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 The rewards came in the form of exceptional corn yields. The old
record of 198.1 set in 2013 was blown away by 32.7 bushels per acre
in Logan County. The 2014 crop averaged a whopping 230.8 bushels per
acre for Logan County.
The soybean yield was also a record setter at 63.7 bushels per acre,
eclipsing the former record of 57.6 established in 2010. This yield
was somewhat diminished by the effects of sudden death syndrome
disease, and to some extent, white mold.
Total production amounted to 46,156,000 bushels of corn and
8,682,000 bushels of soybeans for Logan County.
If you think agriculture isn’t big business, apply a few math
skills, and you can come up with economic impact. Figure soybeans at
about $10 per bushel and corn at $3.50 as some average price
guesses, and you come up with some very large numbers.
 Of course, it’s important to point out farming is not a high margin
business in most years. Most of that income is passed along to
suppliers of equipment, inputs, services, and living expenses. On
average 90 percent of the amount farmers take in is passed along,
and the rest goes back into the business – or toward the family
living expenses of the farm family.
While the larger supply of corn and soybeans dropped prices for
grain farmers, it provided (or will provide) less costly feed for
those with livestock. The prices often take as much as a year to go
through the chain from one end to the other.
Beef prices are at historic highs, and pork prices had historic
highs and are now headed lower in a hurry. The supply of beef is at
a low level, and with the prices, many producers are retaining more
cattle for breeding instead of selling. This makes the supply even
smaller for the time being.
Pork producers were confronted with the PED virus, which killed
untold numbers of small pigs. This also led to a decreased supply of
pork for a short period of time. These good years help negate the
effects of some years where the losses for livestock producers were
enormous.
A few interesting facts were highlighted in changes of the 2012
Census of Agriculture.
One is the fact farm numbers are increasing. Contrasted is the
number of acres per farm actually increased this census. That means
farm size is increasing faster than the number of small, specialty
producers for the first time in a while.
The highest number of farms in the county falls in the 10 to 49 acre
group. Second most common is the 50 to 179 acre group, and third is
the over 1000 acre size. We even have almost 70 farms less than nine
acres in size. Many of these numbers are driven by landlords who own
land as a farm entity, then rent to the actual producers.
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The income side of things shows the largest number at the opposite
ends of the spectrum. There are 200 farms with net income of less
than $1000, and 162 with net income over $500,000 according to the
2012 census.
Logan County ranked sixth in pheasant production in the state –
thanks to the hunting farms, and being the host of the state
pheasant farm is quite appropriate. We also ranked fourth in chukar
partridge production and sixth in quail.
What is ahead for agriculture on the local front? Millions are made
and lost on that question. As we saw this past year, production is
in the hands of Mother Nature. The cooler summer, with adequate
rain, produced an ample crop. The larger supply, rapidly led to
decreasing prices.
Expenses tend to fall somewhat slower, and this leads to a cash
crunch for many producers. Large equipment orders have slowed down,
and cost-saving measures are being implemented.
Stay tuned, as there are many curves ahead. Logan County is blessed
with talented producers, outstanding supply and support services,
and the natural resources to make this area a true “breadbasket of
the country.”
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