Case IH Talks About Sustainable Farming Solutions

Ask farmers what sustainability means, and you’ll likely hear a wide range of opinions. At the recently concluded Ag Connect Expo in Orlando, Fla., Case IH convened a panel of experts to discuss how they define agricultural sustainability and describe current and future sustainability solutions.  

“Short-term, we’ve got to make money today, so we can survive and do what we need to do. Long-term, it’s about how we continue to grow more crops most efficiently, while improving the soil and protecting the environment,” said John Bohnker, Case IH high horsepower tractor marketing manager.

Moderated by Al Pell, the AgriBusiness director for U.S. Farm Report and AgDay Television, the panel included: Rob Zemenchick, Ph.D., agronomist and Case IH tillage marketing manager; Cyndi Punke, Case IH precision farming sales manager; and Bohnker.  

According to Zemenchick, sustainability combines agronomic, environmental and economic aspects. “I think of it as an abundant, safe food supply that’s produced profitability in an agronomically sound manner that’s good for the environment,” he said.

Punke said precision farming is one key to improving profitability. “Whether it’s guidance to reduce overlap or section control and row shutoffs on planters to reduce seed and chemical use, there are a lot of different practices that affect us economically.”

Bohnker pointed to increasing efficiency. “Whether you want to stay the same size or grow the operation, farmers need to get more done in less time. Time is money.”

Zemenchick agreed. “That’s why at Case IH, we demonstrate possible new sustainable practices and precision technologies in the field first. Our customers evaluate them to see if they’re profitable and practical on the farm, not just in theory.”

Pell asked what factors determine practicality. Zemenchick mentioned several: “In crop production, for technology to be practical it must be rugged, it has to hold up. It needs to help you be more productive than you were yesterday. And it has to be agronomically sound. Everything we do has to drive up yields.

“When we talk about new technology, we also have to look at what will be practical in the future. That’s why we’re looking into this biomass process for energy development. We’ve got to find more value on your farm that you can take to the marketplace and generate more revenue.”