1. My Summer with Bunge
Katie Schlake

2. About Bunge… Bunge is the “B” in the top ABC’s of Agribusiness
Found all over the world working in grains, fertilizers, food processing, biofuels, and milling.
Largest soybean buyer in the U.S.
Also big buyers of corn, wheat, and canola.
-Smaller division of rice, sorghum, and other small grains.

3. Being a Crop Scout for Bunge…
Training
Equipment
Time Management
Self Starting
Problem Solving
Travel Planning
Communication
Planning Ahead
Be ready for adventures…

4. Summer Crop Tour Schedule
Wheat and Southern Tally Tour (May – Early June)
Corn and Soybean Tally Tour (Mid June - Late June)
Corn Population Tour (Late June - July)
Soybean Population Tour (August)
Corn Yield Tour (August)
Corn Harvest Tour (August - September)
Soybean Yield Tour (August - September)
Soybean Harvest Tour (September - October)

5. Wheat Tour Covered OK, KS, TX, NM, CO, and NE.
Stop at a Wheat Field Every 15 Miles.
In Field:
Measure 3 Feet in a Row past the end rows and count heads
Cut 21 inches in that row and bag for Sample
Measure Row Width
Thresh a few heads to check maturity and quality of grain
Take Pictures with GPS Camera
Do this twice per field in two different spots
Enter Data into computer in Crop Tour Program and keep sample for lab at headquarters.

12. Tally Tours
Tally Tours consisted of one person on a computer labeling fields with what crops are planted while the other drove.
Stopped every 60 miles or so to take pictures of progressing crops in the area.
This was done in all territories of the crop tours.

13. Corn Population Tour
Territories I covered included NE, SD, MN, IL, and WI.
In Field:
-Measure 25ft and Count both rows on either side
-Measure Row Width
-Take Sample ears to take pictures
-Two spots in each field
-Observe any damage, soil moisture, and overall condition

24. Corn Yield Tour
The Corn Yield Tour that I covered included AR, MS, TN, and KY. Others are continuing tours elsewhere later in the season.
Yield Tour Procedures:
-Count like in Population Tour and grab 3 ears from each spot
-Measure length of ear, tip back, kernels lengthwise, kernels around, and millimeter measurement of kernels on each ear.
If ears were dry enough they were harvested as Harvest Tour corn and above was preformed in lab at headquarters.

30. Soybean Yield Tour Covered AR, MS, TN, and KY
Soybean Yield Data Procedure:
- Measure 5 feet in a row and count plants on both sides
- Pull 5 plants from two different spots in field
Count and separate 2 and 3 bean pods
Observe quality, soil moisture, damage, and overall condition

34. Commercial Rotations
One week we were at headquarters learning about different areas and departments within Bunge.
Transportation
Grains
Trading
Oils and Food Processing
Chicago Board of Trade

35. Adventures of a Crop Scout
Nearly non-existent roads
Storms
Floods
Dust Storms
Flood Irrigation Systems
Crop Dusters

42. Three Things I Learned This Summer
1. I learned about new crops and crops in different areas of the country where they have different production methods.
2. I learned how to work on my own or with a partner and plan and organize according to the work we had to do without the help of supervisors.
3. I learn what I don’t want to do with my professional life. I learned I do not like the cut throat agribusiness industry.