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Young farmers find success through YF and R committee

Opportunities abound for involved participants

By Farms.com

The American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee offers valuable experiences for young individuals passionate about agriculture.

Neil, a fourth-generation farmer, manages a diversified farm with grain crops, sugar beets, and livestock feed production. Melissa, a recent master's graduate in speech language pathology, currently serves as a representative in the Idaho House of Representatives.

Despite the challenges of a virtual committee due to the pandemic, Melissa highlights the valuable skills she gained, including online learning and communication. These skills proved instrumental in completing her online degree and ultimately motivated her to pursue a career in public service.

Neil's experience on the committee was equally enriching. He now serves as his county Farm Bureau president and participates in various state Farm Bureau committees. He credits the YF&R Committee for fostering his leadership skills and confidence to take on new challenges.

The Durrants remain strong advocates for Farm Bureau involvement. They emphasize the importance of networking and building relationships with others facing similar challenges and opportunities within the agricultural industry.

The Durrants exemplify the spirit of young farmers who find success through the YF&R Committee. Their story encourages other passionate young individuals to get involved in Farm Bureau and explore the opportunities it offers.


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John Deere is advancing harvest automation for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Tim Ford with John Deere explains two key features of the Ultimate Tech Package—Predictive Ground Speed Automation and Harvest Settings Automation.

Predictive Ground Speed uses paired forward-facing cameras and satellite vegetation data to automatically adjust combine speed based on crop height, lodged areas, and predicted yield, even in dusty conditions.

Harvest Settings Automation allows operators to set limits for grain loss, foreign material, and grain quality, while the system makes real-time adjustments to maintain those targets.

These innovations deliver up to 20% higher productivity, improved fuel efficiency, and consistent grain quality across varying field conditions.