While in northern Colorado last week for business, I had an opportunity to tour the AgriPro wheat headquarters in Berthoud. For an avid wheat enthusiast, touring those facilities was akin to the mecca of commercial wheat production.
- The eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains may not seem like an ideal habitat for wheat growth, but Berthoud offers a great greenhouse environment for the advance of commercial wheat varieties, according to business manager Rob Bruns...
- From Berthoud, all seed production takes place, as does purification for all classes of AgriPro wheat (hard and soft spring and winter wheats) and quality research in an in-house quality lab...
- AgriPro has several products in the works, including new white wheat varieties and expanded Clearfield (imidizalinone-resistant) varieties. On the Clearfield front, an extra imi-resistant gene is being inserted into the company's conventional varieties...
- "AP301CL (the company's current Clearfield offering) has a single imi-tolerant gene and it's okay. But we've identified new sources of tolerance," Bruns explains...
- That means you may have two-gene, Clearfield Jagalene as early as 2007, he says...
- Incidentally, Syngenta is awaiting regulatory approval of the Garst Seed Company, which includes AgriPro wheat. Bruns says Syngenta already has a number of technology partnerships with AgriPro and the marriage would be a good one...
- Taking a drive through northwest Kansas, I was privy to some of the worst drought-related wheat I've ever seen. Some fields that managed to weather the drought were pounded by May hailstorms...
- Harvest had reached as far north as Phillipsburg by June 9...
- A great article by Salina Journal reporter Tim Unruh last week profiled controversial K-State ag policy specialist Barry Flinchbaugh, who officially retired in early June....
- Lauded by many politicians, policy makers and interest groups, Flinchbaugh's toughest critics are the farmers he represents. St. Francis cattle feeder and outspoken critic Mike Callicrate says Flinchbaugh "is a jerk"...
- Personally, I think Flinchbaugh is one of the most influential and genuine people I've ever met...
- The agriculture economy may be showing signs of turning around. Last week, AGCO announced plans to hire about 1,400 people in the next year, if demand for its products continues to grow. AGCO's largest manufacturing plant is in Hesston, where about 1,000 people work...
- AGCO is the world's third largest farm machinery maker, with $3.5 billion in sales last year.