Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie oversees the Farm Journal Test Plot program. Ferrie applies his extensive, cutting-edge knowledge and his systems approach to farming to the plots. In addition to working with Farm Journal, he operates an independent agronomic consulting business in central Illinois.
A graduate of Illinois State University, Ferrie credits much of his knowledge of the systems approach to the late Dr. Everett Dennis, who took what Ferrie had learned in books and “brought it to life.” A native of northeast Iowa, Ferrie has previous experience as a floater operator, crop scout, maintenance manager over three elevators, coop manager and company agronomist.
Ferrie is one of only a few completely independent agronomists in the United States. He is not an employee of any agribusiness company (including Farm Journal), and he doesn’t sell anything, accept any commissions or have any hidden agendas.
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Farm Journal associate field agronomist Missy Bauer joined the Farm Journal Test Plots in January 2010. Bauer is a graduate of Purdue University with a master’s in agronomy and has a bachelor’s degree in crop and soil sciences from Michigan State University.
Her independent crop consulting business is based in Coldwater, Mich., and she closely works with farmers in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Her base gives us the chance to have plots in new soil types and more weather zones. It also expands our ability to offer the training sessions you’ve been asking us to host. Bauer has worked closely with Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie for almost ten years.
