Farmers may just be starting the 2009 harvest, but they should be thinking about ordering supplies for 2010 if they haven't already done so. That was one of the valuable pieces of advice shared with Southwest Landmark customers at Croplan's Answer Plot Knowledge Event in South Charleston earlier this month.

The supply-and-demand cycle has shifted to a point where demand will likely be high and supplies will be low. Farmers are advised to order earlier than usual if they don't want to be stuck with nice Spring weather and no seed or fertilizer with which to begin the growing season.

Farmers in attendance at the event also learned about selecting the right genetics and placement and became familiar with Croplan's R7 (TM) Placement Strategy. Brad Miller, who is the Croplan Genetics Seed Product Brand Manager for Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, demonstrated the strategy, which is used to evaluate all contributing production factors and help growers match the right seed to each field, including:

1. The right genetics for
2. The right soil type at
3. The right plant population in
4. The right cropping system with
5. The right traits fed
6. The right plant nutrition defended with
7. The right crop protection

Farmers could see first-hand the differences in root quality, stalk quality and yield depending on the population, from 24,000 to 42,000 per acre and learned how they can minimize risk with medium population and diversity.

The Monsanto Mobile Technology Unit was on hand to showcase advances in plant breeding, biotechnology and new product innovations focused on corn and soybeans that support farmer success. Participants learned that it takes eight to ten years and an investment of $50 million to $100 million to develop and introduce a single, new trait.

"That is why we are so strongly committed to developing new technologies that can help farmers increase their yields, improve their profitability and participate in new market opportunities for their crops," said Mike Stern, Monsanto Vice President-U.S. Commercial.