We started Friday morning, with a look around the Kansas University Research Farm grounds. They research all sorts of agriculture there, while Phil and his team primarily work on weed control. I was able to meet with head of the station Bob, and we had a great chat about the direction of Ag research and also the funding and future of government ag research. We had a look through Phil's sheds and met his team (which included 1 aussie and I thought - do I really sound like that!). Phil is above with a machine he uses to seed weed seeds!
For a different aspect of agriculture, Phil had arranged for me to chat to a local accountant who deals with many farms in the area. It was interesting to see the differences between our 2 countries, and also get a gauge on how farmers are going over here.
In the afternoon we headed north of Hays to meet a cattle and wheat farmer, who has been very involved at many levels in biotechnology development. Jerry was involved in the National Association of Wheat growers, and had a lot to do with devloping an agreement between US, Canada and Australia, on the principles of biotech commercialisation and the way forward for biotech. He supports the farmers choice to use ALL biotechnologies, and believes wheat breeding has been left behind. Something he hopes and believes will change soon.
Phil knows all the good weedy paddocks, below is a photo of some of the worst weeds in the area. Mares tail, Kocha and Plamer Ameranth (mind the spelling :)).
Friday night we headed down to the Ellis county fair!!! Now I have really experienced America! We watched a combine demolition derby, where 5 old combines go into a dirt ring and run into each other until only one is left able to move! It really was a hilarious to watch, but I really dont know how they can handle putting all that effort into doing up a machine only to smash it to pieces!! Very entertaining regardless!!
Ehmke Seeds, run by the Ehmke family, certainly were an interesting visit. They specialising in growing triticale, rye, oats and other small grains for seed for farmers in the area! It is a lot of work, but the niche market they have tapped into has made a fantastic business. Upon arrival, we visited their weighbridge/truck sign in/offices/guest house all incorporated in the grain silo shown below. It was pretty cool architecture. They had it decked out inside too, with all the furniture made from very old fence posts/railway line/hunting kills etc!!
Linda demonstrates below some of the things that were hanging around in the silo!!
We chatted to the family about th business, and also move to communicate with Walmart to move further up the supply chain. Walmart, are trying to look like they are making a real effort to be sustainable and also work with the growers at a ground level. Interesting....
We had a quick look around the farm, other than herbicides they are realying on this plough to control many of their weeds.
The countryside is dry and bare.... athough the wheat stubbles that are harvested do look prety thick, and I think most farmers had a reasonable wheat yield. The same can not be said for the corn to be harvested soon of course.
After stopping at your typical small town American country diner for lunch, and eating way too much as they always serve too much:) we headed further west to meet with organic farmer Jerome. Jerome does not support GM crops at all, and although has not been involved at a political level, would prefer no GM crops to be grown in the world at all. He has not had a contamination with GM crops on his property, but it is a concern for him. The 25 foot buffer required is not really enough to stick to a 0% tolerence level. He does not believe organic standards will change to tolerate GM, but it will continue to be a work in progress with rigorous testing to keep GM out of organic foodstuffs.
His battle with weeds is difficult and becoming worse. However he believes his opertion will be sustainable into the future, with cultivation and crop rotation.
We also discussed a few issues with pesticide drift, something that has been a large problem with organics in Kansas. Some cases have gone to court, as organic producers have lost their status for 3 years after the chemical contamination. I am not sure of the outcome of these cases. Will have to check it out!
On the way home we looked at a glyphosate resistant Kocha trial of Phils. It is a dynamite weed for sure, but the trial showed that using water rates up to 200l/ha with sprayseed were getting results. Phil and his crew are trying to get farmers to keep their water rates at least above 100l/ha for all chemical applications!!
We stopped in at these monument rocks on the way home! The whole of Kansas was once a lake, and here is a little of what remains.
To finish my time in Hays we had a good old American bbq, and some california red wine. Phil and Linda were just the best hosts, and I was very lucky to get the opportunity to stay with them!
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