Illinois Soybean Association’s Post

It's been a busy year for the A Lighter Touch programme and its partners. Activity in the programme has accelerated, with projects generating findings and knowledge, development of new grower resources, educational events sharing knowledge on topics such as resistance management and on-farm and orchard biodiversity, and continued industry collaboration. We've put together a short end of year wrap video highlighting examples of programme activity and celebrating some of the achievements to date. These are successes and milestones that everyone who is involved, contributes to and supports A Lighter Touch can take credit for. The focus in 2025 will be on more results, more resources and getting more crop protection tools in growers’ hands, which help grow their business. Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Horticulture New Zealand Zespri International Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) Vegetables New Zealand Inc Bragato Research Institute Summerfruit NZ #OnionsNZ #TomatoesNZ #ProcessVegetablesNZ #CitrusNZ Boysenberries New Zealand Ltd #NZButtercupSquashCouncil #StrawberryGrowersNZ #NZPersimmonsIndustryCouncil #PassionfruitNZ Corteva Agriscience Key Industries Ltd PGG Wrightson Ltd

Are you wondering what is happening with the Free to Grow in Forestry / Foresterie en croissance libre Movement? Are you confused about why some companies were suddenly no longer a part of it? I have re-recorded a presentation I gave this past fall to share with you to explain all that has been accomplished, the challenges that we faced and overcame, and where it is now going. https://lnkd.in/eD7Zw-Jm People who were told by their executive leadership that their company was suddenly “going in another direction” from Free to Grow have taken the training and found it very useful and effective yet they are afraid to provide a testimonial because of retaliation. This reaction is an indicator of the fear based command and control leadership that is ongoing and is exactly what has to change so that companies and the sector overall can thrive. The training offered through Free to Grow provides a value proposition for why all minds need to be engaged in decision making. It also gives valuable knowledge, tools, and skills on how to deal with resistant personalities to inclusion; how to stop being a bystander and empower yourself to know how to be an ally in real time; plus how to stop traditional leadership in its tracks, allowing innovation to flourish. Governments and regulators are beginning to see that a healthy workplace culture is not just a nice idea to pay attention to, but a bottom line game changer. It’s also critical for the psychological safety that everyone deserves to have at work, especially in light of the mental health crisis the world faces. At the end of my presentation I reflect and note “they know not what they do” - because the small but influential handful of executives in positions of authority that have abused the trust of their peers did not take into consideration: - the confusion they created across the sector  - how they prevented some organizations with moving forward at all because of misinformation - how the truth always comes out eventually. I encourage you to take the time to watch this presentation, and please get in touch with me if you have any questions. Thankfully courage and determination outweighed toxic leadership tactics and this initiative is regaining its momentum and power as it moves into a global arena with the exciting new partnership with Forest Stewardship Council, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Canada, and Forest Stewardship Council U.S. Free to Grow in Forestry walks the walk on values such as honesty, integrity, respect, accountability, transparency and decency. It's not just what we are doing with this work, it's how we are doing it, that allows people to have trust that this work will succeed. #leadthechange #forestryforward Michael Vandergrift Frances McRae Staffan Norin Shannon Stubbs Sarah Kutulakos

I have to admit something here: There are times when all of us team members in Understanding Ag, LLC - Experts in Regenerative Ag are gathered together, or when I'm consulting with a client and need insights from a colleague, and I think, "Holy Crap! How the heck did I end up part of this group?! These are some of the smartest, most observant and astute people I've ever met!" And then I remember that saying, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." In this video my colleague, Chuck Schembre, CPSS really expresses the value and values of our entire organization.  We literally bring hundreds of years of lived regenerative farming and ranching experience from as wide an array of backgrounds, production contexts, and academic studies as you'll find anywhere. Our team is comprised of folks who are comfortable and confident enough in ourselves and in our organization to say, "I don't know the answer to your question, but I'll ask my colleagues and get back to you ASAP." Please watch this video, and all of the videos highlighting our individual team members. You'll see a group of folks linked by a common goal of helping others with humility and confidence. We're an organization of individuals who continue to farm and ranch, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and fearlessly share what we've learned so others can benefit. Soil Health Academy  Regenified™  Allen Williams  Gabe Brown  Eric Fuchs  Ron Nichols  Fernando Falomir  Brian Dougherty  Jeremy Sweeten  Jason Bradley 

SAF is “not just important to airlines, but it can be important to rural America if we get the policy right.” Listen to Matt Herman and Chip Flory discuss the recent #45Z guidance and how that'll impact SAF 🔽

🌱 Tailgate Tips: Moisture, Drip Systems, and Fall Applications with Greg Newman 🌱 In this episode of Tailgate Tips, Jeff Perrotti connects with Greg Newman, our Head Agronomist, to break down effective strategies for moisture management and drip application timing. Key insights: • Moisture is critical for ensuring the best results during applications. Fall provides the ideal conditions in regions like ours, where winter moisture sets the stage for success. • Drip systems are highly effective for creating control within the drip zone, but areas beyond the drip line can pose challenges. • Greg’s take? Fall applications are the way to go to align with natural moisture cycles and maximize efficiency. Greg leaves us with this thought: “I don’t know why you’re not using it!” 📽️ Watch the full video here!: https://lnkd.in/g8GKsfTN #Agronomy #SustainableFarming #DripIrrigation #NWFM #TailgateTips

Check out this article featuring SDARL alumnus, Walt Bones!

Take a few minutes to get a better understanding of the technology that supports MitoGrow™ 🌱

🌱 Making Seed Decisions? Flashback to our Summer Plot Tour Videos and let them be your guide like this update from Osakis, MN on our 12E553N bean! Want to see more? 📱 Watch now → https://lnkd.in/gziAquWi #LegendSeeds #PlotTour #AgInnovation #FarmingSuccess #SeedDecisions

Together we can stop the re-invasion of ecosystem weeds in our 34500 ha catchment area that runs from Okere Falls to Pukehina: the Little Waihi Catchment on Coastal Bay of Plenty. Hear from our forestry advisor, Stef Kincheff as he discusses the crucial role of weed management at Bay Gold Wetland on Maniatutu Road. This major project aims to reduce sediment, nitrates, and phosphates in the Waihi catchment, but invasive weeds like pampas, woolly nightshade, and honeysuckle pose a serious threat. If we don’t act now, the millions spent on restoration could go up in smoke! 🌾 https://lnkd.in/g5sXyee9 Catchment groups like Wai Kōkopu are key to protecting these wetlands by bringing the community together to create buffer zones and stop reinvasion. Let’s take action! Join us for Discover the Wealth of Wetlands Day on Wednesday, 16th October 2024 to learn more and get involved in our efforts. 📅 When: 16th October 2024, 9:30 AM 📍 Where: Pongakawa Hall RSVP here:https://lnkd.in/gWPMgGxV

https://lnkd.in/gVi2MUdZ Welcome to the replay of "Knowing Your Numbers" from the Regenerative Legacy Summit, hosted by AgSteward. In this insightful session, Brett Crosby from Custom Ag Solutions and Dave Voth from Integrated Grazing Management delve into the critical importance of understanding and managing your agricultural metrics for sustainable success. Join Brett and Dave as they share their expertise on: The essential financial and operational metrics every farmer should track. Practical strategies for integrating data-driven decision-making into your farming practices. The role of regenerative agriculture in enhancing productivity and profitability. Real-world examples and case studies that illustrate the impact of effective number management on farm sustainability. This session is a must-watch for anyone interested in advancing their knowledge of regenerative agriculture and optimizing their farm management practices. Whether you're a seasoned farmer or just starting, Brett and Dave provide valuable insights to help you thrive in today's agricultural landscape. Don't forget to visit Custom Ag Solutions and Integrated Grazing Management for more resources and information. #RegenerativeAgriculture #FarmManagement #AgSteward #SustainableFarming #FinancialMetrics #OperationalMetrics #CustomAgSolutions #IntegratedGrazingManagement Links: Custom Ag Solutions: https://lnkd.in/gSBc587e Integrated Grazing Management: https://lnkd.in/gP7sAFnF