2019 Spring Farm Outlook

Page 4 2019 Logan County Farm Outlook Magazine Lincoln Daily News March 21, 2019 Farm Outlook Spring 2019 The 2018 harvest seemed to go from average to exceptional on the corn side, while most producers agreed soybeans were above average. In some cases, both crops set record yields for some fields. In other fields, weather constraints seemed to bring yields down to average. As the winter has reminded us several times, we really aren’t in charge! Large soybean yields in our area of the state also help solidify the soybean seed production industry, and seed acreage continues to increase in our area. We have been gradually entering an era where return on investment and input is the “name of the game.” Gone are the lofty prices seen a few years ago, and every aspect of a farming operation has to pay its way. Nitrogen rates for corn production have been reduced greatly over the past 30 years, with yields still trending up. The trick is to apply enough nitrogen to produce the goal set for corn yield, and leave enough in the plant to keep it from falling flat. Excess nitrogen is often lost from a field through bacteria converting it to gas lost to the atmosphere, or it can be lost through water movement from a field as well. Many producers are trying cover crops to take up any residual nitrogen to keep it in the field, and then cover crops release the nitrogen for the crop to use the next growing season. Good stewardship also makes economic sense for producers. We have talented producers, and we also have a wonderful support system for the producers in our area. It takes a large team to produce a crop and get it into the supply chain. Some of the support system partners include seed companies, fertilizer and chemical suppliers and applicators, ag equipment dealers, and the elevator and trucking components. And, the list goes on and on. By John Fulton - Special Ag Consultant A fter a long winter, the likes of which we haven’t been used to lately, it’s time to reflect on where we were for the 2018 harvest – and where we hope to be headed for the 2019 growing season. Normally, we are able to look at the 2018 county level yields by now. However, the government shutdown delayed yield data release and many ag census data items for one to two months. Continue 8