Bret Davis and his family welcomed Ag Biotech Grad Academy participants to their farm during the recent teacher workshop.

Davis talked to the teachers about the family farm and how agricultural practices have changed over time. “The farm is located in the district I teach in, so it was really interesting to be able to make real connections to families and their careers that affect my students’ everyday lives,” Buckeye Valley High School instructor Christina Della Rocco said.

Teachers were able to get a close-up look at modern farm equipment. Participants said they appreciated hearing about the farmer’s business plan and how decisions are made.

Corteva Agriscience product manager and GNG industry leader Jerron Schmoll pulled the workshop topics of plants, pollinators, and pests together for the group. Schmoll shared about the Pioneer pollinator habitat outreach program, a partnership with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever to encourage local pollinator habitat projects.

Schmoll also talked about aphid management and how beneficial insects suppress pest populations. In bringing an insecticide to market, considerations include making sure the product has a safe environmental profile. Longer-term management involves biologicals, a more recent area of research.

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