If you've ever seen the fascination that kids have with tractors or farm equipment - how they pretend to farm while running their toys over carpet - then you might have a sense of what drives Tanner Johnson.

31 year old Tanner Johnson did not grow up on a farm, but he always knew he wanted to be a farmer. Throughout his life, he was a shadow to local farmers doing whatever he could to be involved. Milking cows, doing field work - didn't matter, Tanner was in.

Today, that 31 year old is doing what he loves - farming. He's currently at home in the small community of Prairie Farm in Barron County. In addition to soybeans, he is involved in the production of corn, winter wheat, alfalfa hay, and various cover crop species in a long-term, no-till environment. Most soybeans produced on the operation are food-grade soybeans and are primarily exported to Southeast Asia for human consumption.

Outside of crop production, Tanner owns and operates a Pioneer Seed agency and agronomy consulting business with his two business partners. Their primary business focus is helping farmers become more profitable and productive in a sustainable manner.

Tanner doesn't limit his engagement in farming to just being ON the farm. He has been involved with the Wisconsin Soybean Association since 2017 when he graduated from the DuPont Young Leaders Program. Tanner was elected to the Wisconsin Soybean Association board of directors in 2021 and serves as an at-large director. Johnson was elected to serve on the American Soybean Association board in December 2022 and serves on the regulatory committee.

He explains to Pam Jahnke why he's driven to be a farmer that's engaged in helping influence his future as a farmer.

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Pam Jahnke sits down with Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Extension Soybean Specialist to discuss his Wisconsin soybean harvest observations so far. Conley says he's pretty confident the state's overall yields will be down compared to a year ago, and cautions operators to be careful with settings on combines to make sure they're getting every bean they've grown.

Conley also says the dry weather conditions the state's dealing with could mean an elevated Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) population going forward. He says research shows in times of moisture stress, the nematode will actually produce more eggs that can be harbored in the soil until the next soybean crop shows up. Fortunately, the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board will pay for up to four SCN test samples, per grower, to try and get those numbers now.

Conley also noted that despite reduced yields, the annual Wisconsin Soybean Yield Contest has received over 100 entries for this year's contest. Winners will be recognized during the 2025 Wisconsin Corn Soy Expo in Wisconsin Dells.

To follow the latest harvest updates, go to coolbean.info. To find out more about how your soybean checkoff dollars are being invested go to the Wisconsin Soybean website.

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From cover crops to seed selection. Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Extension Soybean Specialist has a full plate of research projects he, and his graduate students, are focused on for the 2024 growing season.

Conley tells Pam Jahnke that through Wisconsin soybean checkoff investments, they'll be focused on better understanding what cover crops can mean for growers. Yes, it will help mitigate weeds - but what does it do in a drought year? Conley's also focusing on the buzz surrounding carbon credits and what it could mean for enhanced revenue. All of it, focused on profitability.

Conley expresses his appreciation in the "give and take" conversations he has with growers. Their straightforward discussion about research projects that matter to them and their farming operation not only resonates with Conley, but also forms his thesis on where projects need to go.

Find out more about upcoming research events and where checkoff dollars are going at wisoybean.org.

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