Mike Toelle has served on corporate boards for almost three decades. His service includes 20 years on the board and nine years as chairman at CHS Inc., a global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and local cooperatives. He’s served on the CF Board of Directors since July 2017, but he’s been a farmer for much longer. Toelle grew up on a family farm. He runs T&T Farms, where he raises roughly 6,000 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa in Minnesota and South Dakota with the help of his two sons.
The strength of the CF Board lies in the diverse backgrounds of its members. We bring a lot of different opinions to the table.
Over the course of his life in farming, Toelle has witnessed plenty of change. He now uses advanced technology to maintain high yields, such as planting equipment that automates the direction in which seeds are dropped, how far apart seeds are placed, and how deep they are planted. Technology also helps Toelle and his sons apply the 4Rs of nutrient management.
For example, they ensure fertilizer is applied at the “right rate” using sophisticated guidance systems that can track where fertilizer has been applied within an inch of variance, which ensures that no more nutrients are applied than necessary. Beyond using the 4Rs, the Toelles depend on tried-and-true soil conservation practices like cover crops, buffer strips along waterways and wetlands, and minimum tillage to reduce impacts to nonpoint source runoff.
Toelle’s background as a working farmer provides the CF Board with unique and important perspectives. He understands the new products and services available to farmers better than most, and also has a deep knowledge of the sustainability issues they face.
“I live here, where products are being used, and my sons will continue farming the land after me,” Toelle says. “That’s given me a long-term view and an appreciation of CF’s efforts to improve.” It’s this perspective that Toelle brings to bear as a member of the Board’s Governance Committee, and in reviewing CF’s annual Sustainability Report.
Toelle’s corporate board service has also yielded best practices that benefit him on the farm. He’s gained insight into trends shaping farming around the world, such as the need to balance sustainability with the demands of a growing global population. It’s also taught him the importance of listening to others’ viewpoints.
“The strength of the CF Board lies in the diverse backgrounds of its members. We bring a lot of different opinions to the table,” says Toelle. “We have mutual confidence and trust in each other that allows us to reach consensus and find the best path forward.”
