so how do you define a good farmer someone outstanding in their field so
someone outstanding in their field so
someone outstanding in their field so that will be today and tomorrow even
that will be today and tomorrow even
that will be today and tomorrow even more so so I’d like you to join me on a
more so so I’d like you to join me on a
more so so I’d like you to join me on a tour of a futuristic look of Pacific
tour of a futuristic look of Pacific
tour of a futuristic look of Pacific Northwest wheat farming dryland wheat
Northwest wheat farming dryland wheat
Northwest wheat farming dryland wheat farming in 30 years there’s five stops
farming in 30 years there’s five stops
farming in 30 years there’s five stops we’re going to take on this tour the
we’re going to take on this tour the
we’re going to take on this tour the first one is around plant breeding the
first one is around plant breeding the
first one is around plant breeding the second one on how we transport grain the
second one on how we transport grain the
second one on how we transport grain the third one is machinery fourth one is
third one is machinery fourth one is
third one is machinery fourth one is soil science and the fifth one is skills
soil science and the fifth one is skills
soil science and the fifth one is skills needed on a farm now I’ve spent the last
needed on a farm now I’ve spent the last
needed on a farm now I’ve spent the last three years trying to understand the
three years trying to understand the
three years trying to understand the needs of the dryland wheat farmer in the
needs of the dryland wheat farmer in the
needs of the dryland wheat farmer in the Pacific Northwest and I’ve spent a lot
Pacific Northwest and I’ve spent a lot
Pacific Northwest and I’ve spent a lot of time surveying observing and speaking
of time surveying observing and speaking
of time surveying observing and speaking with those farmers I want to share some
with those farmers I want to share some
with those farmers I want to share some of what I’ve learned with you the first
of what I’ve learned with you the first
of what I’ve learned with you the first thing is is when you ask one of those
thing is is when you ask one of those
thing is is when you ask one of those farmers a question need to be sure to
farmers a question need to be sure to
farmers a question need to be sure to speak in their right ear why is that
speak in their right ear why is that
speak in their right ear why is that well how do you drive a tractor sit in
well how do you drive a tractor sit in
well how do you drive a tractor sit in the seat square forward both hands on
the seat square forward both hands on
the seat square forward both hands on the controls no you sit sideways you
the controls no you sit sideways you
the controls no you sit sideways you drive with your left hand on the
drive with your left hand on the
drive with your left hand on the controls and you look over your right
controls and you look over your right
controls and you look over your right shoulder at your implement they’ve been
shoulder at your implement they’ve been
shoulder at your implement they’ve been doing that for so long that they are now
doing that for so long that they are now
doing that for so long that they are now deaf in their left hear how long has
deaf in their left hear how long has
deaf in their left hear how long has this been how many farmers are deaf well
this been how many farmers are deaf well
this been how many farmers are deaf well my survey showed that the median age is
my survey showed that the median age is
my survey showed that the median age is 57 that over three-quarters of the
57 that over three-quarters of the
57 that over three-quarters of the farmers in the Pacific Northwest dryland
farmers in the Pacific Northwest dryland
farmers in the Pacific Northwest dryland wheat farmers are over 50 years of age
wheat farmers are over 50 years of age
wheat farmers are over 50 years of age only 19% are under 30 there are only 6%
only 19% are under 30 there are only 6%
only 19% are under 30 there are only 6% between 30 and 50 years of age only 6%
between 30 and 50 years of age only 6%
between 30 and 50 years of age only 6% of farmers are between 30 and 50 years
of farmers are between 30 and 50 years
of farmers are between 30 and 50 years of age there’s a lost generation and how
of age there’s a lost generation and how
of age there’s a lost generation and how did this happen
did this happen
did this happen a well intended program in the 1980s
a well intended program in the 1980s
a well intended program in the 1980s paid farmers to set-aside crop ground
paid farmers to set-aside crop ground
paid farmers to set-aside crop ground back to the natural grasses it’s called
back to the natural grasses it’s called
back to the natural grasses it’s called the Conservation Reserve Program or CRP
the Conservation Reserve Program or CRP
the Conservation Reserve Program or CRP it was well intended it’s had many many
it was well intended it’s had many many
it was well intended it’s had many many great benefits over the last thirty
great benefits over the last thirty
great benefits over the last thirty years right now reduced soil erosion
years right now reduced soil erosion
years right now reduced soil erosion improve water quality improved fish
improve water quality improved fish
improve water quality improved fish habitat it represents 1.1 million acres
habitat it represents 1.1 million acres
habitat it represents 1.1 million acres of crop ground removed out of state of
of crop ground removed out of state of
of crop ground removed out of state of Washington over the last 30 years the
Washington over the last 30 years the
Washington over the last 30 years the scale on size of that we have 2.2
scale on size of that we have 2.2
scale on size of that we have 2.2 million acres of wheat produced in the
million acres of wheat produced in the
million acres of wheat produced in the state of Washington in a good price year
state of Washington in a good price year
state of Washington in a good price year that’s over 900 million and export sales
that’s over 900 million and export sales
that’s over 900 million and export sales 95% of the wheat in the Pacific
95% of the wheat in the Pacific
95% of the wheat in the Pacific Northwest is exported to Asia so that’s
Northwest is exported to Asia so that’s
Northwest is exported to Asia so that’s a big impact on in the area that impact
a big impact on in the area that impact
a big impact on in the area that impact lost a generation and right behind that
lost a generation and right behind that
lost a generation and right behind that half the farm dealerships went out of
half the farm dealerships went out of
half the farm dealerships went out of business to the region and followed on
business to the region and followed on
business to the region and followed on that were the farm supply stores
that were the farm supply stores
that were the farm supply stores auto dealerships fuel distributors
auto dealerships fuel distributors
auto dealerships fuel distributors restaurants hardware stores grocery
restaurants hardware stores grocery
restaurants hardware stores grocery stores in the small rural communities
stores in the small rural communities
stores in the small rural communities closed it was a big impact and the
closed it was a big impact and the
closed it was a big impact and the impact also affected the big OEMs they
impact also affected the big OEMs they
impact also affected the big OEMs they quit producing specific machinery needed
quit producing specific machinery needed
quit producing specific machinery needed for the region by the mid 90s so so this
for the region by the mid 90s so so this
for the region by the mid 90s so so this has been a huge impact in the area in
has been a huge impact in the area in
has been a huge impact in the area in the last bit of information that I
the last bit of information that I
the last bit of information that I gleaned from these farmers well you had
gleaned from these farmers well you had
gleaned from these farmers well you had two choices you either went big
two choices you either went big
two choices you either went big or you continue to use your machinery
or you continue to use your machinery
or you continue to use your machinery from the 70s 80s and 90s so going big
from the 70s 80s and 90s so going big
from the 70s 80s and 90s so going big what does that mean it meant buying or
what does that mean it meant buying or
what does that mean it meant buying or renting more land and spending money on
renting more land and spending money on
renting more land and spending money on those machines the big productive
those machines the big productive
those machines the big productive machines so a combine in the 1980s costs
machines so a combine in the 1980s costs
machines so a combine in the 1980s costs $750,000 a combine in 2017 cost as much
$750,000 a combine in 2017 cost as much
$750,000 a combine in 2017 cost as much as three quarters a million dollars and
as three quarters a million dollars and
as three quarters a million dollars and that replaces for those combines from
that replaces for those combines from
that replaces for those combines from the 1980s that one machine so this leads
the 1980s that one machine so this leads
the 1980s that one machine so this leads to why the Pacific Northwest wheat
to why the Pacific Northwest wheat
to why the Pacific Northwest wheat farmer is going to jump into the future
farmer is going to jump into the future
farmer is going to jump into the future faster than in any other industry and
faster than in any other industry and
faster than in any other industry and I’m going to take on that journey now so
I’m going to take on that journey now so
I’m going to take on that journey now so picture in your mind the beautiful
picture in your mind the beautiful
picture in your mind the beautiful golden wheat fields of our region it’s
golden wheat fields of our region it’s
golden wheat fields of our region it’s mid July harvest is in full swing its
mid July harvest is in full swing its
mid July harvest is in full swing its 2050 on my farm I sell directly to the
2050 on my farm I sell directly to the
2050 on my farm I sell directly to the Asian flour mills now one of my large
Asian flour mills now one of my large
Asian flour mills now one of my large customers has just left the farm today
customers has just left the farm today
customers has just left the farm today to head back to Taiwan he’s been making
to head back to Taiwan he’s been making
to head back to Taiwan he’s been making this journey for 28 years since 2022 and
this journey for 28 years since 2022 and
this journey for 28 years since 2022 and that was at a point in time when there
that was at a point in time when there
that was at a point in time when there was a baking research program that found
was a baking research program that found
was a baking research program that found that we had the right characteristic in
that we had the right characteristic in
that we had the right characteristic in our grain that gave the Asian flour
our grain that gave the Asian flour
our grain that gave the Asian flour flour mills the characteristics they
flour mills the characteristics they
flour mills the characteristics they wanted for a premium cracker that they
wanted for a premium cracker that they
wanted for a premium cracker that they were baking that happened because of
were baking that happened because of
were baking that happened because of work of the industrial plant breeders
work of the industrial plant breeders
work of the industrial plant breeders they were able to tailor the seed to
they were able to tailor the seed to
they were able to tailor the seed to meet the needs of that baking
meet the needs of that baking
meet the needs of that baking characteristic at the same time they
characteristic at the same time they
characteristic at the same time they were able to breed for our microclimate
were able to breed for our microclimate
were able to breed for our microclimate of our farm that allowed us to to be
of our farm that allowed us to to be
of our farm that allowed us to to be much like the wine industry
much like the wine industry
much like the wine industry and we were able to trademark and
and we were able to trademark and
and we were able to trademark and certify our wheat and we branded it the
certify our wheat and we branded it the
certify our wheat and we branded it the great Columbia Plateau wheat columbic
great Columbia Plateau wheat columbic
great Columbia Plateau wheat columbic that our brand the great Columbia
that our brand the great Columbia
that our brand the great Columbia Plateau wheat we were able to be leaders
Plateau wheat we were able to be leaders
Plateau wheat we were able to be leaders in the farm-to-table movement at that
in the farm-to-table movement at that
in the farm-to-table movement at that time when we did that and that was 30
time when we did that and that was 30
time when we did that and that was 30 years ago because remember it’s 2050 so
years ago because remember it’s 2050 so
years ago because remember it’s 2050 so we’ve been doing it for that long we had
we’ve been doing it for that long we had
we’ve been doing it for that long we had Asian flour mills showing up weekly to
Asian flour mills showing up weekly to
Asian flour mills showing up weekly to our farm
our farm
our farm each one of them wanted to take home a
each one of them wanted to take home a
each one of them wanted to take home a piece of the Pacific Northwest
piece of the Pacific Northwest
piece of the Pacific Northwest so they place container load orders as
so they place container load orders as
so they place container load orders as they left the timing could have been
they left the timing could have been
they left the timing could have been better for a container load order
better for a container load order
better for a container load order because the 50s grain handling system
because the 50s grain handling system
because the 50s grain handling system was antiquated in needing of serious
was antiquated in needing of serious
was antiquated in needing of serious repair in the past in that system each
repair in the past in that system each
repair in the past in that system each grain kernel was touched 10 times
grain kernel was touched 10 times
grain kernel was touched 10 times between the combine and the flour mill
between the combine and the flour mill
between the combine and the flour mill today we load half-ton bags in the
today we load half-ton bags in the
today we load half-ton bags in the combine transfer 60 of them to a
combine transfer 60 of them to a
combine transfer 60 of them to a container in the edge of the field and
container in the edge of the field and
container in the edge of the field and now the rest is history we ship about
now the rest is history we ship about
now the rest is history we ship about 230 ton containers a year into Asia
230 ton containers a year into Asia
230 ton containers a year into Asia container market is cheaper and much
container market is cheaper and much
container market is cheaper and much more capacity so that was one of the big
more capacity so that was one of the big
more capacity so that was one of the big changes that happened at the same time
we were able to a lot you know with the
we were able to a lot you know with the branding the microclimate seed breeding
branding the microclimate seed breeding
branding the microclimate seed breeding program the direct sales the container
program the direct sales the container
program the direct sales the container load shipping gave us a 25% price
load shipping gave us a 25% price
load shipping gave us a 25% price premium for our crop those were all huge
premium for our crop those were all huge
premium for our crop those were all huge benefits to the system in the same time
benefits to the system in the same time
benefits to the system in the same time period in the mid to
period in the mid to
period in the mid to 20 s the farmers were really struggling
20 s the farmers were really struggling
20 s the farmers were really struggling with no-till and ways to seed in the
with no-till and ways to seed in the
with no-till and ways to seed in the no-till a totally unexpected thing
no-till a totally unexpected thing
no-till a totally unexpected thing happened our solution was presented it
happened our solution was presented it
happened our solution was presented it was a small 25 horsepower rubber tracked
was a small 25 horsepower rubber tracked
was a small 25 horsepower rubber tracked riding lawn mower sized tractor called a
riding lawn mower sized tractor called a
riding lawn mower sized tractor called a track bot this is an example of it that
track bot this is an example of it that
track bot this is an example of it that we put together that was put together in
we put together that was put together in
we put together that was put together in 2017 now inside this unit it’s just off
2017 now inside this unit it’s just off
2017 now inside this unit it’s just off the shelf auto industry autonomous
the shelf auto industry autonomous
the shelf auto industry autonomous vehicle electronics commercially
vehicle electronics commercially
vehicle electronics commercially available it was a very simple all
available it was a very simple all
available it was a very simple all equipment was right there because
equipment was right there because
equipment was right there because everybody else in the auto industry and
everybody else in the auto industry and
everybody else in the auto industry and the trucking industry was racing off to
the trucking industry was racing off to
the trucking industry was racing off to do this stuff so this solution allowed
do this stuff so this solution allowed
do this stuff so this solution allowed the farmers to move quickly and and 24/7
the farmers to move quickly and and 24/7
the farmers to move quickly and and 24/7 operation fully autonomous South
operation fully autonomous South
operation fully autonomous South refueling South free charging with
refueling South free charging with
refueling South free charging with supplies controlled with your smartphone
supplies controlled with your smartphone
supplies controlled with your smartphone or tablet became a big solution to
or tablet became a big solution to
or tablet became a big solution to removing the burden of an operator at
removing the burden of an operator at
removing the burden of an operator at that point in time implements and
that point in time implements and
that point in time implements and tractor combinations were about a
tractor combinations were about a
tractor combinations were about a million dollars 600 horsepower tractor
million dollars 600 horsepower tractor
million dollars 600 horsepower tractor six hundred thousand dollars a grain
six hundred thousand dollars a grain
six hundred thousand dollars a grain drill three hundred fifty thousand
drill three hundred fifty thousand
drill three hundred fifty thousand dollars the bot a fleet of BOTS
dollars the bot a fleet of BOTS
dollars the bot a fleet of BOTS operating could displace that for under
operating could displace that for under
operating could displace that for under $200,000 an 80% reduction in cost to the
$200,000 an 80% reduction in cost to the
$200,000 an 80% reduction in cost to the farmer large and small farms could adopt
farmer large and small farms could adopt
farmer large and small farms could adopt this small machine because it was right
this small machine because it was right
this small machine because it was right size and had high precision six-inch row
size and had high precision six-inch row
size and had high precision six-inch row spacings that could hold it was so
spacings that could hold it was so
spacings that could hold it was so disruptive
disruptive
disruptive in the marketplace the farmers that
in the marketplace the farmers that
in the marketplace the farmers that adopted it quickly and early it didn’t
adopted it quickly and early it didn’t
adopted it quickly and early it didn’t matter what the size was of their farm
matter what the size was of their farm
matter what the size was of their farm they were able to sell their equipment
they were able to sell their equipment
they were able to sell their equipment at traditional prices by the bots they
at traditional prices by the bots they
at traditional prices by the bots they needed and put money in the bank the
needed and put money in the bank the
needed and put money in the bank the farmers that waited just five years
farmers that waited just five years
farmers that waited just five years getting into about two thousand thirty
getting into about two thousand thirty
getting into about two thousand thirty law only got pennies on the dollar for
law only got pennies on the dollar for
law only got pennies on the dollar for their farm equipment I remember driving
their farm equipment I remember driving
their farm equipment I remember driving through the community about that time
through the community about that time
through the community about that time and every time my kids saw one of those
and every time my kids saw one of those
and every time my kids saw one of those yards full of equipment waiting to be
yards full of equipment waiting to be
yards full of equipment waiting to be scrapped out they would yell junk garden
technology brings negative and positive
technology brings negative and positive there’s not always smiles all the way
there’s not always smiles all the way
there’s not always smiles all the way around and it was a big impact deer in
around and it was a big impact deer in
around and it was a big impact deer in Case IH we’re even caught off guard they
Case IH we’re even caught off guard they
Case IH we’re even caught off guard they were still monkeying around we’re trying
were still monkeying around we’re trying
were still monkeying around we’re trying to control a 40-foot implement this
to control a 40-foot implement this
to control a 40-foot implement this right-sized machine created a huge
right-sized machine created a huge
right-sized machine created a huge breakthrough right at the same time this
breakthrough right at the same time this
breakthrough right at the same time this was happening the wheat community began
was happening the wheat community began
was happening the wheat community began to learn how to control or how to
to learn how to control or how to
to learn how to control or how to supplement the soils with black carbon
supplement the soils with black carbon
supplement the soils with black carbon and at just a basic natural element that
and at just a basic natural element that
and at just a basic natural element that we have it built better nutrients and
we have it built better nutrients and
we have it built better nutrients and moisture control and social structure a
moisture control and social structure a
moisture control and social structure a soil agronomist and a soil scientist in
soil agronomist and a soil scientist in
soil agronomist and a soil scientist in that time formed a company called black
that time formed a company called black
that time formed a company called black or called carbon brothers and they had a
or called carbon brothers and they had a
or called carbon brothers and they had a breakthrough that coated the wheat seed
breakthrough that coated the wheat seed
breakthrough that coated the wheat seed with the black carbon to form a cocoon
with the black carbon to form a cocoon
with the black carbon to form a cocoon that gave the wheat growers a 20%
that gave the wheat growers a 20%
that gave the wheat growers a 20% increase in yield 10 years later about
increase in yield 10 years later about
increase in yield 10 years later about 2033
2033
2033 35 in that time period they came out
35 in that time period they came out
35 in that time period they came out with their second disruptive technology
with their second disruptive technology
with their second disruptive technology it was a way to seed the wheat without
it was a way to seed the wheat without
it was a way to seed the wheat without breaking the capillary channels now the
breaking the capillary channels now the
breaking the capillary channels now the carbon brothers up to the
carbon brothers up to the
carbon brothers up to the time had been you know getting great
time had been you know getting great
time had been you know getting great effects with the black carbon and the
effects with the black carbon and the
effects with the black carbon and the local research universities at that time
local research universities at that time
local research universities at that time we’re also preaching that you needed to
we’re also preaching that you needed to
we’re also preaching that you needed to break the capillary effect to preserve
break the capillary effect to preserve
break the capillary effect to preserve moisture but the brothers went out to
moisture but the brothers went out to
moisture but the brothers went out to the CRP idled CRP ground and began to
the CRP idled CRP ground and began to
the CRP idled CRP ground and began to research out there and found that if
research out there and found that if
research out there and found that if they did not break that they had much
they did not break that they had much
they did not break that they had much better benefits they found that when you
better benefits they found that when you
better benefits they found that when you broke the capillary effect it was the
broke the capillary effect it was the
broke the capillary effect it was the equivalent to an avalanche on i-90 in
equivalent to an avalanche on i-90 in
equivalent to an avalanche on i-90 in the mountains you cut off food water and
the mountains you cut off food water and
the mountains you cut off food water and other supplies to the microorganisms in
other supplies to the microorganisms in
other supplies to the microorganisms in the soil so it was a totally disruptive
the soil so it was a totally disruptive
the soil so it was a totally disruptive technology that they came up with it was
technology that they came up with it was
technology that they came up with it was a small whirligig biodegradable you used
a small whirligig biodegradable you used
a small whirligig biodegradable you used it one time they would fly him off and
it one time they would fly him off and
it one time they would fly him off and it would seed itself into the ground
it would seed itself into the ground
it would seed itself into the ground now we dryland wheat farming you need at
now we dryland wheat farming you need at
now we dryland wheat farming you need at least a half a million seeds per acre so
least a half a million seeds per acre so
least a half a million seeds per acre so they had a machine developed that would
they had a machine developed that would
they had a machine developed that would launch a hundred thousand these machines
launch a hundred thousand these machines
launch a hundred thousand these machines a minute these gigs whirligigs it was
a minute these gigs whirligigs it was
a minute these gigs whirligigs it was quite a sight to see that just flying
quite a sight to see that just flying
quite a sight to see that just flying across the field swarms of these but no
across the field swarms of these but no
across the field swarms of these but no longer were they tilling the ground
longer were they tilling the ground
longer were they tilling the ground they’re just screwing so that only
they’re just screwing so that only
they’re just screwing so that only happened because the farmers at that
happened because the farmers at that
happened because the farmers at that time realized they needed to become
time realized they needed to become
time realized they needed to become systems thinkers they needed to learn
systems thinkers they needed to learn
systems thinkers they needed to learn how to use advanced financial analysis
how to use advanced financial analysis
how to use advanced financial analysis tools they needed a learn statistical
tools they needed a learn statistical
tools they needed a learn statistical analysis they needed to be scientific
analysis they needed to be scientific
analysis they needed to be scientific problem solvers those were the things
problem solvers those were the things
problem solvers those were the things that allowed for a lot of these changes
that allowed for a lot of these changes
that allowed for a lot of these changes to happen also the farmers in that in
to happen also the farmers in that in
to happen also the farmers in that in 2050 now they need to have four basic
2050 now they need to have four basic
2050 now they need to have four basic key competencies to be able to make a
key competencies to be able to make a
key competencies to be able to make a lot of the right decisions
lot of the right decisions
lot of the right decisions chemistry is so critical biology
chemistry is so critical biology
chemistry is so critical biology soil and plant sciences are the key core
soil and plant sciences are the key core
soil and plant sciences are the key core competencies to a farm today in 2050
competencies to a farm today in 2050
competencies to a farm today in 2050 these farmers have learned that a data
these farmers have learned that a data
these farmers have learned that a data plus a question equals information and
plus a question equals information and
plus a question equals information and they’ve learned that they need to be
they’ve learned that they need to be
they’ve learned that they need to be asking the right questions of the data
asking the right questions of the data
asking the right questions of the data they’re collecting in the autonomous
they’re collecting in the autonomous
they’re collecting in the autonomous farm today in 2050 we have enormous
farm today in 2050 we have enormous
farm today in 2050 we have enormous amounts of data coming in from all
amounts of data coming in from all
amounts of data coming in from all places of the farm that data plus a
places of the farm that data plus a
places of the farm that data plus a question is really the blueprint of the
question is really the blueprint of the
question is really the blueprint of the coding that they use to tell that
coding that they use to tell that
coding that they use to tell that autonomous systems what to do so thank
autonomous systems what to do so thank
autonomous systems what to do so thank you for taking a little journey with me
you for taking a little journey with me
you for taking a little journey with me into the future of the good bad and the
into the future of the good bad and the
into the future of the good bad and the ugly of the future of farming
”
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