DON’T CALL ME AN EXPERT  - This is just the way I do things

Hosting Plot Tours - Minnesota

By Steve Ross
Ross operates Ross Seed Company near Fisher, Minnesota.

Why do you put on plot tours?
Plot tours serve several purposes. First, it is an opportunity to say thank you to our customers for their business, especially when the tour is culminated with a great steak dinner.  Second, it gives us a chance to showcase the research we do, particularly on wheat, soybeans and corn. As we do this, it also gives us an opportunity to do show and tell with the particular lines we market of those crops. It is always most interesting to the growers when they can see with their eyes, the genetics and technology that is going to be available soon.  Third,  it creates a venue for other companies and groups, both private and public to showcase new products or research that will be of interest and benefit to our customers.

Why do you think it is valuable to the producers?
We believe the value to the producers goes well beyond a free steak dinner and a root beer float. For example, last year they got to hear about several new wheat and soybean varieties, the introduction of RoundUp Ready Sugarbeet seed, two new wheat herbicides, Huskie from Bayer and Orion from Syngenta. They get to listen to and engage in Q&A with the breeders of the varieties they are growing. That is also an opportunity for the breeders to hear directly from their ultimate customer.  But there is also value in just bringing the growers together in a very social atmosphere. There is a lot of talking and exchange of information and ideas between the growers. We schedule the event for the middle of July.  This means that spraying and cultivating are largely over and harvest has not yet begun.

What is involved in putting together a plot tour?
There are a lot of logistics involved with a successful plot tour. When we first started twenty years ago, we actually drove down to Perry Farms south of Crookston, bought and butchered a pig and cooked it.  We did the whole meal ourselves.  Now that we are older and perhaps a little wiser, we hire a caterer.  That lets us concentrate on the other aspects of the evening. The planning starts in the winter with the selection of the plot work we will do.  The next stage is laying out the plots in the field in such a way as to facilitate a good route for the tractors and wagons. We plant winter wheat in the alleys to keep the alleys drier so that if there is rain, we have a better chance of getting through anyway.  Afterward, we will drive in and then mow it. Then we have to line up speakers, tractors, wagons, tractor drivers, refreshments and advertising.  Just prior to the tour, we like to get the plots and our facility all cleaned up and looking presentable. A lot of places bring in tables and chairs for the people to eat on. We don’t do that.  We have found it easier and also better to simply set out, in our warehouse, many stacks of pallets about 3 feet high and staple cardboard pallet sheets to their tops.  This is still comfortable and allows for more fluid socializing.  People are more free to move around and get to talk with a wider variety of people than is possible sitting at a table.

In what ways have you cooperated with local Universities?
For several years we were a site for John Wiersma to conduct Iron Chlorosis tests on soybeans. Last year, we duplicated the Polk County corn plot that Russ Severson and Elliot Solheim put together.  This next year we are going to be cooperating with Dr. Char Hollingsworth to conduct a wheat fungicide trial. We will be doing this at two locations, St Hilaire and Fisher.  We knew that we were both doing research along these lines. When we sat down and compared notes about our projects we saw that there could be some really nice synergy by working the project together. We found that we each had different areas that we were better at or had more resources for so we will plant and harvest the crop. Dr. Hollingsworth will be responsible for timing the applications of fungicide and setting up a weather station at the sites.  When they are doing research at our site, we make sure they get a chance to tell their story to the 200+ farmers who participate in our tour.

Are there any new plans for the future?
Nothing dramatic. We will just continue to incrementally make improvements.  Our goal is that it will continue to be an opportunity to tell our story about the great genetics and quality we sell.  And we want it to continue to be a time that growers pick up information about products, practices and genetics that will contribute to the profitability of their operation. And of course we want them to have a good meal and a good time.

Hosting Plot Tours - North Dakota

By Reggie and Amy Pahl
The Pahls  and daughter Katelyn, own and operate Premier Ag, New Leipzig, ND. Premier Ag is a retail fertilizer business and seed dealership for AgriPro Wheat and Pioneer.  The Pahl’s host annual field tours in July to show new and established crop varieties and as an appreciation dinner for their customers. They started hosting tours by looking at seed production fields, and now host replicated research trials for AgriPro Wheat. 

What is involved in cooperating with a research group to host a plot (i.e. - land preparation, maintenance)?
A good location is imperative to having a successful plot. I try to provide a location that is along a well traveled road. It should be above average ground quality to provide for a good yield environment.  I try to find a fairly level and same soil type location so the results are more consistent and all varieties are on equal opportunity.  The plot should be prepared by doing everything that you would do if you were farming it, such as maintaining fertility according to soil tests, and controlling weeds before planting.

What is involved in preparing for and hosting a plot tour?
It is very important to keep the plot area clean.  I mow road ditches with a finishing mower so that the area is neat in appearance.  In certain years I have provided bus transportation to the plot for a more festive atmosphere.  Farmers and their wives like to visit at these events and riding together to the plots enhances that opportunity. Field signs are an important part of any plot.  We usually have signs up a few weeks in advance so customers and prospects can look at the varieties on their own if they so desire.  One of the most important parts of any plot tour is to serve a good meal. Good food shows your customers that you appreciate their business and care about them.  Having plenty of food and a nice place to eat is necessary. We host our tours at our farm and use our shop as the meeting place. It is nice to use if it is windy or hot. We also make sure that your beverages are cold.  We stress in the invitations that wives are welcome to our tour as they are an important part of their operations and we appreciate them as well.  Making this a fun event gets repeat attendance. 

What is the benefit to the growers in your area?
There is no better way to see how different varieties of grain respond to growing conditions than in a side-by-side plot.  Farmers can judge for themselves how the varieties perform and compare or differ.  One thing we do is call a spade a spade.  If a public variety wins, it wins.  We don’t skew data to make us look better. Honesty always prevails in our plots.  Because of this policy, our customers look forward to attending.

What is the benefit to you as a seed company or farmer?
I benefit in a number of ways. Plots are handled a little different than regular fields.  No fungicides are used thus allowing me to see how different varieties stand up against other varieties.  It is important to stay on the cutting edge of technology and diseases are a major yield loss if not controlled.  When I see how disease affects certain varieties more than others I know that I should stay away from them. Other factors are plant height, straw strength, etc.

Any further comments on trends or changes for hosting plot tours?
I personally feel that with the rise in commodity prices that farmers will take a more active role in attending plot tours.  Our tours are usually well attended and we need to promote them even more if we are to hold market share and continue to be successful as a seed company. I grow exclusively AgriPro Wheat varieties on my farm and I feel I can’t ask other farmers to grow these varieties if I’m not committed to the company.  I enjoy doing plot tours, but they take a large effort to make them successful.