Syngenta Thrive

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As harvest wraps up, now is a good time to review disease pressure in your crop over the season. Some of the most damaging early-season pathogens in pulse crops are Pythium, the pathogen most commonly responsible for seedling blight and root rot. Many species of Pythium in the U.S. can stunt roots and impact plant stands.

Pythium damage in pulse crops can begin as early as germination. Infected fields often have indented, circular patches and uneven plant stands. Belowground, Pythium infections cause discolored roots that appear water-soaked.

Plants affected by Pythium are more susceptible to other diseases, so by the time it takes hold, it is often too late to manage. Pythium alone can cause yield losses up to 84% in pulse crops. Therefore, prevention is critical.

Several management practices can reduce Pythium’s impact in your fields:

  • Sanitize: Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces and tools, as Pythium is known to survive in dust particles, planting mediums and soil particles. Additionally, be sure to remove and destroy any infected plant debris.
  • Crop rotation: Implement a crop rotation strategy to disrupt the life cycle of Pythium.
  • Reevaluate timing and spacing: Good air circulation and minimized pathogen spread can be achieved by keeping adequate space between crops.
  • Seed treatments: Planting treated seeds can help the plant focus on growing strong, even stands instead of fighting off early-season diseases like Pythium. 

Vayantis® seed treatment helps protect against many known Pythium species in the U.S. It delivers a novel mode of action without cross-resistance to existing chemistries, offers seed safety and is compatible with other seed treatments. Vayantis also helps promote germination, emergence and plant stand uniformity in variable soil types and environmental conditions.

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For more information about Vayantis or other early-season disease management recommendations, reach out to your local Syngenta representative or retailer.

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When it comes to troublesome weeds, most growers rightly think of waterhemp or Palmer amaranth, but volunteer corn is the unexpected villain you don’t want your soybeans to face — and it’s on the rise.

High winds and severe storms across the country, especially in the Midwest, contribute to downed corn. This has likely had a substantial impact on the amount of volunteer corn in the following year’s soybean crop, a complication that can spell trouble for unprepared growers.

Like other weeds, volunteer corn competes for nutrients, water and light. Clumps of volunteer corn can cause soybean yield losses of up to 54%. According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, volunteer corn can drastically reduce soybean yield even at low densities. At 5,000 volunteers/acre, approximately one volunteer corn plant per every 3.5 feet of row, soybean yields can be reduced by 20%.

It also reduces the value of corn-soybean rotation used for corn rootworm management by providing a food source for corn rootworm larvae that hatch out in the field. If volunteer corn silks, it can attract egg-laying corn rootworm beetles that will wreak havoc on next year’s corn.

Managing volunteer corn is necessary to achieve maximum yield potential this year and in years to come.

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Start Early to Prevent Volunteer Corn

Prevention should be your primary strategy and starts well before harvest. Start strategizing before rotating to soybeans.

  • Prioritize season-long insect management. Insect damage can increase the incidence of dropped kernels and lodged corn that can germinate next season. Plant insect-resistant hybrids, scout vigilantly and make timely insecticide applications to set your fields up for success.
  • Carefully harvest lodged corn. Severe weather means that lodged corn is sometimes unavoidable. If you still see lodged corn at harvest, proceed with caution. Follow best practices to harvest lodged corn to salvage as much yield as possible while preventing lost kernels from emerging next season.
  • Consider post-harvest tillage or make a plan for crop residue. If you suspect that weather or insect damage increased your risk for volunteer corn, consider post-harvest tillage. Tillage can reduce seed-to-soil contact and expose kernels to winter freezes. For no-till operations, grazing livestock or baling crop residue can help reduce volunteer corn in fields with significant lodging.

Control Volunteer Corn in Soybeans

Controlling volunteer corn after emergence requires a different strategy.

Delaying planting until volunteer corn emerges can allow for burndown herbicide applications. Non-selective herbicides like Gramoxone® SL 3.0 can help eliminate glyphosate-resistant volunteer corn. For conventional corn, glyphosate is an option. In corn without the Enlist® trait, Fusilade® DX is an option. If in doubt, talk to your your local Syngenta representative.

Volunteer corn becomes more difficult and costly to control after soybeans emerge. Save yourself some heartache (and cash) by applying full rates of herbicides when volunteer corn is one foot tall or less.

The longer volunteer corn persists in your fields, the more it will cost soybean yield potential, even if it dies off by harvest. Act early to preserve yield potential and keep volunteer corn from interfering with harvest.

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Consumer drone technology has surged in the last 10 years. You don’t have to be a pilot, computer expert or gamer to fly one. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you could probably manage to fly a consumer drone with just a short period of basic instruction. Purchasing and flying a drone are the easy parts. Using them appropriately, effectively and practically for agricultural applications — especially spraying pesticides — requires more effort and research.

“The biggest excitement around drones is their accessibility. Anybody and everybody can get their hands on them and use them,” says Neill Newton, global drone application technical manager at Syngenta. “The greatest challenge for effectively using drones for spraying is lack of standardization.”

Understand Spray Drone Options

Ground spray rigs and manned aircraft have a host of international and U.S. standards of operation. According to Newton, this provides growers with a thorough understanding of how the machines are built and how to operate them to get predictable results. On the other hand, there are a lot of variables for drone options with few instructions on how to effectively use them, leading to a lot of confusion.

Growers can choose between four-rotor and eight-rotor options, hydraulic nozzles or rotary atomizer nozzles, 2-gallon capacity up to nearly 20 gallons, and a few thousand dollars to north of $45,000. Each option chosen can impact the application.

For example, the heavier a drone is, the more downwash it has. The type and position of the nozzle will impact droplet size and spray swath. Application volumes are significantly reduced compared to traditional ground spray technologies.

“It’s really easy to make an application, but it’s also really easy to make a bad application,” Newton says. “At Syngenta, we’re focused on understanding how our crop protection products perform using drone technology so we can help customers use drones in the safest, most effective and most efficient ways possible.”

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At Syngenta, we’re focused on understanding how our crop protection products perform using drone technology so we can help customers use drones in the safest, most effective and most efficient ways possible.

Neill Newton Global Drone Application Technical Manager at Syngenta

Drones at Work

There are many uses for drones in agriculture, from checking livestock to providing insightful data for field research and crop management. Spray drones have a strong foothold for spray applications that typically require a backpack sprayer. When terrain is tough, a drone can make quick work of projects that otherwise require a lot of physical effort and man-hours to complete.

Ideal drone tasks include spraying for invasive weeds and treating bodies of water as vector control for mosquitoes in remote or rough areas.

“In these cases, a drone can likely take the place of a backpack sprayer and do a satisfactory job,” Newton says.

Another place application drones are taking off is with specialty vegetable and fruit growers. Drones provide a quick option for time-sensitive applications. Timely, and more affordable applications also appeal to large-scale row crop producers.

“It’s no secret there’s a labor shortage. It can be tough to get over a field in a timely manner, especially on tall corn,” Newton says. Growers can face a long, worry-filled wait for manned aerial applications. With a drone, growers can potentially treat crops threatened by insects or disease on their schedule.

“The most common products we see being applied by drones in cropping situations are fungicides,” Newton says. According to The Ohio State University Extension, fungicide applications on wheat, corn and some soybean acres have dominated the use of spray drones in the U.S. through 2023. The acreages are still comparatively small.

“Drones are not taking the place of a ground rig or manned aircraft. They’re just another tool producers are increasingly valuing as an option,” Newton says.

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Get Results After Growing Pains

Drone technology is a classic case of running — or, in this case, flying — before crawling. Spray drones are an intriguing tool, but one that still has some significant growing pains to work through.

Covering a lot of acres with a drone isn’t currently an efficient option. Battery life is the limiting factor. Significant improvements need to be made on this front, and Newton has yet to see any drastic improvements in the seven years he’s worked with drones.

“The only significant factor standing in the way of having 100-gallon drones in the air is battery capacity,” Newton says. Heat is also a challenge, which greatly reduces battery capacity and taxes the drone.

In ideal conditions, a drone can apply at rates up to 30 to 70 acres per hour depending on the product. Spray volumes differ significantly between drones and ground rigs. Ground rigs will apply 10 to 20 gallons of spray volume while drones use 2 to 4 gallons per acre for the same product.

Even when conditions are right, a drone application will only be as successful as the operator is knowledgeable.

“You have to understand this piece of equipment and put parameters in correctly or you will not get the effective application you need,” Newton says. “You’re going to see a failure if you don’t have it setup properly.”

Applicators must consider how high they want to fly and how fast, what nozzle type they are using, and what droplet size is needed for the application. Rotary atomizer nozzles can be adjusted with a slide button on the control panel from fine droplets to more coarse, while hydraulic nozzles must be manually swapped out to change droplet size.

With this information in hand, applicators must then evaluate what swath width their equipment can deliver in current conditions to determine an effective spray area. Data is then used to manually dial in the correct settings on their spray drone. Many application drones have presets for application, but they tend to miss the mark, Newton says.

“All these variables are up to the operator to understand and input, which is concerning considering the lack of understanding, research and formal training there is for using drones for spray application,” he says.

Online tutorials can also lead drone applicators astray. Growers and drone operators should get online or in-person training from university Extension resources, which currently provide the most accurate information and advice.

Drone Flying License Required

Get licensed. Even using a small drone to check livestock water quickly shifts the use from hobby to commercial purposes. When a drone is used for work or business, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Remote Pilot Certification is required. This is also known as a Part 107 license.

An additional Part 137 license is required to operate an agricultural spray drone. This is the same license manned aerial applicators are required to carry. Drones weighing more than 55 pounds require additional certificates.

“Please make sure you have the proper licensing. It seems intimidating, but the FAA has made it really easy to get these licenses,” Newton says. “There is also value in the training that comes with preparing for the tests.”

Syngenta has joined forces with other crop protection companies to form a global taskforce to collect data and help guide and support safe and effective use practices for spray drone applications. The Unmanned Aerial Pesticide Application System Taskforce (UAPASTF) is working alongside agencies to generate and submit data to global regulatory agencies, like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“We want to provide the EPA with a mechanized model for drone applications like they have for manned aircraft. You plug in the product and application parameters, and run a model to show what drift might look like and assess risk,” Newton says. “Drones aren’t like manned aircraft or ground rigs. They need their own data curve for comparison.”

The task force already has trials running and is generating data.

“Eventually the EPA will require label language for drones. We need enough information to make recommendations for using our products effectively through drones both now and for when those requirements are set,” Newton says.

For now, operators need to work with a trusted adviser with a good understanding of drone application to get the best results. Newton notes university Extension is diving heavily into drone application research, making them a good starting point.

“We aren’t in the business of promoting spray application technology, but we want to enable the technology our customers want to use. If a customer wants to use our products through a drone, we want to be sure they have the information to be successful,” Newton says. “This is part of being good stewards of our products in the marketplace.”

This article has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal or regulatory advice.

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Weather patterns have been unpredictable in the Midwest over the past few years. With periods of drought, record temperatures and days of rain and flooding, Mother Nature is unpredictable – making it impossible to know what early-season diseases growers need to prepare for.

Different soilborne soybean diseases thrive under different weather conditions. Rhizoctonia is a common early-season disease that prefers drier conditions – even though its symptoms are similar to those of Pythium, which prefers cool, wet weather.

  • Rhizoctonia root rot, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, causes damage to seedlings and older plants later in the season.
  • Plants that have been affected by soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) may also be more vulnerable to this disease.
  • Rhizoctonia can kill and stunt plants resulting in yield loss and is most easily identified by rusty-brown, dry sunken lesions on stems and roots near the soil line.
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Given the instability of the weather in recent seasons, we don’t know what next year’s conditions or potential disease threats will be. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure soybeans are protected from the full spectrum of early-season diseases.

CruiserMaxx® APX seed treatment protects against Rhizoctonia and more to help growers achieve their yield goals. It delivers protection against early-season insects and diseases such as Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Pythium and Fusarium.

A comparison photo shows four different containers with soybean seedlings inoculated with Pythium ultimum, Pythium irregular, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium. The photo shows the relative health and performance of the seedlings treated with CruiserMaxx APX compared to an untreated check and two alternative products.
Syngenta trials at The Seedcare Institute; Stanton, MN; July 2022. Inoculated with Pythium ultimum, Pythium irregular, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium graminearum.

Its novel active ingredient, picarbutrazox (PCBX), is specifically designed for today’s soybean-growing reality, so growers can have the confidence to plant whenever is right for them and know their fields are protected.

A comparison photo shows the roots and growth of Rhizoctonia-inoculated soybeans. The photos compare soybeans treated with Vibrance fungicide compared to an untreated check in well-watered conditions and drought conditions.
Vibrance fungicide, an active ingredient in CruiserMaxx APX, helps protect soybeans from early-season diseases like Rhizoctonia. Photo courtesy of Ronald Zeun, Stein, Switzerland 2012.

For more information about tackling early-season soybean diseases like Rhizoctonia, talk to your local Syngenta representative.

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Apple replant disease is a common problem in intensive apple production areas. Also called soil exhaustion, the disease happens when growers plant young trees into existing orchards with depleted soil nutrients and increased activity from harmful microorganisms. Vulnerable young trees affected by apple replant disease experience uneven growth, stunting, root damage and reduced root biomass.

Addressing apple replant disease is challenging because it is caused by a complicated combination of nematodes and fungi-like pathogens called oomycetes. When soil is disturbed during replanting, the lack of cover in newly exposed areas allows these microorganisms to multiply more rapidly. Without the buffering effect of organic matter, the result is nutrient-deficient soil teeming with pathogens.

Preventing and treating apple replant disease requires a three-step approach to address the many causal organisms and wake up exhausted soil.

Step 1: Plant Trees in Suitable Environments

The first and most important measure is to carefully select where to plant trees. When possible, plant tolerant rootstock in the grassy spaces between old rows. These sites typically have more organic matter and because there aren’t any old roots, less harmful microorganism activity.

Soil testing is a valuable tool that can help determine how a replant site compares to a new site, as well as to understand the impact of practices like cover crops on soil health.

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Step 2: Control Nematodes

Traditionally, growers have used soil fumigation to control nematodes. Although this method effectively treats nematodes, it essentially sterilizes the soil, removing both beneficial and harmful microorganisms. This can contribute to a lack of organic matter and negatively impact long-term soil health.

Instead, consider incorporating cover crops. Cover crops slow nematode activity and add organic matter to the soil, improving overall soil health and structure. In this case, the best choice for cover crops is radishes, canola and mustard. These brassica crops contain a biochemical agent called isothiocyanates that naturally suppresses nematodes and plant pathogens. To improve soil health, consider delaying replanting apple trees for one year to grow cover crops.

Deep tillage before planting cover crops can remove decaying apple roots in orchards with a history of apple replant disease. Eliminating old roots removes the host and reduces nematode pressure in that area. Another option is to apply brassica or mustard seed meals to rows and cover for three weeks after tillage as a natural alternative to fumigation.

Step 3: Control Soil Pathogens

The soil organic matter, health, and structure provided by cover crops also improves the ability of the soil to act as a buffer between plant roots and pathogens. Once new trees are planted, quality fungicides can help combat oomycetes pathogens.

Consider a fungicide application that protects trees from Phytophthora crown rot, collar rot, and root rot, as well as additional soilborne pathogens involved in the apple replant disease complex.

Timely fungicide applications combined with sound agronomic practices can help improve long-term orchard health and sustainable apple production.

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Potato growers are no strangers to late blight, especially in regions like the Northeast, Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest. Cool, wet weather conditions provide the right environment for the spread of the disease.

Potato late blight can rapidly damage potato crops, starting with the foliage and tubers. Recognizing the symptoms, understanding management strategies and staying updated on available tools and resources can help growers design an effective program for managing late blight.

According to University of Minnesota Extension, late blight symptoms manifest as small, light-to-dark green, circular- or irregularly shaped spots on lower leaves. White, cottony mildew is often visible on infected leaves. Stems, petioles and tubers are also susceptible to the disease.

Additionally, late blight can cause leaves to appear greasy or water-soaked, with a distinct decaying odor in the fields, according to the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture. Upon closer inspection, affected potatoes exhibit a tan to reddish brown dry rot.

Managing late blight starts with removing any previously infected plants and avoiding planting in low-lying, swampy areas. Fungicides that incorporate a novel mode of action without cross-resistance to other fungicides are a critical part of late blight programs. Regular field scouting to detect early signs of infection helps inform timely applications that maximize their impact.

One notable fungicide in late blight management is Orondis® Opti fungicide. Its unique combination of oxathiapiprolin and chlorothalonil helps provide effective protection to potatoes with late blight pressure.

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Another option to consider is Orondis Ultra. This includes oxathiapiprolin and mandipropamid, making it a good option for growers whose programs already include fungicides with chlorothalonil.

Kiran Shetty, Ph.D., technical product lead for potatoes at Syngenta, emphasizes the importance of proactive late blight management with vigilant scouting. Shetty underscores the importance of timely fungicide applications to protect yields in the field and surrounding areas.

Hear more from Shetty about the best chemistries to beat late blight:

With proactive measures and access to effective fungicides, vigilant potato growers can beat late blight and safeguard their yield potential.

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Ear rots plague growers regardless of region and weather. These fungi are most commonly found in corn in the Midwest, Upper Midwest, Central Plains and Northern Plains. Infections can cause lighter, lower quality kernels, introduce mycotoxins that impact feed value and reduce marketable yields. There are different management options, but first, it is important to identify what type of ear rot you are dealing with.

Diplodia Ear Rot

A close-up photo shows the base of an ear of corn affected by Diplodia ear rot, with powdery white mold growing between kernels.
White moldy kernels are a sign of Diplodia ear rot.

Diplodia ear rot is very common in cool and wet environments. To determine if you are dealing with Diplodia, you need to look out for white mold, with coverage ranging from the base of the ear to the entire ear. The white moldy kernels will also have raised black bumps on them also known as, pycnidia.

A common way to manage this specific disease is by adjusting your combine settings to discard the diseased kernels. University of Kentucky Extension recommends quickly drying the affected grains to 15-16% to keep the disease from spreading in storage. As with any fungus, be sure to store the infected grain away from healthy yields.

Fusarium Ear Rot

A close photo of a corn cob affected by Fusarium ear rot. The white fungal growth on the kernels is clear to see.
White fungal growth on kernels is the first sign of Fusarium ear rot.

Fusarium ear rot often occurs in warm and dry environments. The first symptom in a crop affected by Fusarium verticillioides is a white or pinkish fungal growth on the kernels. The fungi present in this disease can also produce mycotoxins which can affect livestock, especially pigs and horses. To manage Fusarium, dry infected grain quickly and store at or below 18% moisture.

Gibberella Ear Rot

An ear of corn affected by Gibberella ear rot. Half of the ear has visible pink and reddish fungal growth starting at the tip of the ear.
Pink to red fungal growth is a recognizable symptom of Giberella ear rot.

Gibberella is commonly found in cool and wet temperatures. It also produces mycotoxins which primarily affect swine. Corn infected with Gibberella will have pink to red fungal growth on the tips of the ear. If the disease is severe, the silks and husk will sometimes stick to the ear. Similar to Fusarium, manage this disease by storing the grains at or below 18% moisture to reduce the spread.

Aspergillus Ear Rot

A close-up photo of an ear of corn affected by Aspergillus ear rot. Olive-colored spores are growing on the end of the ear and powdery mold is beginning to grow between kernels.
Yellow to olive-colored spores are an identifying characteristic of Aspergillus ear rot.

Another mycotoxin-producing fungus, Aspergillus flavus occurs in hot and dry environments. Look out for yellow to olive-colored spores on the end of the ear and powdery mold between the kernels. You may also notice the fungus overwintering on soil debris which infects next season’s kernels through wind and insect damage.

Stressed plants are most susceptible to Aspergillus ear rot. To set corn up for success, choose hybrids that tolerate drought stress, provide fertilizers and consider reevaluating your insect management plan.

No grower wants to deal with ear rot disease, mycotoxins, or lost yields – that’s why it’s important to be able to identify them and take action. If you suspect ear rots are impacting your fields, speak with your local Syngenta representative for additional recommendations.

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Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, is a bacterial disease that can significantly damage or kill citrus trees. HLB is tough to diagnose; by the time it’s recognized, HLB has likely spread to many surrounding trees. Even worse: there’s no known cure for the bacterium. You can gain the upper hand against HLB by controlling its carrier, Asian citrus psyllid (ACP).

The Sneaky Symptoms of HLB

During the first year of infection, trees show no signs of HLB but ACP can still take up the bacterium and spread it to other trees. When symptoms do begin to manifest, they’re easily mistaken as signs of nutrient deficiency, since HLB impedes the tree’s vascular system which inhibits the movement of nutrients. Symptoms include leaf yellowing, misshapen fruit that do not ripen, premature fruit drop and root dieback.

Asian Citrus Psyllid and HLB

The reproductive and feeding habits of ACP make it a perfect carrier of the bacterium that causes HLB. When an infected psyllid feeds on a citrus tree’s leaves and stems, it creates a localized infection and transmits the bacterium into the tree. The bacterium quickly spread throughout the plant from the point of infection.

Female psyllids lay eggs in the same region where they feed. If the nymphs of infected females begin feeding on the infected area of the tree, they’ll acquire the bacterium, molt to the winged adult stage and disperse, taking the disease along with them. They’ll then carry it for the rest of their lives, traveling miles by air currents or as hitchhikers on harvested fruit.

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Managing Asian Citrus Psyllid

Without a cure for HLB, controlling ACP is the primary strategy to prevent its spread. First, prioritize scouting for ACP and look for the winged adult insects as well as the yellow-bodied nymphs. ACP are often found feeding on newly developed leaves when flush is forming. If ACP populations are present, apply an insecticide like Minecto® Pro to help control the pest. If you suspect that trees have been fed upon by ACP, quickly quarantine them to prevent the spread of HLB.

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Todd Poots is wearing a black ball cap with red lettering that reads, ‘Poots Heritage Farm, 150 Years’. There is perhaps no garment in the world that would suit him better.

Poots loves agriculture in a way those removed from America’s farms and ranches may never fully comprehend. He dedicated decades of his career and life to bettering the ag industry, from working the land to contributing through his career at Syngenta Seeds. And he certainly loves the farm his hat represents, which has been in his family for more than a century and a half.

Above all else, though, Poots values his family. If the multigenerational farm proved incapable of taking care of that family, Poots and his wife Marta would never have come back. In fact, for more than 30 years, they didn’t, at least not anywhere close to a full-time basis. Todd and Marta raised their three sons — Preston, Matthew and Clayton — off the farm as Todd carved out a successful career with Syngenta Seeds. But before we get to all that, let’s back up and take a look at the farm Todd Poots credits as the foundation for the man he has become.

The Poots Farm Origin Story

In 1869, Todd’s great-great-grandfather settled on 160 acres near Newton, Iowa. That original 160-acre parcel is still part of the farm, though the operation is about twice that size now. Todd grew up on the farm and, for the most part, loved his youth spent working with the family’s hogs, cattle and crops. Like most farm parents, Jerold and Cynthia Poots passed on the values of community and an honest day’s work to Todd and his two sisters. Dirt under the fingernails and a sunburned neck were badges of honor to be worn proudly, and Todd did.

As much as Todd loved his life on the farm, there wasn’t really a full-time employment opportunity for him on the place after he graduated from Iowa State University. “My folks were pretty self-sufficient here on the farm,” he says. “For a long time, Mom and Dad had no plans to ever really retire. They were just going to work until their bodies couldn’t do it anymore. I feel very fortunate that they held on to it.”

Circling Back Home

Todd got a job right out of college working for the Garst Seed Company, which was later acquired by Syngenta in 2004. He and Marta raised their family in Huxley, Iowa, near the Slater Syngenta facilities, for 35 years as Todd built a successful career at Syngenta. Today, Todd’s role with Syngenta Seeds is focused primarily on corn hybrids and helping growers through his role in supply planning.

Through the years, Todd and Marta kept their family close to agriculture; the boys were active members of 4-H and FFA, and they regularly made the hourlong trip to help Grandma and Grandpa on the farm in Newton. As time went on, Todd found himself spending more and more time back at the old place.

“I was staying in our camper overnight during calving season,” he recalls. “I just got more involved when the need arose. Eventually, Marta and I decided to move back and build our home on the farm in 2022.”

Todd expresses gratitude toward his longtime employer for allowing him to adjust his role with the company to make more room for expanded responsibilities on the family farm. “Syngenta affords a lot of opportunities for employees to transfer and really grow,” he says.

Working Sustainably for the Next Generation

Todd describes the crop and livestock operation as mostly capable of sustaining itself. The farm is home to a 60-head herd of commercial beef cows, which supplies a calf-to-finish beef business that the family is proud to provide several longtime customers. They have about 100 acres of pasture, and the last couple years have implemented more rotational grazing practices to stretch that pasture further than ever before.

“Most of our pasture ground is rolling terrain and not all that suitable for other crops,” Todd says. “That 100 acres is about the size that we can comfortably get through the pasture season with our climate and rainfall. We’ve had three straight years of dry weather, but the rotational grazing already seems to have helped a lot.”

The balance of the farm is dedicated to crops, though in a different rotation than most of the neighbors, with alfalfa rotated with corn and soybeans to help support the cattle.

Through it all, Todd has kept his eye fixed on what has driven him throughout his life and career in agriculture: family. Todd’s youngest son, Clayton, is the most interested in eventually coming back and running the farm. It will take a considerable amount of work and planning, but if that plan indeed comes to fruition, Clayton will mark the sixth generation of the Poots family to cultivate this piece of land. “It excited me to work with the younger generation of agriculture. It’s a two-way street, having them bring their knowledge to me and sharing mine with them,” Todd says.

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The Poots family farm near Newton, Iowa.
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The Poots farm has been in operation for 155 years, making it part of the 1,844 Heritage Farms honored in Iowa.
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The Poots farm has a 60-head herd of commercial beef cows, which supplies a calf-to-finish beef business.
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In addition to corn and soybeans, Poots rotates alfalfa in to help support the cattle.
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A commemorative rock graces the entrance to the Poots farm.
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Poots manages the farm with a mix of innovative change and traditional practices.
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Todd and Marta’s youngest son, Clayton, has expressed interest in running the farm, which would make him the sixth generation to work the land.

But Todd and Marta aren’t putting any undue pressure on any of their kids to do that; if the farm isn’t going to provide economic and emotional fulfilment, there’s no obligation. “We’ve got grandchildren now,” Todd says. “You’ve got to be able to balance it. Our place is small by modern standards, and at least for a while it’s going to take both of us farming while having outside careers. But if you really want it, it can work.”

It’s not lost on the Poots family just how rare and fragile a multigenerational business — and particularly a farm — can be. Change must be embraced right alongside tradition. There’s a very fine line between trigger-happy and gun-shy, and the next generation needs to be properly incentivized while respecting the hard-earned wisdom of Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa.

“Of course, I look at some things differently than my dad did when it comes to the farm,” says Todd. “But sometimes I’ll make decisions and come to find out it’s everything my dad did.”

“When it comes to innovation, especially on a smaller farm, you have to be careful,” he continues. “You can’t change the whole world at once. You often have to make small innovations, anything that can help the bottom line. I’m looking forward to a future of trying to get everything we can out of the farm while still being true to the land we have.”

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It’s certainly a future worth looking forward to. And if the Poots family continues to stay true to that philosophy, they can probably start drawing up designs for 200th anniversary ball caps.

Cover photo: Three generations of the Poots family in August 2019, celebrating the farm’s 150th anniversary. From left: Matthew and Marissa Poots, Clayton and Grace Poots, Jerold and Cynthia Poots, Todd and Marta Poots, Preston and Mark Poots-Jacobsen. 

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Can you recognize common corn and soybean weeds? Characteristics like leaf shape, petiole length and the presence of hairs can help you identify these yield-robbers. Learn to tell the difference between these common weeds (including waterhemp and Palmer amaranth!) and put your knowledge to the test.

Plus, get fast facts about other weeds like horseweed, common lambsquarter and giant ragweed.

An infographic titled 'What's That Weed?' depicting Polaroid-style photos that feature silhouettes of various weeds, each with a description of that weed’s scientific name, life cycle, habitat, and appearance. The silhouette photos flip over to reveal a full-color image of each weed.

Waterhemp, aka Amaranthus tuberculatus. FAMILY: Amaranthaceae (Pigweed). LIFE CYCLE: Summer annual. HABITAT: Native to North America and widespread from central to eastern U.S. DESCRIPTION: Seedling leaves are oar-shaped;
true leaves are alternate, oval to lanceolate in shape (wider at base and taper toward leaf tip) and measure 0.5 to 6 inches long and 0.25 to 1.25 inches wide. Waxy, hairless stems and leaves with prominent veins and small notch at leaf tip. Brightly-colored stems range from red-pink to green.

Palmer amaranth, aka Amaranthus palmeri. FAMILY: Amaranthaceae (Pigweed) LIFE CYCLE: Summer annual. HABITAT: Native to Southwest U.S./Northern Mexico and is widespread throughout the country. DESCRIPTION: Seedling leaves more oval- or diamond-shaped; true leaves are alternate and lanceolate in shape, measuring 2 to 8 inches long and 0.5 to 2 inches wide. Smooth, hairless stems and leaves with prominent white veins on undersurface. Single hair located at leaf tip notch of first few true leaves can often (but not always) distinguish Palmer amaranth fromwaterhemp.

Horseweed, aka Marestail or Erigeron canadensis. FAMILY: Asteraceae (Composite) LIFE CYCLE: Winter and summer annual. HABITAT: Native to North and Central America. DESCRIPTION: Seedlings feature basal rosette with oval- to egg-shaped leaves; true leaves are alternate, linear, hairy and irregularly-toothed, measuring 4 inches long and 0.25 to 0.5 inches wide. Sessile leaf pattern, meaning no petiole is present. Leaves are progressively smaller towards top of stem.

Giant ragweed, aka Ambrosia trifida. FAMILY: Asteraceae (Composite). LIFE CYCLE: Summer annual. HABITAT: Native to North America and widespread from central to eastern U.S. DESCRIPTION: First pair of true leaves are unlobed and lanceolate in shape. All other subsequent leaves are 3-lobed or 5-lobed. Leaves are opposite and hairy with toothed margins, measuring 6 inches long and 4 to 8 inches wide.

Common cocklebur, aka Xanthium strumarium. FAMILY: Asteraceae (Composite). LIFE CYCLE: Summer annual. HABITAT: Exact origins debated; native to the Americas and possibly Eurasia. DESCRIPTION: Seedlings feature lanceolate leaves and purple stem base; first pair of true leaves appear opposite one another. Subsequent true leaves are alternate, triangular and ovate with stiff hairs and irregular margins, measuring 2 to 6 incheslong. Thick, rough stems featuring dark purple or black spots.

Common lambsquarters, aka Chenopodium album. FAMILY: Amaranthaceae (Pigweed). LIFE CYCLE: Summer annual. HABITAT: Believed to have originated in Eurasia. DESCRIPTION: Dull green color with mealy, whitish-gray coating on upper leaf surface. Seedling leaves are opposite and narrow with rounded tips, no veins visible. True leaves are alternate, triangular to lanceolate in shape with undulate to toothed margins.