The future of soybean farming in Iowa looks bright with the promise of continued gains from plant breeding and biotechnology to help protect against diseases and pests, increase yields and boost the crop’s nutritional value, a panel of agribusiness leaders said last week during a forum on agriculture’s future at the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) 50th anniversary celebration.
Along with gains in seed genetics, the panel members predicted Iowa farmers will be continually pushed to increase efficiency, will see more livestock feeding opportunities and will continue to own and control the land they farm.
“I’m really an optimist about the crop,” said Robb Fraley, Monsanto’s executive vice president and chief technology officer. “We are breeding crops with more precision and power than ever before, and we are combining that with...