Technology and agriculture. Two innovative industries that are rapidly evolving and work hand in hand to continually improve.

During a panel discussion held in Kansas City, Mo., three experts discussed how ag research can drive innovation forward to help farmers succeed.

Offering an update on issues and how technology can help were Kevin Kepert, with USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture; George Smith, director of AgBioResearch at Michigan State University; and Kyle Durham, a Missouri farmer and United Soybean Board director. 

Kepert, Smith and Durham agreed that research and innovation could be solutions to issues expected in the agriculture industry.

Solving problems through data

“Food security is national security,” Smith said. “We have to expand the research umbrella, so not just our agricultural community and society understand why food security is important, and to get the federal government to make a significant investment.”

Smith said the institute is asking for increased funding from the government over the next 10 years for research and development at USDA. “With that increase, we can deliver things that are going to help the livelihood of our soybean producers, help our farmers deal with extreme weather events and deal with issues that are important to farmers.”

For the United Soybean Board, production research funded by the checkoff works to increase and protect soybean yields. “I am … soybean through and through, literally to the soles of the soy-based shoes I’m wearing today,” Durham said.

“The amount of research that’s out there now for new uses of soybeans is just amazing,” he said. “We’re always coming up with new and novel uses for the soybean. And when it comes to me as a farmer, that helps drive demand and add value to my crop.”

Agronomic issues are some of the biggest pieces of research happening in agriculture, Smith said, with Michigan State University partnering with other land-grant institutions to address solutions.

“We have a lot invested into plant protection and plant health — things like soybean flower and pod retention — that could boost yield potential by 10% to 15% if realized,” Smith said. “That could equate to $50 an acre, which could be $50,000 to $75,000 of additional yield capacity that we’re able to capture value on.”

Adopting innovation

One concern voiced by all on the panel is if the U.S. is being left behind other countries in their agriculture research investments.

While some may be quick to adapt to new technology, whether that’s with the latest iPhone or the latest precision agriculture, Durham said the decision to adopt new practices can vary. “Everybody needs to be comfortable with what they’re doing on their farm, because agriculture is very personal,” he said.

“A lot of these farms are passed down generation to generation. And there’s a lot of respect for those that came before us, and should be as well for those that follow us,” Durham said.

He labeled farmers as either early adopters who are progressive but happy to wait and see, or those who are resistant to change anything. “On our farm, we’re probably that second tier, where we’re not going out and actively taking on every new technology that comes out,” Durham said.

When implementing new tech onto the farm, Durham said the data is crucial. “We try to prioritize good data collection,” he said. “We model it a lot like our friends at the university in doing replicated trials and have full confidence that the numbers we’re getting are going to be the most accurate with repeatable results.”

With the many resources available to farmers interested in trying new technology, they have places to learn about these practices before it hits their farm, he says.

“Any field days put on by Extension are a great chance to be able to get together with other producers and talk about new technologies across fields,” Durham said. “Organizations like the soybean research network are going to be a great place to see all the published work that the checkoff groups have invested in the past.”

Durham said the issues in agriculture aren’t going away, and farmers need to be prepared. “Markets will go up and down, and there’s always volatility in there. Farmers need to have an understanding of the markets and be able to move when it is appropriate to do so,” he said.

The changing climate is always of concern for farmers like Durham. “How do we bring technologies and traits into soybeans to help them weather these extremes events, so that farmers aren’t tossed to-and-fro by the waves of the weather, but have stability and a certain baseline that they can achieve year in and year out and stay profitable.”

Without a crystal ball to predict exactly what innovation and technology is needed, farmers must carefully decide how they want to continue moving forward on their operation.