San Antonio, Texas, USA
February 26, 2014

In just 15 years, he did more than save his family’s Minnesota farm; he grew the operation from 800 acres of row crops to 5,000 acres and diversified it with cow/calf production and a trucking service. Along the way, he adopted state-of-the-art conservation practices to protect highly erodible land and embraced precision agriculture, utilizing satellite navigation and GPS.

Meet Bryan Boll, recipient of the 2014 Young Farmer Sustainablility Award from Bayer CropScience and part of the next generation of farmers that will lead U.S. agriculture in facing the unprecedented challenge of feeding a fast-growing world with diminished resources. Each year, Bayer recognizes an agricultural producer age 40 or under who demonstrates entrepreneurial initiative and new approaches to farming, sustainability efforts and economic stability.

The 39-year-old Boll received the award today during the ninth annual Ag Issues Forum, a Bayer CropScience-hosted thought-leadership event. The 2014 event addressed “What the World Needs” from agriculture and food production.

“True agricultural sustainability can only be accomplished when we have achieved the delicate balance between long-term financial prosperity, environmental consciousness and social or community awareness,” says Boll. “This is an ever-evolving process of finding better ways to use our limited natural resources to produce more and better food, fuel and fiber.”

Boll, a father of six, hopes to leave his land “in better shape” for his children so they can share his passion for growing and raising food and his joy in working with the land. Among other conservation practices, Boll adopted minimum-till, as well as no-till and strip-till techniques, to prevent soil erosion and boost soil nutrients. Through participation in the federal Environmental Quality Incentive Program, he returned more than 300 acres to native grasses and adopted rotational grazing patterns for cattle to protect environmentally sensitive areas.

Since assuming management of Boll Farms in 1998, Boll has incorporated technology into farming practices, including the use of used topographical maps and infrared soil sampling. He now uses GPS in all facets of the operation, from soil mapping to yield monitoring, and has adopted satellite navigation of his combines and tractors. Additionally, Boll trades grain and monitors the weather with apps on his mobile phone.

“Bryan’s story is a powerful one that demonstrates his passion, not only for agriculture and protecting the land, but his dedication to building a better community as evidenced by his role in youth sports and on the local school board,” says Jim Blome, president and CEO, Bayer CropScience LP. “Bryan is an outstanding representative of the next generation of farmers.” Boll, a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., is the fourth recipient of the Young Sustainable Farmer Award, joining 2013 winner Jeremy Jack; John Shepherd, 2012; and Ryan Kirby, first recipient of the award in 2011.

Bayer accepts applications annually from Dec. 1 – Jan. 15. To be added to the mailing list, contact Casey Dudding at casey(dot)dudding(at)bayer(dot)com.

Website: http://www.bayercropscience.us

Published: February 26, 2014