If it weren’t for seed biotechnology (improved crop genetics), this disaster we are faced with would be much worse. You see modern seed technology has been transformed to the point that it can safely and naturally deal with things like dry weather, excess moisture, high temperatures, bugs and disease with minimal damage to a certain extent.

Obviously those defenses are only so strong, but we have come a long way in the past 30 years as the size of our crop has doubled while inputs like fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides have decreased dramatically in terms of amounts needed per bushel produced.

Using biotechnology is not just about growing abundant supplies of corn, it’s also about increasing farm sustainability.

A couple examples would be the growing trend of reduced tillage, which has reduced soil erosion by 69%. Farmers have also reduced the amount of insecticide applications by 65% on biotech acres. As far as plant food goes, farmers are now producing 70% more corn per ounce of fertilizer according to the USDA.

Other examples of improved sustainability over the past 30 years would include reduced energy use and emissions per bushel by 43% and 36% respectively. All of these environmental improvements are due in part to biotechnology, the same technology fighting to keep our crops growing when Mother Nature isn’t so nice.

As harvest time draws near on my farm, I know that my crops didn’t face the same severe conditions as my fellow farmers have to the south, but I also know that I have biotechnology to thank for my fields that did prevail through this disaster.

In fact, according to a new study from the USDA’s Economic Research Service, family farms represent nearly 98% of the total farms in the United States. Those same families produce around 88% of the food in our country, an overwhelming majority. Grandpas, fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, sons and daughters work together to raise the fruits, vegetables, grains, meats and dairy products that most of us take for granted.

That national trend is the same here in South Dakota where 98% of the farms are family owned and operated, according to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.

I myself am a sixth-generation family farmer. I am proud to grow corn and soybeans along side my uncle and father, along with our families near Chester, SD. And if I am lucky, my son or daughter will someday work with us, continuing the tradition of families producing the food, feed, fuel and fiber that America and the rest of the world depend on.

First off, why do farmers install drainage in their fields? It’s a matter of farming smarter, improving your operation and most importantly the soil. By properly installing drain tile, a farmer drastically lowers the field’s potential for runoff and erosion while vastly improving his or her yield potential. Drainage also allows farmers to practice reduced tillage, leaving the soil, root structures and other organic matter in place while also reducing overall fuel usage and emissions.

In the area where I farm around Chester, we have experienced an excess amount of rainfall this spring and there is an undeniable difference between the land, which has drain tile installed and which does not. The tiled land was able to take on the excess water without experiencing significant washouts and other forms of nasty erosion.

As far as production goes, from my own data along with research from South Dakota State and the University of Minnesota, proper drain installation can increase corn and soybean yields between 30-50%. While tile installation can be a major investment, the returns inevitably benefit both the local economy and environment.

As farmers continue to grow more while using less, drain tile will certainly be an important tool in progressing that trend, feeding more people without needing more land to do so.

A farmer’s definition of sustainability is continuing to grow more, use less, while also leaving the land in better shape than it was when he started farming it. By both definitions, we are succeeding; yield trends continue to increase and inputs continue to decrease. As far as taking care of the land goes, farmers continue to cut erosion and reduce tillage practices, improving overall soil health.

Don’t believe it? I have a few stats to prove it:

• Corn yields per acre in South Dakota have nearly doubled during the last 20 years.

• The amount of energy used to grow a bushel of corn has decreased 37% during the past 20 years.

• The amount of emissions per bushel has decreased by 30% during the past 20 years.

• Farmers now grow 87% more corn per ounce of fertilizer.

• Farmers have cut soil erosion 44% during the last 20 years.

So how are we doing it? We are farming smarter. Using the best technology like precision steering and application to cut down on fuel along with biotechnology seeds which require fewer inputs and less water. We are also adapting to different farming practices like no-till and strip-till to cut down on erosion, nutrient runoff and energy usage, which has also led to an increase in the soil's organic matter.

That’s how I define sustainability.

I can see both sides of the argument. In the spring we are usually dealing with excess moisture as is the situation now, but in South Dakota our rains typically shut off in the middle of the summer and do not return.

Weather is and always has been the number one variable when it comes to farming. But in a matter of minutes a good-looking field can be damaged or even destroyed by hail, wind, excess rain or frost. Depending on the corn hybrid a farmer plants, it typically takes between 2300-2700 Growing Degree Units (GDU’s) to produce a quality corn crop. GDU’s are a measure of thermal time, or a period of time that temperature is conducive for crop growth. My corner of Lake County typically receives around 2500 GDU’s each growing season. This is something farmers watch closely because it will indicate maturity of the crop and will impact grain weight, quality, and moisture.

While you can’t control the weather, crop producers are changing their practices to better handle intense rainfall. Reduced and no-till crop production are increasingly common as well as subsurface drainage. Reduced and no-till leaves more residue on the soil surface and roots intact, helping to hold soil in place during intense rainfall events. Fields with drain tile enable more successful no-till and help to prevent the soils from becoming oversaturated, which in turn reduces runoff and erosion.

It’s likely that I and many other farmers will have to replant some acres when things dry up. On the positive side, it’s still early in South Dakota, so there is still plenty of yield potential in terms of time.

If you think about it, so many depend on our crop, which will someday be your corn flakes, feed for livestock, renewable fuel for your car or even clothes for your back, just to name a few.

To make sure that these demands continue to be met, farmers like myself need to utilize all of the tools available to them. As I mentioned in my last column, producers are using things like precision equipment to both steer the tractor and to apply the right amount of seed exactly where I need them making sure to not overlap.

Another important tool for farmers during planting is choosing the right seed. There are literally hundred of options when choosing a seed corn variety, and I need to make sure I have the right seed genetics for the right soil for the right climate.

Biotechnology has played a major role in the advancements of not just seed corn, but all types of seed (including the vegetables in your garden) which allow the plants to compete better with pests and weeds which in turn decrease the amount of pesticide and other applications that would need to be applied throughout the growing season.

This continued investment in and commitment to new technology has changed planting and all of farming for that matter throughout my young life thus far, and those improvements have also led to South Dakota farmers doubling their corn yields during that short time.

Feeding more, using less isn’t just a company line in agriculture today; it’s a matter of fact and necessity as we do our part to feed to the world’s growing population.

But before farmers start taking passes with the planter, there is plenty that needs to be done. While a corn planter may not look like a complex piece of equipment, the goal of perfection requires the precision of a Swiss clock and a lot goes into the maintenance for preparing a corn planter for spring. Sensors, chains, springs and many other mechanisms all play vital roles in making sure that each seed is being placed exactly where I want it.

Installing precision equipment and GPS technology play a major part in achieving yield and efficiency goals as I write prescription maps to automatically adjust my seeding rate(plant population) on the go when I cross the field. This precision technology also tells certain rows of the planter to stop planting if I happen to overlap onto a row(s) that have already been seeded. This precision equipment also records how the planter is performing when in operation so that I can make adjustments to further improve accuracy.

Using these precision tools and performing planter maintenance are extremely important to any farmer who not only wants to maximize his or her productivity, but also keep costs down as seed corn prices are very expensive costing over $100 per acre (over $300 per bag).

After being blessed with the recent rains, it will be a few days before we out get out in the field, but stay posted for a planting update soon to come.

Hi, my name is Keith Alverson and I’m a family farmer from Chester, South Dakota where we raise corn and soybeans.

With so few folks farming, the growing disconnect between people and their food continues to grow as many are two, three or even four generations removed from the farm.

This is why I’m excited to have the opportunity to share a farmer’s perspective with all of you during the upcoming crop season with news, photos, and possibly a video or two to help explain why farmers do what they do in order to continue producing the safest, most abundant and inexpensive food supply in the world.

Planting on our farm will be starting soon, so be on the lookout for more updates to come.