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 And, we were getting ready
to start a new crop production cycle with fieldwork and planting set
to begin shortly. Commodity markets were relatively low, and the
uncertainty with a nationwide slowdown didn’t look to provide a
firmer base for farm products.
As with many essential businesses, government funds were released
into the agriculture industry to assist with labor and production
costs in the challenging market times.
A year later, commodities in general have increased in value
dramatically. Groceries, paper products, metals, and anything made
from oil have now climbed above the levels of when the pandemic
began. Commodity prices for corn and soybeans are at levels which
seemed impossible last fall.
We do need to remember one reason for these prices is that much of
the crop was priced at lower prices earlier in the marketing season.
Add to the mix that a new administration is now in place in
Washington, and there will be some changes to policy. That part is
inevitable. However, with many familiar names filling positions from
the Secretary of Agriculture on down, these changes may at least be
predictable.
Logan County yields rebounded somewhat as well with corn yields for
the 2020 crop averaging 210.7 bushels per acre, compared to 194.2 in
2019.
The soybean yield was 67.6 in 2020 according to the Ag Statistics
Service, and there was no reported yield in 2019 for the county due
to a low number of survey responses.
If you are keeping score, the corn yield was 6th in the state and
the soybean yield was second. The top corn yield was in Menard
County with a 216.3 average, and the top soybean yield was Piatt
County at 70.5.
McLean County continued as the top production county in total
bushels of corn and soybeans produced.
Out of adversity, came many opportunities. Who would have thought
anything relating to gardens, crafts, or online networking would
have been the hotspots for the past year? Or at a more basic level,
things such as toilet paper, meat, face masks, and hand sanitizer
would be among the most valuable items to have stock.
Many of the local meat producers working with specialty markets, and
doing order fulfillment at locations such as farmers markets,
struggled to keep up with demand, as major suppliers had issues with
processing capacity due to virus outbreaks in the workforce. Of
course, local processing plants could not fulfill all the requests
for additional processing either.
Ethanol use for gasoline blending ground to a halt as travel was
greatly curtailed. However, the bright spot for ethanol was its use
in making the hand sanitizer which was in such high demand.
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. Niche markets are
being created, and fulfilled, by individuals with vision. Timing is
one of the major conditions of being successful in these niche
markets, and the pandemic has made the timing right for many of
these specialty enterprises.
Some enterprises are being recycled again, including expanded
efforts in honey production, vegetable production, meats, and most
anything produced locally. Some of the trends in agriculture and
conservation are making these enterprises viable. The pollinator
habitat initiatives have been a boon to beekeepers.
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Opportunities may also exist
as alternative energy production from wind and solar farms provide
areas which are taken out of row crop production, but may be
suitable for pollinator patches or fields. These specialty
enterprises continue to be the mainstays of farmers markets and
roadside stands.
Weed control continues to be a challenge in crop production and
non-crop areas. There are more invasive weeds challenging us all the
time, with good examples being teasel and phragmites along roadsides
and railroads moving to pastures, CRP, and other areas not regularly
treated with herbicides.
Continued evolution of weeds in production fields also presents more
management challenges, as the tools available for control of weeds
such as waterhemp and marestail are very limited. Continued
development of management systems using rotation of herbicides,
residual herbicides, and effective cultural practices will be the
key to maintaining reasonable control of invasive plants and the
difficult-to-control weeds we are encountering.
As we begin the spring season, weather is always the biggest factor.
We are blessed with great producers with the capacity to complete
their farming tasks in a timely manner, great support from Ag
industry personnel for fertilizer and chemical application, a seed
supply with increasing yield potential and weather tolerance, and
highly productive soils which help buffer moderate adverse weather
trends such as wet or dry weather.
Soil conditions remain on the dry side for the time being, as of
March 12, but this could change in short order – at least for the
upper layer of soil.
The spring planting season is always looked upon with optimism as
the production cycle begins anew. We also have faith the weather
will provide those opportunities to complete field operations in a
timely manner, and continue to nourish the crops through the growing
season.
Best wishes for a safe and productive spring season!
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