Wubben reflects on career with ISU Extension
By Jean Caspers-Simmet
Agri News
Date Modified: 01/29/2010 4:02 PM
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OSAGE, Iowa —Neil Wubben has seen many changes in his 27 1/2 years working for Iowa State University Extension. He's tried to offer programming that equips farmers and the community to adapt to change.
Technology such as GPS and auto steer, Roundup herbicide and stacked GMO hybrids that offer resistance to rootworm and corn borer have had a tremendous impact on agriculture, Wubben said. Improved corn hybrids and soybean varieties have dramatically increased yields.
Wubben thinks more farmers should look at strip tillage.
"Famers don't need a total full width tilled field to produce optimum yield," Wubben said. "There is a lot of room for producers to improve the bottom line by being more frugal with fertilizer and equipment dollars. Environmental quality is an important issue. Each producer has to get serious about evaluating their operation and where they can reduce their carbon fooprint, be more green and still maintain reasonable profit."
Today, Wubben can get answers to crop calls in minutes by e-mailing a cell phone picture to ISU staff in Ames. It's a switch from the days when he had to dig and mail samples or wait for film to be developed.
"It's phenomenal how we can find answers as quickly as we can maneuver a mouse," he said.
Wubben is proud of programs he put together that benefited county residents. He organized one such program on the growing ethanol industry in 2004. ISU Extension economists John Lawrence and Robert Wisner talked about how the industry would impact Iowa farmers.
"People later told me that meeting made them money," he said. "They rethought their marketing plans to maximize profits. That's what Extenison is about —helping people make better decisions."
Wubben said it makes him feel good to see people succeed.
Working with the Extension Council to get a building on Main Street was a memorable event.
"That has been a boon to the office as far as visibility," Wubben said.
He enjoyed working with the corn and soybean grower organizations to start variety test plots and field days. He and ISU Extension agronomist George Cummins set up manure management demonstration plots with several producers.
"Over the years we've done a number of things that became the beginning of other research," Wubben said.
A 1985 study of 360 wells yielded useful information that he still draws on today.
He worked with many community ventures on visioning, economic development and leadership programs.
He enjoyed helping start the county's Women Land and Legacy program.
"I'm very proud of how the women took that on," Wubben said. "It has really grown under their leadership."
He appreciates the respect and appreciation people have shown him over the years.
"I really value their support and the opportunity of being their county director and working with them this many years," Wubben said.
Through it all he has kept a sense of humor which he attributes to his strong faith.
"This has been a faith walk," he said. "I truly believe that God has led me through this whole experience and that's why it's been such a good experience, and why I can have a sense of humor. I've been blessed by this work."
Wubben has no worries that he'll be looking for things to do in retirement. He's a member of the Osage School Board and is on the Elderbridge Area Agency on Aging board. He's certified to substitute teach, he plans to volunteer at the school, and he's thinking of forming a consulting company. The Mitchell County Extension Council wants him to work one day a week from May until October, and he's contracted with ISU to teach agricultural classes to John Deere employees. The classes are meant to give employees a better understanding of farming.