Feeding the world has always been done through hard work and the sweat of farmers. While modernization
has always assisted farmers over the years, rarely has technology been as important as it is today.
Riker Farm Seeds, located on East Poe Road, Bowling Green, has a plot of the newly approved SmartStax
corn which will be available to area growers in 2010.
The specialized seed is on the cutting edge and will likely play a vital role in the future of farming.
The local plot is only one of three sites in Ohio to test this technology.
Beyond just a test site, officials from Sunrise Cooperative and Monsanto, want to share the product with
area FFA members and farmers.
On Sept. 8, there will be a program with nearly 150 FFA members scheduled to attend. Area growers are
invited to attend on that day or schedule another time to see what is coming down the road to improve
yields.
"Our goal is to provide knowledge to the FFA members and the community to see what’s coming down the
pipeline with seeds and traits," said Diane Zyski, seed sales specialist with Sunrise Cooperative
based in Fremont.
Genuity SmartStax has three traits above ground and three below ground in addition to two different
herbicides. It is the first product approved which has eight traits.
It was just approved in the last three weeks in the United States, Ohio and Japan, Zyski indicated.
The approvals have come from both agriculture and environmental sources.
"We want to work with the FFA chapters who will bring their agronomy judging teams, and other
students in the farming side of things to give them knowledge in the field," she stated.
The idea is to provide the students knowledge now as they will be the farmers who will be using this in
the future.
According to Brian Essinger, local field agronomist for Monsanto, based in Arlington, SmartStax will
guard against European and Southwestern Corn Borers; Northern and Western Corn Rootworms; Corn Earworm;
Fall Armyworm; and both the Western Bean and Black Cutworms.
Essinger indicated the SmartStax has combined two packages into one effective treatment for corn.
It has also reduced refuge from 20 percent to just five percent.
"That means farmers in Wood County will have another 15 percent of their crops protected,"
Zyski added.
Essinger indicated his company pulls germplasm from all over the world for their research in order to
develop these products which will feed the world down the road.
He also said they have recently released a new product for soybeans which injects the Round Up directly
into the genes which is providing up to an 11 percent increase in yields.
George Riker, owner of Riker Farm Seeds, is extremely impressed with the research and work ethic of
Monsanto, including its Dekalb line of products.
Essinger indicated Monsanto spends about a billion dollars a year on research and development.
Both company officials heaped praise on Riker and Dan Henry, who manages the local operation.
He is very excited about his work and providing the field day for the FFA members and current growers.

According to Essinger, Monsanto is the largest supporter of FFA in the United States.
Both Zyski and Essinger indicated they want area growers to come out and see for themselves what
SmartStax can do for their production.
"It’s important for the farmers to see what’s out there," Zyski said.
Zyski says area growers can come on that date or preferably call her to set up individual times to visit
the site. There is no cost.
Reservations are requested for the Sept. 8 date to plan food for the luncheon, but are not mandatory. For
information or to arrange a time to visit, call Zyski at (419) 680-5587.
 
 
See related story – Sow
smart seeds