I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds — achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.
—From the FFA Creed
FFA has always been grounded in the future, whether it’s the one sitting in a classroom today or the one that is a generation away. And now, through the release of the new documentary “From the Heartland,” that future is being put into sharp focus.
In the film, Feikema Farms of Luverne, Minn., not only connects the past to the present but sets its sights on improving agriculture — and agriculture’s story — for generations to come.
“From the Heartland” — in part, sponsored by John Deere — looks at the evolution of farming and makes the connection between small-town survival and the value of community and how it all is woven through agriculture. As it is said in the film about that link, “all of our money comes from the dirt.”
At the center of the documentary are Shawn and Mike Feikema, brothers and third-generation farmers. After witnessing a devastating flood in 2014 and seeing how it washed away their farmland, the brothers knew changes were needed. That’s when they began exploring cover crops and instituting strip-tilling techniques.
“We’re not perfect. We’ve got flaws. But we’re doing everything we can to be the best stewards of the earth God’s given us,” Shawn Feikema said. “… Because there’s a lot of things in this world you can do without, but you can’t do without food.”
And the film plainly states you can’t do without soil either.
“Our main goal, I think, is to tell the story of agriculture,” Feikema said. “Because it’s a story people need to hear and understand.”
Sustainability and technology
Part of that story aligns directly with addressing an ag industry issue around reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And when it comes to crop-based renewable fuels, whether that be in a main crop or a cover crop like camelina, Feikema Farms and John Deere both see opportunities.
“I don’t think everyone fully understands the role that renewable fuels can play in helping to decarbonize the planet,” Zack Weatherspoon, John Deere’s director of sustainability, said.
For the Feikemas, being able to rely on old and new John Deere technology has made their progressive shift possible and more manageable.
“Deere’s guidance systems showed us we could do this,” Shawn said. “And as that technology was built out with boundary track and AutoPath™ — and getting sub-inch accuracy — that was the proof we needed to allow us to do strip-tilling.”
Shawn’s wife, Becky, also credited “a convergence of technology and data collection” that gave them the ability to manage their operation more efficiently and make decisions with more confidence.
Aaron Wetzel, vice president of production systems and precision agriculture at John Deere, said that story shines through in the film and should be of interest to FFA members.
“It’s about the opportunities that exist in agriculture. For young people looking for career opportunities, many of them dismiss agriculture as an option and they don’t understand really what they can do in agriculture,” Wetzel, a National FFA Sponsors’ Board member, said. “That’s where FFA is out promoting the opportunities for careers across the entire spectrum of agriculture, from producing the food, processing, and marketing — the entire food value chain exists where there are opportunities for kids to come in and play a meaningful role in pursuing their career aspirations.”
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