crops custom applied while they’re busy harvesting.”

In 2024, Sand County Foundation partnered with 75 Iowa farmers in Dubuque County Watersheds to seed 8,500 acres of cover crops via drone technology; more applications are expected in 2025.

American Farmland Trust: Saving Farmland

American Farmland Trust (AFT) is on a mission to “save farmland by the acre and by the inch.” The group was founded in 1980 to address concerns about losing farmland to non-farm development. But the goal has since evolved, according to Jean Brokish, Midwest deputy director of AFT.

“Over time, the mission has expanded to think about how we’re managing the farmland so we’re not losing it to erosion. We’re engaging with farmers to protect agriculture’s very foundation: the soil, water and nutrients needed for healthy crops,” she says.

When working with farmers to advance regenerative practices, Brokish says AFT often takes a train-the-trainer approach.

“A lot of our work is about training farmer-leaders who can then share their expertise and mentor other farmers, or helping ag retailers and educators identify ways they could encourage growers to think more strategically about regenerative agriculture,” Brokish says. “Not every regenerative practice is going to fit on every farm, but every farm can find a regenerative practice that can fit.”

alt Slide Image
AFT regularly hosts on-farm field days and farm tours to highlight regenerative agriculture practices like this event in Livingston County IL.
alt Slide Image
Planting soybeans into a living cereal rye cover crop is an advanced regenerative ag practice and one that helps build soil health.
alt Slide Image
Planting native species in field borders is a great way to integrate pollinator habitat on farms in Illinois.

Syngenta recently partnered with AFT and 50 growers to plant 500 acres of pollinator habitat to increase species diversity in the Midwest, primarily Illinois and Wisconsin.

“We were interested in that because obviously pollinator habitat is beneficial for the environment, but it also helps address some of those soil health and water quality issues that are the core of what we’re doing,” Brokish says, noting that there could be a demonstration field day once the habitats are established.

“We thought we might have a hard time finding 500 acres, but it was quite the opposite,” she says. “There’s a lot of interest in this practice.”

Trust In Food: Building Ag Resilience

The mission of Trust in Food, a social purpose initiative of Farm Journal, is to “accelerate the transition toward a more resilient ag system across the U.S.” Trust In Food works to bring value chain organizations to the table as private partners to lead its efforts through change programs America’s Conservation Ag Movement and Trust in Beef.

Our partnership programs bring together the whole agriculture value chain, from the farm gate to innovations and solutions providers so that we can work together to build a stronger, more resilient future for American farm families,” Jamie Sears Rawlings, director of influence engagement at Trust in Food says. “Through this work, we take a farmer-led approach by elevating producers who show how, every day, they are striving to make their operations more profitable and efficient for the future.”

Practicing producers — known as conservation stewards — host local farmer-to-farmer learning events that focus on conservation practices like soil health, innovation technology and marketability.

A group in a field at a Trust in Food Field Day.
Trust in Food hosts farmer-to-farmer learning events focused on conservation practices.

“Our partners are right alongside us at these field events, giving them the opportunity to showcase their innovations or solutions that meet the everyday issues that farmers face,” Sears Rawlings notes.

“Whether they’re innovation leaders in implementation like Ducks Unlimited, or leaders in bringing tools to the market like Syngenta, those companies are available to growers when they’re ready to take that next step,” Sears Rawlings says.

It’s that access to information that makes Trust In Food important to modern ag, Sears Rawlings says.

“Agriculture is evolving more rapidly now than ever in its history, and farmers need to be able to keep up with that to manage their operations,” she says. “They need information they can trust.”

by

You take great care of your crops, but are you paying enough attention to your own health? Between spending long days outdoors, handling heavy machinery and chemicals, and stressing over market volatility, you go through a lot each season, which can add up. Here are a few tips on keeping your body and mind healthy in the long run.

Maintain Proper Nutrition and Hydration

Just like your crops, you need the right balance of nutrients and hydration in your diet to keep your body functioning at peak performance.

  • Consume enough protein and grains to maintain stamina and muscle repair.
  • Check your Vitamin D levels and take supplements if needed.
  • Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
  • Consume 8-10 glasses of water daily ― more if you’re spending long hours outside. Keep a water bottle handy and take water breaks to stay hydrated while out in the field.

Take Care of Muscles and Joints

Joints and muscle mass can deteriorate over time as a natural part of aging. Injuries that happen on the job can set you back or have you scrambling to find extra help in the field. Take care of your body today so it can be strong tomorrow.

  • Always use proper lifting techniques and ergonomically designed tools to protect your back and knees.
  • Adjust work practices to avoid poor posture or overuse of specific muscle groups.
  • Practice strength training exercises like calisthenics, yoga or weightlifting when doing a lot of desk work.

Protect Your Skin From UV Rays

The “farmer’s tan” is a source of pride for many, but sun exposure can accelerate aging and increase your risk of skin cancer.

  • Wear protective clothing like long-sleeved shirts and wide-brimmed hats. There are so many options for clothing specifically designed to protect from UV rays, which is a great backup for when sunscreen isn’t available.
  • Apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 to any exposed skin. Pay special attention to often forgotten areas, like your ears, lips and back of the neck.

Prevent Injuries While Working

About half of all injuries are the result of bad judgment, hurrying through tasks,  exhaustion and not paying close enough attention. Prevent injuries — for yourself, your workers and your family — by taking the extra time to prepare for safety.

  • Stay alert and don’t rush.
  • Make sure you’re wearing protective equipment and clothing. Some examples include high-quality earplugs or earmuffs, close-toed shoes, and tighter-fit clothing to prevent your sleeves from getting caught in machinery.
  • Perform regular maintenance on equipment to prevent malfunctions.
  • Always follow the guidelines provided when handling equipment and chemicals, including personal protective equipment (PPE).

Take Time for Mental Health

Farming is tough on the mind, too. You’re working long, irregular hours that can make it difficult to find time for yourself or your loved ones. High-stress situations are common, especially when things like weather are out of your control.

  • Keep tabs on your mental state and look out for signs of stress such as tension headaches, irritability and anxiety.
  • Build a strong network of friends, family, and fellow farmers and ag professionals.
  • Practice mindfulness by setting aside time daily to relax, meditate or engage in mindful breathing, a relaxation technique that involves focusing on inhaling and exhaling without trying to control or change the breath.

Seek professional help, especially if stress or anxiety becomes overwhelming.

by

Don’t underestimate citrus leafminer. They may be small, but they can cause significant damage to citrus groves in key growing regions if not detected and managed early. They spread rapidly, with infestation rates reaching 90% within its first year of being observed in Florida in 1993.

Identify Citrus Leafminer Early

How do you know if you have a citrus leafminer infestation? Simply put, these pests don’t hide their trail. During the larval stage, citrus leafminers feed on the flush foliage of citrus leaves. As they grow, they create noticeable asymmetrical tunnels or “mines” along the leaf surface. Their distinctive tunneling makes them easy to identify compared to other common citrus pests.

Curled and distorted leaves caused by citrus leafminer damage.
Curled and distorted leaves caused by citrus leafminer can impact tree growth, especially in younger trees.

Leafminer damage causes leaves to curl and distort, which can affect tree growth. Younger trees are especially vulnerable, but even mature citrus trees can suffer if infestations get out of control. Over time, this damage weakens trees and reduces fruit quality, making it harder for growers to produce a healthy crop.

Prepare for Environmental Challenges

While citrus leafminer is not typically a primary threat, shifting environmental conditions like hurricanes in Florida and erratic weather patterns in California have opened the door for increased populations and infestations, testing the citrus industry’s resilience.

The increase in moisture and humidity provides an ideal environment for citrus leafminer. Once these tiny insects invade and damage groves, the trees become more vulnerable to diseases, like citrus canker. Effective management strategies can help growers mitigate this risk and reduce the overall impact on their crops.

Use Targeted Solutions for Citrus Leafminer

The good news? Citrus growers have options to keep this pest in check. Researchers have linked cooler temperatures with lower populations of citrus leafminer, making early spring the ideal time to come up with a management plan.

One of the best ways to manage citrus pests is to regularly scout trees for signs of damage. Using natural predators — like parasitic wasps or lacewings — can help keep populations down. In more serious cases, targeted insecticide sprays may be needed.

Insecticides with multiple active ingredients and strong residual control are ideal. Minecto® Pro manages populations of citrus leafminer, Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and other damaging citrus insect pests. By combining the strength of two active ingredients into a convenient premix formulation, Minecto Pro offers extended residual control of multiple pests with overlapping occurrence windows.

by

Farming is a risky business with many factors that are beyond growers’ control. Lex Kassel, a sixth-generation farmer from Emmetsburg, Iowa, knows this all too well. “The corn and soybean markets are so volatile, and that’s something that, as a farmer, I can only control so much,” he says. “The name of the game is mitigating risk and trying to make yourself more profitable.” That’s why Kassel decided to participate in the 2023 pilot year of the Cropwise™ Commodity Pro offer.

Cropwise Commodity Pro helps growers reduce the risk of a volatile market by providing up to 15 percent cash back in down markets. Enrollment is free to growers in the Midwest and South with the purchase of a qualifying Syngenta premium corn or soybean crop protection and/or seeds product. This offer aims to give growers confidence to focus on agronomics and crop yield potential instead of managing market risk.

Ryan Peterson, owner and President of R&M Brothers in Pocahontas County, Iowa, also participated in the pilot offer. “We decided to participate because it seemed like a really good tool that we could use to mitigate commodity risk in the latter part of the season,” he says.

Growers will be locked into the commodity price for corn and/or soy by late July based on their qualifying purchases. The locked-in price in July is compared to the late-season price come October to determine cash back amounts.

During the 2024 season:

  • Syngenta paid more than $1.5 million in cash back, with the average grower receiving around $6,000.
  • 250+ growers were enrolled in the Cropwise Commodity Pro offer, covering nearly 650,000 acres.

Kassel is glad he participated in the pilot year. “I really enjoyed the extra layer of protection and comfort when it came to making commodity decisions. It’s something you don’t need when times are good, but when times aren’t so good, it helps to have as many people as you can in your corner looking out for you.”

To learn more about the offer and inquire about enrolling, talk to your Syngenta representative.