Water2 Corn
Integrated, targeted solutions are helping growers convert water to grain more effectively.
When David Elser thinks back to his childhood visits to an Iowa county fair, what he remembers most vividly isn't the rides, the food or the livestock. What he recalls instead are intense public discussions on corn yields and angst about rainfall - something that likely resonates with most growers, particularly those in the Corn Belt.
Formerly head of water optimization at Syngenta, Elser often recounts this story when speaking with researchers and colleagues about the importance of providing growers with tools to address the age-old irony of agriculture - that the most critical input in growing a successful crop is also the most variable and unpredictable.
"There's a reason why so many growers say a successful crop is dependent on Mother Nature - because it's all about water," says Elser, who is now head of U.S. corn and soybean seeds customer operations. "As an industry, it's up to us to provide growers with technologies and solutions that can help them make the most of the water they have."
The Landscape for Water Optimization
The need for water optimization, which Syngenta defines as the conversion of more of the available water to grain, has never been more pressing. Findings from a recent Syngenta global research report confirm the public's belief that producing more food for a growing population will be an important challenge in the next decade. But when asked to assess the role of water, respondents were stumped. The consensus that agriculture will require more water was accompanied by a recognition that an increase in water use will lead to greater water scarcity.
This reality - that water is the greatest limiting factor in the world's ability to feed a growing population - is what motivates members of the Syngenta water optimization team as they develop solutions to help growers convert water to grain more effectively. From technical research projects to commercial programs that encompass irrigated and non-irrigated platforms, the team focuses on several initiatives.
"We can meet the 21st century water challenge," Elser says. "But technology acceptance and integration are crucial. Our commitment to water optimization is bolstered by research, technical depth and a robust portfolio of water-optimized inputs and solutions."
Water Optimization Realized
As the current head of water optimization at Syngenta, Chris Tingle spends a lot of time thinking about water, which, he points out, is something growers think about every day. But more specifically, Tingle's efforts focus on growing more corn with less water, which has become a reality on more than 40,000 acres of irrigated cornfields across the Corn Belt, thanks to Water+™ Intelligent Irrigation Platform. This
"At the most basic level, when we talk about ways corn growers can optimize water to maximize yield in both irrigated and non-irrigated settings, we focus on planting the best hybrids, controlling weeds early in the season and protecting the plant from disease and harsh environments," Tingle says. "There are several flagship water-optimization technologies within the Syngenta corn portfolio that growers have come to recognize as game changers."
These technologies include Agrisure Artesian® corn hybrids, which contain scientifically selected genes to offer season-long drought protection; Quilt Xcel® fungicide, which improves the plant's water-use efficiency by reducing water loss; and Lexar® EZ and Lumax® EZ pre-emergent residual herbicides, which eliminate weeds that compete with plants for water and nutrients.
Growers who participate in Water+ Intelligent Irrigation Platform benefit from the support and strategic counsel of a service team that advises them on crop inputs and management practices, Tingle explains. Participating growers also gain access to FieldNET® by Lindsay wireless irrigation management, allowing for real-time remote control and monitoring of their pivots.
With FieldNET, growers stay informed about their crop irrigation, and have more information about and greater control over their operations, while spending less time in the field.
Formerly head of water optimization at Syngenta, Elser often recounts this story when speaking with researchers and colleagues about the importance of providing growers with tools to address the age-old irony of agriculture - that the most critical input in growing a successful crop is also the most variable and unpredictable.
"There's a reason why so many growers say a successful crop is dependent on Mother Nature - because it's all about water," says Elser, who is now head of U.S. corn and soybean seeds customer operations. "As an industry, it's up to us to provide growers with technologies and solutions that can help them make the most of the water they have."
The Landscape for Water Optimization
The need for water optimization, which Syngenta defines as the conversion of more of the available water to grain, has never been more pressing. Findings from a recent Syngenta global research report confirm the public's belief that producing more food for a growing population will be an important challenge in the next decade. But when asked to assess the role of water, respondents were stumped. The consensus that agriculture will require more water was accompanied by a recognition that an increase in water use will lead to greater water scarcity.
This reality - that water is the greatest limiting factor in the world's ability to feed a growing population - is what motivates members of the Syngenta water optimization team as they develop solutions to help growers convert water to grain more effectively. From technical research projects to commercial programs that encompass irrigated and non-irrigated platforms, the team focuses on several initiatives.
"We can meet the 21st century water challenge," Elser says. "But technology acceptance and integration are crucial. Our commitment to water optimization is bolstered by research, technical depth and a robust portfolio of water-optimized inputs and solutions."
Water Optimization Realized
As the current head of water optimization at Syngenta, Chris Tingle spends a lot of time thinking about water, which, he points out, is something growers think about every day. But more specifically, Tingle's efforts focus on growing more corn with less water, which has become a reality on more than 40,000 acres of irrigated cornfields across the Corn Belt, thanks to Water+™ Intelligent Irrigation Platform. This
integrated solution brings together market-leading agronomic products, irrigation technologies, and services from Syngenta and Lindsay Corporation, a leading provider of irrigation systems."Water is the common denominator on any farm - from the irrigated fields in the western Corn Belt to the rain-fed soils in the East. No acre is exempt."
"At the most basic level, when we talk about ways corn growers can optimize water to maximize yield in both irrigated and non-irrigated settings, we focus on planting the best hybrids, controlling weeds early in the season and protecting the plant from disease and harsh environments," Tingle says. "There are several flagship water-optimization technologies within the Syngenta corn portfolio that growers have come to recognize as game changers."
These technologies include Agrisure Artesian® corn hybrids, which contain scientifically selected genes to offer season-long drought protection; Quilt Xcel® fungicide, which improves the plant's water-use efficiency by reducing water loss; and Lexar® EZ and Lumax® EZ pre-emergent residual herbicides, which eliminate weeds that compete with plants for water and nutrients.
Growers who participate in Water+ Intelligent Irrigation Platform benefit from the support and strategic counsel of a service team that advises them on crop inputs and management practices, Tingle explains. Participating growers also gain access to FieldNET® by Lindsay wireless irrigation management, allowing for real-time remote control and monitoring of their pivots.
With FieldNET, growers stay informed about their crop irrigation, and have more information about and greater control over their operations, while spending less time in the field.
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