Get to Know the Growers: John Swanson
The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA), the state’s grassroots organization for corn farmers, is led by 18 board members with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. In our “Get to Know the Growers” interview series, we’ll learn about their farms, work with Minnesota Corn, and thoughts on agriculture. Interviews for the project are by Jonathan Eisenthal.
John Swanson, MCGA board member
Mentor, Minnesota
Tell us about your farm: Where is it, what do you grow, how long have you farmed, who do you farm with, how long has your family farmed this land?
I farm with my son, John David, who came back from working as an architect in Colorado for eight years. He has four sons, so I have grandsons who live close, and they are expressing interest in farming. Part of our farm has been in the family since 1862 when it was homesteaded. My grandsons would be the sixth generation to join the farm.
Our farm is in Polk County near Mentor, Minnesota. We farm from just north of Fertile to south of Red Lake Falls, most of the way across Polk County and into Red Lake County. We raise corn, soybeans, sunflowers, and wheat. We have a variety of soils. Even within a single field, there can be a variety of textures, so we get variable yields, and all the fields don’t have the same water-holding capacity.
We had one of the first center pivots in this area. The well and first pivot were installed in 1974. We currently have three center pivots. We are looking at putting in drip irrigation because it uses less water and can cover more of the acres in the field. The process to get permits has been a long one—four years so far. I’m not planning on giving up until I get the permits.
How does what you do as a crop farmer affect the average consumer?
The food we produce is what consumers eat, either directly in the case of wheat and sunflower, or indirectly in the case of corn and soybeans. They also are using these crops as fuel. If we didn’t produce these crops, we would import them or grow them in other parts of the U.S., and the costs would be higher for consumers.
How do you feel about being a crop farmer?
I enjoy seeing crops grow, driving tractors, and being in the fields. I especially enjoy working with my son and now my grandsons. It’s great seeing them take an interest in farming. When they get home from school, they can’t wait to get in the tractor, drive the grain cart, or help with whatever we are doing. It’s so wonderful to see the joy they experience and that they see a possible future in farming. I guess that’s why I am on the MCGA Board of Directors and am involved with other agricultural boards—to hopefully develop a strong future for our children and grandchildren in agriculture.
How have you become more sustainable as a corn farmer?
On our sandy soils, we’ve been doing no-till and split applications of nitrogen for more than 20 years. We’ve been able to cut the total nitrogen we apply, and that has been both a cost savings and an environmental benefit. When a big rain comes and moves away the nitrogen, we lose a small amount of nitrogen or no nitrogen rather than a significant amount.
Across our farm, for the last 10 years, we have used either no-till or strip till. We also do variable rate fertilizer and seed applications. For the last four years, we have experimented with cover crops.
We’re amid a debate over the Farm Bill. What is MCGA advocating for in this legislation?
First, we want to preserve the current crop insurance program or improve it. Crop insurance keeps people farming because it gives farmers a backstop in the event of a natural disaster or significant crop price declines. An insurance claim doesn’t give us a profit, but it covers a portion of the out-of-pocket costs. It’s much better to have a program within the Farm Bill to help farmers with natural disasters and know that we have things covered rather than ad hoc disaster payment programs that don’t always direct the money in a timely manner to the farmers who need it. Crop insurance is well understood by our bankers, and it is crucial for us to get our operating loans to pay for seed, fertilizer, and other inputs.
Keeping the farm program and the nutrition program both in the Farm Bill is crucial. You couldn’t get a Farm Bill passed without the nutrition portion and you probably couldn’t get nutrition passed without the farm program votes. It must be together if we want to make it pass congress.
[More: Ask Congress to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill and support the growers of America’s crop!]
Who is a leader who has inspired you by their example? What did you find inspiring about them?
Harold Wolle Jr. took me under his wing when I first got on the MCGA board and helped me understand the issues. He is now the president of National Corn Growers Association. I admire his style, his willingness to listen, and his enthusiasm for agriculture.
How do you like to spend free time? Do you have hobbies? Play a sport? Like to travel?
We live on Maple Lake, and I enjoy being on the lake, especially with my children and grandchildren. It’s fun watching them learn various water sports. I enjoy fishing, hunting, and traveling.
