b'As an undergrad at Cornell University, Ziemkethe National Association of Plant Breeders. As incoming worked for a wheat breeder. It was at that point whenchair for the 2019 to 2020 season, she stresses the impor-she really became interested in the seed industry.tance of getting the word out about the seed industry.We were working on a trait called preharvestThis is not necessarily something the general sprouting, which is where the wheat sprouts while itpublic has a really strong understanding and conne-is still in the field, she said. It is quite unsuitable forction to, she continued. Everyone eats, but if you ask flour production, so getting to work on research thatpeople where their food comes from, they will say a would have such a real-world impact really caughtgrocery store. They dont necessarily think about all my attention and energy. That led me to do somethe steps and the chain that it takes to get the food internships and eventually attend graduate school atonto their plates.the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, whereZiemke is also very excited about a collaboration I worked on corn breeding for the first time with mythat Corteva has been involved in that is trying to bring advisor, Rex Bernardo. more modern breeding practices to international agri-It was six years ago when an opening became avail- cultural centers. Dr. Ziemke isable at Corteva in Mankato. Ziemke had completed herIve had the opportunity in the last year to work PhD and began working there as a corn breeder. It waswith their nodule 2, which is about designing breeding an energetic,just a year ago when she transitioned from the breed- programs. That has been a really exciting place for me aggressiveing role to the North America technology lead role. to get to contribute, and I also get to learn from other In my current position, I work with all of our dis- people working in very different agronomic cropping andcovery breeders in North America corn to implementenvironments and a different set of challenges.accomplishednew technologies for the field breeding programs. ThisWhen asked how she juggles all of her responsi-could be something like how we are going to use databilities, Ziemke said she has become really good at young plantcollected from an unmanned aerial vehicle, or it couldmulti-tasking and prioritizationwhich is probably an be how we are going to combine the genetic data andunderstatement.breeder whothe phenotypic data that we collect into actionableWorking with the local school children is really a is poised toinsights for our breeders. labor of love, she said. I dont actually remember this, but when I was in high school, we had a female scien-be a majorVolunteering and Educatingtist come in and talk. My mom remembers this because player inNot coming from an agriculture background, no one isit made a big impact on her when I talked about it. more surprised than Ziemke herself about where herThat was probably the first time I really thought I could the seedcareer path has taken her. She does recall that, as abecome a scientist. So, I try to get myself out there to industry.child, she had always been really fascinated by seeds. make time for activities like that.I grew my first garden when I was in middle schoolIn what she foresees in the field over the next fewWayne Smith in Maryland, and I was really upset when I had to moveyears, Ziemke said there will continue to be exciting and leave it. I had invested so much into all the peren- innovations in technology.nials. I have always been really amazed by seeds andIn the last decade or so, weve gotten really good genetics, so even though I didnt necessarily expectat connecting the genotypic data we have with the that Id end up in the technology role with Cortevaphenotypic data we collect in the field. And now, we Agriscience, Ive always been really passionate aboutare getting more and more of those types of data. We seeds and the potential that they represent. are getting better phenotypic data from drones and In addition to her position at Corteva, Ziemke worksfrom weather stations, plus we can get more precise with a few local groups such as GreenSeam, whichand cheaper genetic data. I think the exciting innova-helps to advocate for agriculture in southern Minnesota. tions will be how we put that all together into action-Through them, I became connected toable insights will help us make better seed products for Farmamerica where we do agricultural education andthe farmers and for consumers.advocacy groups for middle schoolers primarily, sheIn her limited spare time, Ziemke still doesnt like said. The big activity I do with the kids is extract DNAto let go of her newfound agriculture roots. Well, I from strawberries. I always kind of figured that the stu- really like to garden. Im an avid gardener, so when I dents wouldnt be very excited about this, but theyrerun into friends in the seed industry who do vegeta-amazed every time and always want to take the DNAble breeding, Im always after them for tips on the hot home. They often ask if eating the DNA will turn themnew varieties. Other than gardening, I like to exercise a into a strawberry. It will not, just for the record. lot and I really enjoy cooking. I guess a lot of my life is Ziemke also serves on the Advocacy Committee forfood related.SW18/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2019'