West Bend, Wisconsin
March 17, 2009
About 300 growers participating in
the Dairyland Seed
GENI conference last week offered views on planting intentions
for 2009 and their perceptions of the ag economy. This group
represents a strong cross section of corn, soybean and alfalfa
producers throughout the Midwest. The growers participate in
on-farm strip-trial plots whereby Dairyland scientists evaluate
the performance of new experimental genetics across various
environments. As a result, Dairyland scientists are able to
measure the “GENI” (Genotypic ENvironmental Interaction) for
each set of Dairyland alfalfa, soybean and corn experimentals.
Just over two-thirds of the group polled say the ag economy will
be worse off in 2009 than last year, not surprising after the
industry experienced a significant depression in cash and
futures markets at the end of 2008. With this in mind, 87
percent said that their operations will stay “about the same” in
2009 compared to last year. A down economy not withstanding, 63
percent say farm sales will not be affected by the current
economic situation, while 28 percent expect a moderate decrease
in farm sales.
With regard to specific crops, it appears that more acres will
go into soybeans in 2009 than last year. Eighty percent of the
GENI participants said corn acreage will stay the same, while
just over half will keep the same amount of soybean acres. Just
over 34 percent will increase soybean acres. Two thirds of
alfalfa growers will keep the same acreage, with just under 20
percent increasing acreage.
Twice as many corn growers (30 percent versus 15 percent) will
expand rather than decrease acreage devoted to GMO corn in 2009.
Conversely, more soybean growers (21 percent) will decrease
acreage for GMO soybeans than will increase (14 percent). With
regard to hybrid alfalfa, 23 percent grew more hybrid alfalfa in
2008 than 2007, and 21 percent expect to continue the trend by
planting more acres to hybrid alfalfa in 2009 than they did last
year.
“This data really gives us a great snapshot on planting
intentions in 2009 from key growers in the Midwest,” says Tom
Strachota, Dairyland Seed General Manager. “The growers surveyed
here represent more than 50,000 acres of cropland, so obviously
they represent a significant group of business.”
This is the first year of the GENI grower survey. Subsequent
surveys will begin to identify planting trends and intentions
for growers in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. For more
specific information regarding survey results, contact Kim
Gellings at Dairyland Seed Company.
Dairyland Seed began its seed business in 1907 and has built
an established dealer network throughout the Upper Midwest, with
international sales in more than 20 countries. The business
experienced great success under the leadership of Orville and
Marie Strachota, entering the field of plant breeding in 1977.
Now part of Dow AgroSciences, the family leadership continues
through son Tom and grandson TJ. Primary research locations are
in Clinton, Wis.; Gibson City, Ill.; Otterbein, Ind.; Gilbert,
Iowa; and Sloughhouse, Calif., with plant breeding programs in
hybrid alfalfa, hybrid corn and soybeans. Dairyland Seed is
headquartered in West Bend, Wis. |
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