Page 25 - Farm and Food Policy Strategies for 2040 Series

“many hurdles to go into organic” – such as having to increase his bin storage from about
100,000 bushels up to 250,000. Also, he says, “You don’t get paid near as quickly… Where in
conventional ag, you can deliver to the local elevator and get a check the same day . . . In the
organic world, it seems to be spread out over time, so there is a lot more management that’s
involved in the organic world.”

Beside organics’ extra record-keeping
requirements, Raile says, “from the
standpoint of growing crops, that wasn’t a
difficult transition at all.” That’s because
after his 38 years in farming, he’s
returning to the low-input, high-
management practices he used in his early
years. He acknowledges, however, that for

newcomers or for conventional farmers
who’ve always depended on glyphosate
and other chemical quick fixes from local
input suppliers, they may have a steeper
learning curve.

Like Illinois farmer Allen Williams, Raile

is confident organics will continue to
thrive in 2040 but that “organic and
conventional can all work together.” He
adds that organics’ growth will benefit

conventional producers.

“Right now, I can drive to two or three Wheat farmer Tim Raile, right, with is sons and

elevators within 20 miles of here and grandsons
there’s piles and piles of wheat under

tarps. I’m no longer putting wheat into that system. I’m delivering into a different pipeline.

Where we’re importing almost 70% of our organic grains into this country to supply the organic

market, it shows you there’s really a demand for organic. In conventional ag, I think it’s just the

opposite. They export 70% and only 30% is used in this country.” He’s convinced organics will

help the conventional market by reducing oversupply going into the conventional pipeline.

Bruce Rastetter – Investing in the Midwest and Brazil

Bruce Rastetter is aggressively investing both in the Midwest and in Brazil as well.

As CEO of Summit Agricultural Group based in Alden, Iowa, Rastetter sees the Midwest’s solid
track record of steadily increasing yields and Brazil’s opportunities for double cropping and
triple cropping as a joint guarantee that these two powerhouses of world agricultural production
will be able to meet surging global demand that he expects to double by 2040.

As a firm believer in diversification, Rastetter has established Summit as a leader in grain, beef

and pork production, renewable energy and international agribusiness development. His Midwest
operations include a base of Summit Farm’s 14,000 acres in row crops, 350,000 head of contract
hogs, and “the capacity to feed about 10,000 head of cattle.”

www.Agri-Pulse.com 23