Get to Know the Growers: Brian Thalmann
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.
Brian Thalmann, MCGA board member, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) board member
Plato, 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 raise corn and soybeans with my son Adam on our farm in McLeod County, which was homesteaded by my great-great grandfather in 1877. I am the fifth generation of our family to farm the land, and Adam is the sixth generation. My dad, Randall still helps as well.
What do you like about farming? What do you find to be the most challenging aspects of it?
What I like about farming is connecting with nature, being out in the country, and working with other rural people. There is something about the rural work ethic and the mentality of farmers that encourages me. I also enjoy the technology involved in farming and the fruits of our labor—planting a crop in the spring and reaping the rewards of it in the fall.
As farmers, we always want to leave things better for the next generation. We do what we can, from variable-rate seeding to variable-rate fertilizer and herbicide application, to maintain productivity while reducing input use and our environmental footprint. We’re always aware that we’re at the whims of Mother Nature, and we work with the weather we have each year.
What is the value of groups like MCGA and NCGA to farmers?
MCGA, NCGA, and our partners represent the interests of family corn farmers in St. Paul and Washington, D.C. We ensure that policymakers have the best available information on key issues affecting corn farmers and rural communities, and we are in constant communication with them about how their votes would affect agriculture.
For a variety of reasons, policies can sometimes be proposed that would adversely affect agriculture and family farmers. Our organizations work to understand the origins of these proposals and then, when possible, find common ground to ensure solutions that are workable for all involved. We always have the best interests of the farmers in mind and work tirelessly to ensure lawmakers have a thorough understanding of how their decisions affect agriculture and rural communities.
[More: Join MCGA in advocating for family corn growers]
Who has inspired you by their example? What did you find inspiring about them?
Two people that come to mind for me are Minnesota Corn Executive Director and CEO Adam Birr and NCGA CEO Neil Caskey. Both Adam and Neil understand agriculture deeply and are great at working to build consensus. I appreciate how they help all members of their respective organizations connect and work well together and how they work well with elected officials and policymakers. Both Adam and Neil set a tone within their organizations that help us deliver results for growers.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I like to go camping and spend time on the lake with our jet skis in the summer. In the winter, I like to go snowmobiling with family and friends. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do it that much this winter.
What is something about farming that would surprise the average consumer?
I think the amount of technology involved in farming would surprise people. People might understand GPS-controlled steering in our tractors, but we have a lot more than that. Farmers are using technology to precisely apply nutrients and crop protection products to our fields, ensuring that crops receive the right amount of product at the precise time it’s needed. To fine-tune these precision applications, we conduct soil tests and use software to aggregate the data.
