If you've ever seen the fascination that kids have with tractors or farm equipment - how they pretend to farm while running their toys over carpet - then you might have a sense of what drives Tanner Johnson.

31 year old Tanner Johnson did not grow up on a farm, but he always knew he wanted to be a farmer.  Throughout his life, he was a shadow to local farmers doing whatever he could to be involved.  Milking cows, doing field work - didn't matter, Tanner was in.

Today, that 31 year old is doing what he loves - farming.  He's currently at home in the small community of Prairie Farm in Barron County.  In addition to soybeans, he is involved in the production of corn, winter wheat, alfalfa hay, and various cover crop species in a long-term, no-till environment. Most soybeans produced on the operation are food-grade soybeans and are primarily exported to Southeast Asia for human consumption.

Outside of crop production, Tanner owns and operates a Pioneer Seed agency and agronomy consulting business with his two business partners. Their primary business focus is helping farmers become more profitable and productive in a sustainable manner.

Tanner doesn't limit his engagement in farming to just being ON the farm.  He has been involved with the Wisconsin Soybean Association since 2017 when he graduated from the DuPont Young Leaders Program. Tanner was elected to the Wisconsin Soybean Association board of directors in 2021 and serves as an at-large director. Johnson was elected to serve on the American Soybean Association board in December 2022 and serves on the regulatory committee.

He explains to Pam Jahnke why he's driven to be a farmer that's engaged in helping influence his future as a farmer.

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Pam Jahnke sits down with Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Extension Soybean Specialist to discuss his Wisconsin soybean harvest observations so far.  Conley says he's pretty confident the state's overall yields will be down compared to a year ago, and cautions operators to be careful with settings on combines to make sure they're getting every bean they've grown.

Conley also says the dry weather conditions the state's dealing with could mean an elevated Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) population going forward.  He says research shows in times of moisture stress, the nematode will actually produce more eggs that can be harbored in the soil until the next soybean crop shows up. Fortunately, the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board will pay for up to four SCN test samples, per grower, to try and get those numbers now.

Conley also noted that despite reduced yields, the annual Wisconsin Soybean Yield Contest has received over 100 entries for this year's contest.  Winners will be recognized during the 2025 Wisconsin Corn Soy Expo in Wisconsin Dells.

To follow the latest harvest updates, go to coolbean.info.  To find out more about how your soybean checkoff dollars are being invested go to the Wisconsin Soybean website.

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From cover crops to seed selection.  Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Extension Soybean Specialist has a full plate of research projects he, and his graduate students, are focused on for the 2024 growing season.

Conley tells Pam Jahnke that through Wisconsin soybean checkoff investments, they'll be focused on better understanding what cover crops can mean for growers.  Yes, it will help mitigate weeds - but what does it do in a drought year?  Conley's also focusing on the buzz surrounding carbon credits and what it could mean for enhanced revenue.  All of it, focused on profitability.

Conley expresses his appreciation in the "give and take" conversations he has with growers.  Their straightforward discussion about research projects that matter to them and their farming operation not only resonates with Conley, but also forms his thesis on where projects need to go.

Find out more about upcoming research events and where checkoff dollars are going at wisoybean.org.

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Adam Kask is the executive director of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.  His role is to oversee spending of Wisconsin soybean checkoff dollars, and make sure they're channeled to investments that will pay dividends to growers.

Pam Jahnke sits down to talk with Kask about his background, and what he finds exciting about the Wisconsin soybean story and where beans are being used.  A few highlights include the recent addition of Wisconsin to the Northern Soybean Marketing Association.  Leveraging Wisconsin soybean investments is what Kask is all about.

You'll also learn about soybeans being used as ingredients for building materials, as well as an innovative new development using soybeans as a part of a formula for fire fighting foam!

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During the 2024 Wisconsin Corn/Soy Expo in WI Dells, the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board announced the recipients of research dollars, generated by Wisconsin Soybean Growers.  Pat Mullooly is the current president of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.  He sits down to visit with Pam Jahnke about the direction research will go in 2024, as well as reflecting on previous projects and the dividends it provides for Wisconsin Soybean Growers.
Brought to you courtesy of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.

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Doug Monson, a managing partner for the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, visits with Pam Jahnke about developing details for the Wisconsin Corn Soy Expo, Feb. 1-2 in Wisconsin Dells. 

Monson also reminds soybean growers about some of the business benefits they reveal during the expo too.  The annual business meeting that takes place during the expo allows producers to hear updates on where their state checkoff dollars have been invested, as well as learning about some of the research results they can take to the field.

Monson also explains the benefits of membership and why it makes good business sense to be a part of the association.

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Fabulous Farm Babe Pam Jahnke talks with Dr. Damon Smith on this episode on PODTalk. They talk about field research and soybean diseases. Smith started his career in Wisconsin looking at fungicide effectiveness and that has grown into data analysis and developing  apps. Many research topics by Dr. Smith and his team are driven by conversation with growers in Wisconsin and the issues they are facing year over year. He is quick to credit the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board to help fund this research over the years. To learn more, visit https://wisoybean.org/wsmb/ or https://badgercropdoc.com/. 

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According to Wisconsin soybean growers, our stakeholders, waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) continues to be the most difficult-to-control and concerning weed species in Wisconsin's corn-soybean production systems.

During the summer of 2023, UW-Extension Weed Specialist, Dr. Rodrigo Werle, received several calls regarding lack of complete post-emergence waterhemp control with Callisto and/or dicamba in corn and with Enlist One in soybeans. Thanks to support from the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, we've been able to launch an immediate investigation into why this is happening through,

Werle explains to Pam Jahnke that Wisconsin farmers, agronomists, and industry representatives are being invited to collect waterhemp seeds this fall from Wisconsin corn and soybean production fields where Callisto, dicamba, and/or Enlist One didn’t provide satisfactory post-emergence waterhemp control and submit them to the UW-Madison’s Wisconsin Cropping Systems Weed Science lab for herbicide resistance screenings.

Werle intends to screen the waterhemp samples in the greenhouse for resistance to Callisto (mesotrione; Group 27), Enlist One (2,4-D; Group 4), dicamba (Group 4), and glufosinate (Liberty; Group 10). Results will be made available to those who submit the samples after the greenhouse screenings are completed.

There is no cost associated with the herbicide resistance screenings. The only cost will be your time to collect the seed samples, thanks in part to Wisconsin soybean checkoff dollars made available through the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.

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Wisconsin soybean research has come a long way in a decade.  From side-by-side variety trials, to today's apps and prescription forecasting for individual fields.

Today's podcast, brought to you by the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, features Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Extension Soybean Specialist, speaking to the ways that soybean checkoff dollars are being invested.

From drone technology designed to target specific problems in the field, to sustainability research - everything is focused on providing a strong return on investment to Wisconsin soybean checkoff dollars.

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Steve Wilkens, Random Lake, Wisconsin, is the owner/operator of Silver Creek Grain and a board member of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board. This sixth generation farmer is also an agronomist and has been a part of the board for more than eight years. Production for soybean growers remains steady but Wilkens enjoys learning and helping to invest checkoff dollars into the marketing side of the business. Currently, the ROI for growers is $12.34 for each checkoff dollar spent. 

Wisconsin also has a competitive advantage with renowned researchers in Dr. Shawn Conley, Dr. Damon Smith and Dr. Rodrigo Werle. Join Pam Jahnke and Steve Wilkens as they discuss checkoff dollars and ROI for Wisconsin Farmers. Click here for details.

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