shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com March 15, 2016 • Page 17 National Ag Week March 13-19, 2016 Increased Student Employment Opportunities Communication Means An electronics revolution has transformed traditional farming into a hightech business. Today’s farmers work with technologies like GPS navigation, automated steering, and wireless communications. To stay ahead of these new technologies, farm businesses now can find help from South Dakota State University students who are enrolled in a precision agriculture program. Seventy-eight students are currently enrolled in the precision agriculture minor at SDSU. The College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences provides the precision ag coursework for students in its Ag Systems Technology (B.S) program as well as the Agronomy program (B.S.). According to Van Kelley, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department Head, approximately 150 students majoring in Ag Systems Technology and 300 Agronomy majors will take some type of precision agriculture course during their time at SDSU to help them navigate the new electronics and data management technologies used in farming. These students will be some of the best-equipped graduates entering the ag job market. Precision ag is currently offered as a minor, but could be a major as soon as fall 2017, according to Nicholas Uilk, M.Ed., Ag Systems Technology Instructor. If this occurs, the SDSU Bachelors of Science degree in precision ag will be the first in the U.S. “We are really excited to roll out this new major,” Uilk says. “We look forward to having a better-prepared student entering the ever-changing precision ag world.” The goal of the program is to make sure precision ag graduates have a strong background in agronomy, ag machinery, electronics and data management, according to Uilk. Employers look for students who have an understanding in all four areas. For example, they need an employee who can troubleshoot electronics on machinery, or who understands agronomy when analyzing data. Potential employment for these students may be at an equipment deal- ership as a precision ag specialist, with an agronomics service provider, or as an ag mapping specialist, Uilk explains. Keeping up with the newest technologies can be tough. “Precision agriculture is constantly changing and staying current is a challenge,” he adds. “So we try to keep students knowledgeable on current issues that they will face as they step into the precision ag world.” SDSU students recently attended two national events to build their knowledge about new technologies. In late January, six SDSU students attended the Precision Ag Innovation Series conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The program focused on how growers and their consultants make the best use of data collected from farm machinery about their crops. Nine SDSU students attended the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) in Louisville, Kentucky, held in mid-February. It is one of the largest indoor farm shows with exhibits from most major agricultural equipment and electronic companies. Amendments Can Help Produce Healthy Soil Mother Nature provides plenty to grow healthy lawns, gardens and landscapes. But as many homeowners know, some lawns sometimes need a little extra boost to complement nature. Soil sometimes must be amended so plants can thrive. Only after the right composition is created can plants take root and perform to the best of their abilities. The Colorado State University Extension defines a soil amendment as any material added to soil to improve its physical properties. The goal is to provide a better environment for roots. Depending on what you are starting with, any number of ingredients must be added to the soil recipe. Water retention, permeability, drainage, aeration, nutrients, and water infiltration are some of the things amendments can improve when added to soil. Before homeowners add anything to the soil in their yards, it is first important to determine what that soil needs. Homeowners may notice if soil is overly sandy or full of clay, but further testing can confirm what the soil is lacking. Soil tests are often available through local cooperative extension offices or private laboratories. Speak with a nursery or garden center about where you can get your soil tested. A comprehensive test may cost between $5 and $10 and can provide invaluable information that saves you hundreds of dollars in wasted plants and materials, not to mention effort. Some labs also can tailor their recommendations based on the type of planting you will be doing. For example, a vegetable garden may need different amendments than a row of azalea bushes. Organic matter is a preferred soil amendment used by professional and novice gardeners alike. The decaying remains of plants release nutrients that are absorbed into the soil and used by microorganisms and bacteria, creating a healthy environment for plants. Organic material may break up compacted soil to increase drainage. In sandy soil, organic material serves as a sponge to keep water from washing away. Compost and manure are two examples of frequently used organic materials. Both of these materials are readily available at little cost. Compost can be produced at home from food and plant scraps. Raked leaves and small amounts of grass clippings can be added to compost. Over time, the decomposition process will turn scraps into a nutrientrich, dark brown substance that provides many plants with all they need to thrive. Compost is particularly useful in vegetable gardens. Manure should come from herbivores, or those animals that sustain themselves on grass and other plants. Carnivores can produce harmful bacteria in their waste, which is not safe to use in gardens, particularly food-bearing gardens. Manure can be commercially purchased, or avid gardeners can work out arrangements with nearby livestock owners and farms. These people may be more than willing to give you manure for little to no cost if you cart it away. Dried manure is preferred because it will have minimal odor. Additional forms of organic amendments include wood ash, sphagnum peat, wood chips, sawdust, and worm droppings. Inorganic amendments also may be used, and are usually relied on to improve water retention and drainage. Vermiculite, perlite, pea gravel, and sand are examples of inorganic amendments. A combination of organic and inorganic amendments can create the perfect mix for your needs. Soil amendments typically are added to new and unplanted beds. Peat moss and shredded bark take years to decompose and will serve as long-term amendments in the soil. Compost breaks down quickly and may need to be worked in more frequently. Experts recommend spreading amendments on the planting bed and then using a rake or tiller to work it in to a depth of about nine inches. Particularly sandy soil or soil with a lot of clay may need more amendments. Permanent plants, such as trees or shrubs, also can benefit from the extra nutrient boost amendments provide. Sometimes it is sufficient to spread the material over the soil surface and let rainwater and wildlife help distribute it to the plant roots. Otherwise, work it into the top inch or two of the dirt with a hand cultivator. Soil amendments can be the difference between a thriving garden and healthy landscape and one that has seen better days. HVAC & Electrical Contractors Power Source Electric Your Heating & Cooling Specialists 665.2895 Residential & Commercial Electrical Contractors 260.8683 Divisions of Electair, Inc. Chris Frick Doug Dykstra DEALER KEVIN HAHN MANAGER 1504 East Hwy 50, Yankton, SD 57078 phone. 605.260.1522 or 866.760.3279 sttr@iw.net / fax. 605.260.1523 stockmenstrailersales.net • Full Turn-Key Pivots • Electrical Controls • Inject-O-Meters Listening Too Communication is becoming more and more challenging with the influx of social media in our society. Face-toface discussions with people we work with on our farms and ranches, in our organizations or even our families continue to decline. The use of email surged and now it’s considered old school and communication in the social media world is by texting and many other new aspects keep entering our society every day. Leadership theorists considered the ability to communicate verbally as a measure to determine if a person was a leader. That is more difficult nowadays, when the opportunities to hear someone in a leadership role to actually speak become less common. Yet, communication is still really the core of successful business relationships. Whether you are a farmer, rancher, agricultural businessman or member of an agricultural organization, at some point in time you have likely said, “We need to communicate better, things sure would go more smoothly if only there was better communication.” Does this sound familiar? Lack of communication can be costly in agriculture. It could result in miscommunication which may lead to mistakes or the result of a procedure being repeated because it was not done correctly the first time. Good communication can help a business be successful. Clear, concise communication — from top to bottom, across all employees and throughout an organization — can result in outcomes and achievements only a team which is communicating effectively will be able to achieve. In one of my research projects studying leadership in the beef industry, when I asked about characteristics of leaders — communication was one which surfaced as very important. It was not surprising. I had a feeling this would be on the list because we often think of those in leadership or executive roles as someone who has that ability to be a dynamic speaker, someone who has the ability to articulate their ideas in a charismatic or interesting way. It seems having this ability has often been associated with someone we may look up to as a leader. However, what did surprise me was — listening was a communication skill emphasized equally as important as the speaking form of communication. The ability for a person to listen, listen actively, and then take what they heard and communicate it back to the employees, an organization, etc., is essential. In fact, it was emphasized that a good communicator is one that is not necessarily the first one to speak up, but one who takes the time to listen to the issue/person before they speak their comments. They truly take the time to listen before they communicate. The end result of being a good listener is preventing those situations that happen where there may be confusion due to miscommunication, or even hurt feelings or conflict because the person didn’t feel like their issue or them were really heard by those they were trying to communicate with. 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