2020 Fall Farm Outlook

2020 Logan County Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS October 28, 2020 PAGE 15 G rain farmers have a lot of year to year decisions to make. One of the biggest, which may seem simple, is what seed varieties to plant next season. Harvest supplies some of the final factors in the decision-making process for next season. Farmers make field observations and use recorded data collected from the combine cab to assess how well that year’s crop produced. In addition to how well the field performed, the past year’s inputs are considered. Inputs include the cost of seed, fertilizer, herbicide, planting and harvesting costs. Another variable factor is the market, what’s in demand and what is the going price. Crop rotation can boost performance. Rotation between corn and soy beans can reduce costs associated with fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides. Nitrogen fixation in the soil by soy beans reduces fertilizer costs a corn crop demands. Alternating crops also reduces insect populations. Can’t you just hear one insect saying to another, “Follow me, I know where to find the tastiest stalks. Wait, where did it go? It was right here last year. “Concentrated buildup of same crop residue lends to conditions that invite hard to control diseases and insect infestations (soy bean rust, corn borers...). Even weed infestation can be thwarted to some degree by a change in field coverage and by what arsenal of herbicides and pesticides are available for use on a given crop. By alternating between corn and soy beans, farmers can create confusion to the infidels, save on inputs, and win a battle now and again Once the crop is settled on, there are many varieties of seeds to choose from and whether to add traits at a higher cost to the seed package. Making the right selection reduces the burden of managing pesticides and diseases. When decisions begin during fall harvest Spring seed CONTINUE X