March 2020 Roots

Roots IOWA CORN

A LOOK INSIDE: FEATURE

NCGA Corn Yield Contest Young Farmer’s Attention

EDUCATION

Creating the Conversations about Food and Farming

MARKET DEVELOPMENT Fuel Octane 101

RESEARCH

Diseases to Watch in 2020: Tar Spot

ICPB SPECIAL EDITION March 2020

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NCGA Corn Yield Contest Pulls Young Farmer’s Attention

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he National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) has encourged farmers for over half a century to compete with their peers to see who can grow the most corn per acre. The growing techniques, technologies and products may differ, but one thing holds true for each corn grower: the goal of feeding and fueling the world.

In 2019, among these contestants was Aaron Adam, a grower from Richland, Iowa, competing for his sixth year in a row. After many years of trying new ideas, he finally broke into the top 10 within the conventional non-irrigated category of the 55th National Corn Yield Contest.

Aaron Adam is a fourth-generation farmer who always knew he wanted to return home to the family farm after college. In 2011, while getting his degree in agronomy at Iowa State University, Aaron rented his first plot of ground and built his first hog barn for TriOak Foods. During college Aaron met Shelby Chapman, a fellow student who later graduated with a degree in animal science

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— she also had a goal to grow crops and raise livestock. It was a perfect match.

The pair moved back to Richland after graduation and continued to grow their farming operation. Today they proudly raise 12,500 head of hogs, have a small cow-calf operation, run a custom spraying business and are close to farming 3,000 row crop acres.

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Not only is it important for a young farmer to share what works and what doesn’t, for all farmers. We can show people in and outside the industry that if we continue to improve on what we’re doing today on our farms, we will be better for future generations to come.

— Aaron Adam, a grower from Richland, Iowa

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Aaron has competed in the National Corn Yield Contest since 2013 but stresses the past years have been a group effort. His 2019 top 10 finish is one he is extremely excited about and proud to share.

In years past, he has tried many different techniques, some that weren’t successful and others that pushed him to where he is today.

Aaron is also eager to share his successes with other Iowa farmers.

“Not only is it important for a young farmer to share what works and what doesn’t, for all farmers. We can show people in and outside the industry that if we continue to improve on what we’re doing today on our farms, we will be better for future generations to come,” he said.

“We have tried quite a few different in-furrow products that we didn’t see many benefits from. We are also transitioning to strip tillage, and 2020 will be our first year of 100% using the strip-till practice. We have seen some very promising benefits from this practice on our farm,” Aaron explains.

The field entered for the NCGA contest has been in his family for three generations. It is also conveniently located next to one of his hog facilities — hog manure is his main fertilizer source and is the base he likes to work off. Aaron has also been working with splitting up nitrogen applications to “spoon-feed” the plants as needed.

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Creating the Conversations about Food and Farming

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owa farmers want to have an open and honest relationship with their consumers. There are many opportunities to have eyeopening conversations with the public, especially on a local level.

Consumers want to hear from farmers about conservation practices, their day-to-day routine and more importantly they want to get to know who is growing their food and where it is coming from.

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board knows the impact farmers can have when interacting with their local communities and encourages these interactions to take place with several hosted events throughout the year. Events such as Farm to Table, Dine at the County Line and CommonGround allow conversations to happen in a comfortable environment. Read below to learn what Iowa Corn is doing to promote local agriculture.

“We use in-season soil tests and plant tissue tests to see exactly what the plant needs at crucial development times,” Aaron said.

“We are also looking at more than nitrogen. The test results help us ensure micronutrients (mostly sulfur, boron and zinc) are enough and we apply them as needed with the in-season applications of nitrogen. In addition, we have been working with multiple fungicide passes throughout the season to keep plants as healthy as possible.”

Aaron’s award-winning field is also special for another reason.

This past spring, he planted a marriage proposal within it to surprise Shelby. He used two different varieties of corn, each having a different tassel color, then GPS mapped and planted the words “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” “I worked closely with Jerry Gorman, owner of J&S Precision Ag Products, to build two special field boundaries,” Aaron said.

“One boundary had the words inside of it, so when the planter hit the words it would shut off the row clutches and stop planting.

The second boundary was of the letters within the field. Once I planted the entire field with the first boundary, I loaded the second boundary to the monitor and the planter would only turn on when it was inside the letters to fill them in with the second variety of corn.”

But in true 2019 fashion the proposal didn’t turn out perfect at first. Aaron ended up having to replant part of the field and some

of the letters because of weather conditions. But in the end, it was perfectly readable from the hot air balloon where he popped the question — and he was very pleased when Shelby said yes.

For Aaron this contest is fun to compete in, but he also realizes it stands for more than the yields achieved. It opens conversation between growers to advance the agriculture industry and pushes individuals to try new things on their ground.

“I feel it’s extremely important to be progressive and on the leading edge with all the technology in today’s agriculture industry,” Aaron said. “Participating in the contest shows that as a young farmer you are working to be sustainable and produce more with less. Using the technologies available allows me to push the limits on production levels while still staying profitable.”

National and state winners received recognition in NCYC Corn Yield Guide. They were also honored at the Commodity Classic 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. Visit ncga.com/national-corn-yieldcontest for more information about the contest and a complete list of 2019 national and state winners.

While not all contestants see the recognition national winners do, just competing counts as a win in finding ways to better the industry contestants are so passionate about. And for Aaron, he’s got his eye on a first-place finish for next year — after his 2020 wedding!

Farm to Table Although a relatively new concept to the Iowa State Fair, Farm to Table is an event all beef, pork, corn, dairy, egg, soybean and turkey producers can get behind. Iowa Corn is honored to have sent, and continue to send, a group of farmers for the past two years to interact with 400 fairgoers at the event.

In 2019 non-farmer consumers who wanted a seat at the table were asked to write a short essay about why they wanted to speak to agriculture experts. Participants were then picked from those essays entered and allowed a seat to ask questions about GMOs, the livestock industry and anything agriculture-related.

Iowa corn farmers then had the opportunity to promote and educate these guests about corn products. A meal is also served, highlighting each agriculture sector as farmers and consumers enjoy conversation about food and farming.

Dine at the County Line Iowa Corn district field managers enjoy partnering with Iowa State Extension to help put on Dine at the County Line events across the state, allowing farmers and the local public to start conversations in a comfortable environment.

Special invitees such as local teachers, business owners and legislators are among the attendees. Iowa Corn’s goal is to reach key influencers in the community and share insights about their farms and agriculture. Farmers represent a small percentage of consumers, so creating connections and sharing the farmer story is very important in bridging the gap to build trust.

Other event partners include Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

CommonGround Iowa Corn has partnered with the National Corn Growers Association and Iowa Soybean Association to create the CommonGround program. CommonGround is a group of farmforward women who want to engage with consumers about all things corn, soybeans and agriculture.

This program facilitates conversations between the families who farm and the consumers curious about the food they purchase for their own families. CommonGround is based on the idea that we need to make food and farming personal.

Consumer education is important and calls all Iowa corn growers to be teachers to the public. When farm families make up less than 2% of the U.S. population it is crucial everyone tells their story.

More information

Iowa Corn hopes to continue bringing farmers and consumers together on a local level so positive conversations can occur about all things corn. For corn truly does grow Iowa. Visit iowacorn.com/events to locate an event near you.

2019 WAS A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR AS DAVID HULA OF CHARLES CITY, VIRGINIA, SET A RECORD YIELD OF 616.2 BUSHELS PER ACRE. 1ST PLACE WINNERS – IOWA ONLY: Conventional Non-Irrigated • Ryan Burns – Marion, IA No-Till Non-Irrigated • Kyle Clayton – Walnut, IA No-Till Irrigated • 2020 • Colin Garrett – Arion, IA 4 | Roots

Strip-Till, Minimum-Till, Mulch-Till, Ridge-Till Irrigated • Mark Schleisman – Lake City, IA

Conventional Irrigated • Kim Dummermuth – Elgin, IA

Strip-Till, Minimum-Till, Mulch-Till, Ridge-Till Non-irrigated • Rick Cole, Fayette – IA

No-Till Irrigated • 2nd place: Colin Garrett – Arion, IA

NATIONAL WINNERS FROM IOWA:

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Fuel Octane 101

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ately, there’s been a lot of conversation around the Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the ongoing publicity of electric vehicles, forecasts of decreases in U.S. gasoline sales, and the future of the fuels and auto industries. This may leave you wondering what role ethanol may play in that future.

What is fuel octane?

Octane is the measurement of how much compression a fuel can withstand before igniting. What that means for your vehicle is a fuel with a lower octane rating can prematurely self-ignite within the cylinder and result in decreased overall performance and, potentially, “engine knock” that can damage your vehicle.

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) and the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) are working to include the need for increased fuel octane. But first, you may have some questions about the importance of octane and the role ethanol could play in the future.

On the other hand, a fuel with a higher octane rating can withstand higher pressures within the engine without igniting.

Ethanol’s blending octane rating is 114, a valuable benefit that will help us in the near future.

How do you measure fuel octane?

Octane is typically measured three ways:

1. R esearch Octane Number (RON): This is the

measurement of fuel octane, or knock resistance, at low-load operations (e.g., highway driving). This rating of octane is posted on fuel pumps in most of the world (Europe, Asia, etc.)

2. M otor Octane Number (MON): This is the measurement of fuel octane, or knock resistance, at high-load operations (e.g., heavy acceleration, hauling, etc.).

3. A nti-Knock Index (AKI): This measurement is equal to (RON + MON)/2 and is the average of RON and MON. We post AKI here at our fuel pumps in North America.

For example, the 87-octane regular unleaded fuel containing 10% ethanol that is sold all over the U.S. is 87 AKI, 83 MON or 91 RON. Why is octane important and what are the benefits of increased fuel octane levels?

In the auto industry’s quest to produce vehicles that achieve greater fuel economy with less emissions, they’re looking to move toward smaller, turbo-charged engines that can run more efficiently by using higher compression ratios within the combustion chamber of the engine. That’s where Iowa Corn comes in.

These engines of the future need fuel that can withstand that higher compression to eliminate pre-ignition and result in a more efficient vehicle that has much greater fuel economy. Iowa Corn and our partners in the ethanol industry are working to position ourselves to be the octane of choice, given ethanol’s high octane rating and added greenhouse gas reduction benefits.

Why should all this matter to corn farmers?

There are several options in the fuels space to increase gasoline’s octane rating; however, most petroleum-derived octane enhancement products are toxic and expensive. Yet, ethanol is renewable, clean-burning and rich in octane. Not only does pure ethanol have a blending octane rating of 114, burning ethanol instead of petroleum reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent. Additionally, ethanol is less expensive than petroleum and much less expensive than petroleum octane enhancement products, meaning the environment and consumers benefit from its use.

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So, as Iowa Corn continues to engage with automakers and environmental groups on the benefits of ethanol as the preferred octane source for a better future, we encourage all of you to start engaging in the dialogue around the future of fuels, and ensure it’s a high-octane future.

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Diseases to Watch in 2020: Tar Spot

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s much as the 2019 weather gave Iowa corn growers hardships, it also brought unforeseen advantages by helping control many crop diseases. Because the weather changes were so erratic it gave crop disease the opportunity to be present but not flourish. As the 2020 growing season approaches, it is important Iowa farmers educate themselves on all types of disease as the weather elements continue to prove unreliable. Crop specialists agree, a top disease to be aware of in 2020 is tar spot.

development and yield impact, and development of a risk model to assist producers in making decisions on fungicide applications for tar spot control.

Tar spot in corn is becoming more of a topic of conversation as it continues to appear across the state. The disease was first found in 2015 in Indiana and since then has spread to Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida. Unlike some Michigan farmers in 2018 who reported losses of 50 bushels per acre, Iowa has had no reports of major damage up to this point.

Tar spot is not the only disease concern for farmers in 2020 but has the potential to be present in all 99 counties this coming growth cycle, making it important all corn farmers are aware of its consequences. A great resource to utilize when learning about crop disease and insects is the newly renovated Crop Protection Network website, cropprotectionnetwork.org. Use the website to further your knowledge on not only tar spot but other crop diseases as well.

Pathologists at Iowa State University mapped the appearance of tar spot throughout the 2019 growing season. They found 75 counties in Iowa reported seeing this disease as of last October, but it is still raising concerns as it spread so rapidly across the state.

“Tar spot is very likely in Iowa in 2020, especially in eastern Iowa,” Robertson said. “The severity of the disease will depend on the hybrid and weather. If the disease occurs before or during early grain fill, economic losses are likely.”

According to Alison Robertson, professor of plant pathology and microbiology at Iowa State University, tar spot has spread west across the state faster than expected, and now that the pathogen is present throughout Iowa this disease is one to watch in 2020.

Tar spot is most found in fields with green leaves and can occur anywhere within the canopy, although in fields with a history of this disease and early in the growing season, may first show signs in the lower canopy. It favors cool, wet conditions and has been known to survive the winter in crop residue. Low-lying fields where you find early morning fog and irrigated fields may also be more susceptible. Tar spot is easily confused with southern or common rust. If you are not sure what disease you are seeing in your crop, it is recommended that you send a sample to the ISU Plant Disease and Insect Clinic or talk to your agronomist.

Iowa Corn Promotion Board director elections

When looking for tar spot, identify small, raised, round to irregular-shaped black spots referred to as stroma. You will find these spots on the upper and lower leaf surface and sometimes in clusters. If the black spots cannot be scraped or wiped off the leaf, you may have a case. Sometimes tan or brown lesions may develop around the disease; these are called fisheye lesions.

Demonstration plots have shown that all hybrids are susceptible.

If you have any indication of tar spot in your corn crop, consider rotating to a different crop the following year when planting.

Rotating crops will help reduce further risk of the disease by allowing time for the infected corn residue to decompose.

It is also important that farmers stay up to date on new tar spot information and take time to scout individual corn fields. If tar spot is present a fungicide may help reduce the disease depending on what stage it is in. The increase and severity of corn tar spot has demonstrated a critical need for management strategies to reduce the impact on yield loss. With support from NCGA, a diverse team of field crop pathologists from across the Midwest, including scientists from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin, was awarded a grant from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) to develop management strategies to reduce the impact of tar spot. Goals of the project include identifying potential resistance genes, multi-state trials to assess the effects of hybrid, tillage and fungicide timing on disease

ICPB director elections are quickly approaching. Crop reporting districts 1, 3 and 6 are up for election. To request a petition or to learn more about the election process, please contact Iowa Corn: 5505 NW 88th Street, Johnston, Iowa 50131 or 515-225-9242. Visit iowacorn.org for further details and more information.

ICPB election timeline:

March 27: Petitions will be available by request for the ICPB office. Candidates who fill out petitions must also fill out the affidavit candidacy document.

April 7: Deadline for candidate names. District nominating committee forms and bios are due to the Iowa Corn office.

April 24: All petitions for nominations are due to the Iowa Corn office by 4:30 p.m.

June 22: Deadline for requesting absentee ballots.

July 14: Elections held at local county extension offices. Absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before July 14.

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At Iowa Corn, we do many things. We develop and defend markets for corn across the globe. We fund research that unearths new uses for corn.

And we spearhead education and promotional efforts to communicate the many benefits and uses of corn and corn products. Why do we do what we do? Because we believe in the corn growers of Iowa. What corn farmers do impacts people worldwide, and it’s our mission to support corn farmers’ interests. We’re here to work for the corn farmer.

And we’re proud to do it.

TO UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF CORN TO SUSTAINABLY MEET THE NEEDS OF A GROWING WORLD PUBLISHED MARCH 2020

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Iowa Corn | 5505 Northwest 88th Street | Johnston, Iowa 50131 | 515-225-9242 | iowacorn.org | corninfo@iowacorn.org 8 | Roots • 2020