Rend Lake College News

News from RLC's Agronomy Innovation Center

Written by Megan McKinley | Jul 26, 2023 5:00:00 AM

INA, Ill. (July 26, 2023) — Last Thursday, the support center from Syngenta Digital traveled from Murray, Kentucky to Ina’s campus to learn more about the future of farming and sustainability that RLC is implementing into their program.

Director of Agronomy Innovation Center & Land Lab Supervisor Blake Patton demonstrates John Deere's ExactApply Sprayer Technology. 

The all-day event brought in employees from John Deere to show Syngenta employees the way their equipment is used on crops in Southern Illinois, as well as demonstrate new sprayer technology.

With the new John Deere equipment that is currently used by the Agronomy (AG) Innovation Center, RLC is raising a new generation of farmers who will better improve our crop sustainability in Southern Illinois.

Phil Krieg, Agronomist at Syngenta, shared how impressed he was by the foresight and creative thinking from President Terry Wilkerson and the people at RLC to take a building that was previously the Coal Mining Training Facility, and recognize its potential in agriculture and agronomy. Krieg said that the AG Innovation Center will be a conduit for someone to come out of high school, go through the program, and be trained to work this new technology that is coming out of John Deere. He also shared, “It speaks volumes to [RLC’s] commitment to education and for work related type training.”

To get involved in the future of farming and agriculture, visit the degree program site by clicking the link below: