Each season, modern-day agriculture requires the attention, energy and dedication of a large group to ensure the best possible yields. There are farmers who work the land, mechanics who maintain equipment, seed suppliers who provide seed, retailers who provide additional products, and chemists who make fertilizer and herbicides. The list goes on and on.
One role to highlight is the regional commercial managers for WestBred. They work directly with growers and seed suppliers so they have some of the best products and genetics on hand, uniquely tailored for their growing environment. We asked Lance Embree, a Regional Commercial Manager for WestBred, what his “day in the life” looked like.
“I don’t know that there’s a typical day,” he said.
The day of a regional commercial manager changes with the season, and what Embree is doing depends on the time of year and where he’s located. However, Embree still found a way to sum up his job nicely: “Regardless of when it is, my job is to create as much demand as I can for WestBred genetics.”
Embree started with Monsanto at DEKALB Asgrow a few years ago, but had a chance to make the shift to wheat. “Monsanto had an opening in Kansas. And so I went to work for Monsanto as a district sales manager, representing our DEKALB and Asgrow business. But then in 2016, I had the opportunity to come over to our WestBred wheat side. I’ve always had a passion for wheat growing up in Oklahoma — that’s our predominant crop.”
He expanded further. “I love trying to figure out how we could do things better and how to get the most out of wheat with high yields. That type of stuff really excites me.”
In his role as regional commercial manager, Embree travels and works directly with seed suppliers to make sure they have the products for the conditions of the fields in their regions. “I sit down with them and help them develop a one- to two-year production plan for the different varieties we feel they ought to be planting for their area. I look at these suppliers as the guys getting it done out there in the field.”
He also stays in contact with growers in the region.
“With farmers, I like to talk with them one-on-one and let them know what our products have to offer, and encourage them to get those products on their farm. And then once they do, we’re always available to answer any questions they might have through the growing season.”
Embree hopes the personalized connection with farmers and collaborative work relationships with seed suppliers come together for a strong harvest, year after year. “Without a doubt, harvest is my favorite time of year. I mean, it’s kind of your reward. It’s almost like Christmas — every time you get to see a new plot because you can see how well everything performed.
“I’m pretty passionate about production agriculture,” Embree said. “I’m here because I’m excited about what I think we can do. We’re just on the tip of the iceberg, as far as the technology that can be deployed within the wheat business. I think there’s a lot of exciting things coming for the wheat farmer across the U.S and possibly even around the world.”
Do you have any stories from the wheat business you’d like to share? Any up-and-coming technology that has you excited? Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter and let us know. You might just see a Tiller piece about it in the near future!