Fighting
the Good Fight for Farmers and Our Future
By: Dr. Jacqueline Applegate, President of
Bayer’s Crop Science division in North America
The years have brought improved technologies and exciting innovation, but also the need to navigate new weather patterns, increasing public scrutiny, complicated international trade realities, and more.
The sentiment of Ag Day is that farmers do not stand alone. We, as an industry – many of us having grown up on farms, or like me, in a rural community – are deeply invested in the success of farmers. And every day, but especially on Ag Day, is an opportunity to show our gratitude to the men and women who work tirelessly to provide the needed food, feed, fiber and fuel for our growing world.
Bayer is dedicated to supporting
farmers on and off the field – including advocacy on behalf of their interests.
We partner with grower groups and industry associations to advocate on issues
that impact farmers, including support for farmers’ access to options when it
comes to choosing the technologies they need to run their operations
productively and sustainably.
As
more and more of society finds itself removed from farming, we are there to
tell the story of American agriculture and champion its needs – from Washington,
to state capitals and even globally – anywhere decisions impacting farmers’
businesses are being made.
I am proud to lock arms
with others in the industry in defense of farmers’ access to the best and most
sustainable technologies available today. And my colleagues and I work
tirelessly to develop and deliver transformative
solutions for tomorrow – like our Smart Corn System with Short Stature Corn,
which will help customers succeed through holistic solutions that help manage
risk through season-long access and improved standability in difficult weather.
Every investment we make in innovation
is also an investment in sustainability, which is
important to Bayer, important to the customers we serve today, and important to
the next generation that will inherit our progress to lead the agriculture of
tomorrow.
Being at the forefront of what’s next for agriculture requires
a commitment to cultivating a workforce of the future. We are passionate about
supporting the next generation of ag leaders through partnerships like our Science
Matters initiative to provide the 4-H STEM challenge, Ag Innovators
Experience, Youth in Action Award, and Ignite
by 4-H. It is also an honor to sponsor the youth
organizations participating in Ag Day, including 4-H, FFA, MANRRS, and AFA.
Building the future of
farming requires insight and foresight to convert some of the world’s biggest
challenges into the biggest breakthroughs for mankind. In a rapidly changing
world, the stable roots of agriculture’s rich history provide the inspiration to
innovate for an even better tomorrow.
While National Ag Day
allows us to recognize and celebrate the pivotal role of America’s agriculture
industry, I encourage everyone to join me in being an AGvocate every day! Let’s
all do our part to share and support the amazing story of American agriculture.
