Amid constant changes in agriculture, there's Josh Michel

Widespread farming in Iowa can be traced to the pioneer days of the 1800s, but even after all that time agriculture still is constantly evolving.

There's new equipment, new seed varieties, changes in weather patterns, altered rules about fertilizers and pesticides, new pests, new weeds and new strategies to produce the most crop with the smallest environmental impact.

But then there's Josh Michel.

He's among a team of 11 Iowa State University Extension field agronomists who provide stability for farmers and their suppliers amid the changing landscape. He covers the northeast corner of the state, including Linn County.

"One of the best parts of my job is I have the ability to constantly learn something new, every day. The learning never stops," said Michel, who has been a field agronomist for about nine years. "And every year is different, because every year we have different weather conditions and different environments, and just when you think you have it figured out just a little bit, everything changes."

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Michel, 39, was a farm boy in rural Dubuque and tended crops and livestock for his family and other farmers. He now holds a master's degree in agronomy from ISU and took a circuitous path back to his childhood stomping grounds.

He began his career with Pioneer Hi-Bred International in Johnston in Central Iowa, overseeing irrigation and fertilizer operations for greenhouses and growth chambers for the seed giant.

Then he went to work for ISU’s Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm in Eastern Iowa, where he studied the effects of planting, harvesting, tillage and pest management strategies on corn and soybeans.

When a job with the Extension crops team became available in that area, he took it. Michel has since transferred to the Extension district that covers Northeast Iowa and hopes to move his family to an acreage there. He has four young children.

Like farming, the help Michel and his colleagues supply for farmers is cyclical.

In the spring, he fields questions about soil fertility — preparing the soil to foster good crop growth. He makes recommendations for fertilizers and protections for seed to guard against pests and soil pathogens.

The field agronomists each year hold what they call "Planter University" at different locations in the state to help farmers fine-tune their equipment, regardless of whether it is old or new.

After planting, Michel helps farmers evaluate the sprouting crops, especially if planting conditions were challenging or delayed because of weather. Sometimes farmers need to decide whether replanting makes sense.

The field agronomists can be key for those farmers when severe weather events strike, such as hail, damaging winds and flooding.

In the fall, Michel evaluates grain quality and moisture and the sturdiness of cornstalks to make strategies for harvest.

"Thankfully, harvest is getting pretty well wrapped up now, but we're still having a few calls," he said. In a report last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said farmers in his area had harvested about 97 percent of soybeans and 84 percent of corn.

Michel is also an expert on the management of pastures and plants that are grown to feed animals, such as alfalfa.

Paradoxically, the winter months are also some of the busiest for the Extension crops team. It helps plan, promote and present offseason learning sessions.

The biggest event is the annual, two-day Integrated Crop Management Conference in Altoona, which is a gathering of experts on pests, disease, nutrient management and the latest research, among other topics. The agronomists host scaled-down versions of the conference at other locations thereafter.

It's a satisfying job, Michel said, but he derives the most pleasure from teaching children about farming. He often helps with ag exploration events for high school students, when they spend a day learning about agriculture at ISU research farms.

"Just being able to show them insights into the agriculture community, the agricultural world," he said. "This is where your food comes from. This is what farmers do. It's a great opportunity to show the next generation the importance of agriculture and farming and why they should care about it."

Comments: (319) 368-8541; jared.strong@thegazette.com