National program puts focus on Holland farm

HOLLAND — Farmers are forever searching for the formula to pull more corn or beans out of their fields at harvest time. For a Holland farmer, that search has made him part of a national program searching for the magical 300 bushel per acre mark.

The Mosaic Company brought its Road to Higher Yields Farm Tour to Holland last Friday, where local farmer Dale Launstein opened his operation to media. The farm is one of six being visited in 10 days by Mosaic as part of its Pursuit of 300 program.

"I think this is a good chance to educate and to get people to understand what we're trying to do and how we're trying to do it," Launstein said. "We don't have the 1950s look of agriculture anymore with the barn and a few cows, a few pigs, a few chickens. We're in the new face of agriculture — 21st century farming, modern agriculture. It gives me a chance to tell our story and allow you guys to see what we're doing and why."

Mosaic spokesperson Mara Ryan said the Road to Higher Yields tour culminates a year-long cycle that began at last year's Farm Progress Show. She said the tour is opening a window to each of the farms located in six Midwest states.

"We're trying to catalog differences and similarities and share those on our Web site so people can better understand what the (Pursuit of 300) program is about," she said.

A key component of the program is placing each operator with an agronomist whom they can bounce ideas off of. Launstein began working with Dr. Kyle Freeman last fall and said the relationship his proven to be mutually beneficial.

Read the full article in the Aug. 29 edition of the Register.