Family and Ag Technology Inspire at Ohlde Seed Farms
As the sun starts to rise and dew glistens on the leaves of growing soybeans, a farmstead comes into view along an unassuming dirt road in Palmer. Massive grain bins with the words “Ohlde Seed Farms” welcome visitors to the home and farm operation of Ron and Anita Ohlde.
Ron is the definition of a passionate farmer — he just about does it all. With his family, he raises livestock, soybeans, corn, wheat, sorghum, canola and alfalfa. And off the farm Ron stays busy as the chairman for the Kansas Soybean Commission, director of the North Central Soybean Research Program and a self-proclaimed “tech freak.”
Ron has seen many changes throughout his years of farming, including how technology’s role has grown and aided in his seed operation. In the past, he might have had to drive 15 to 20 miles to check on his irrigation system. Now he can manage the pivots from wherever his day might take him.
“I have an app that I can look at and see how my irrigation system and scheduling is going, how the pivots are operating,” Ron said. “I can turn them on and I can turn them off all just standing right here with this app.”
Ron recruited the help of his sons, Shawn and Shane, to support his seed production and sales. While they run the seed business, Ron focuses on the production and research side of the operation. To ensure the health of his crops, Ron directs his attention to pest management, cover crops and seed treatments that give each plant the best chance of survival. He uses biologicals, which are treatments derived from microorganisms that are designed to improve crop health. Various biologicals can help control pests, protect from plant diseases, enhance soil and more.
“Pest management is crucial. Not only for this growing season but even for next year,” Ron said. “Biologicals are starting to play a huge part in our operation. You’re trying to manage that ecosystem so that there is a balance on both sides — on both biologicals and spraying patterns for the next year as well.”
But it’s more than just the tech that makes Ron so passionate about farming.
“You go to the field and you plant that seed and then you get to watch it grow,” he said. “And having the family involved; it just doesn’t get much better than that.”
This story was written by Lauryn Karr, an intern with Kansas Soybean Commission.
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