About Your Fields 2-5-18

In this issue:

  1. New year, new format
  2. Production costs troubling you.
  3. News that caught our eye.

 

 

New Year, New Format

 

This year we have decided to change up the format for our About Your Fields newsletter.  Instead of sending out a large newsletter every month to six weeks, we will try to send out short newsletters about every week or so.  In doing this we will  be looking at articles from different places on the web and giving you a short synopsis of what’s in them and providing you with a link to look at them yourself.  As we get into the growing season we will also be giving you our observations from what we are seeing out in the field.  We hope you like the new format and you can get some information to help you with your operation.  As always let one of us know what you think.

 

Production Costs Troubling You?

 

With the price of commodities these days one topic that seems to be on everyone’s mind is how to cut production costs, especially in relation to corn.  Over the past couple of weeks there have been several articles posted on various websites talking about this  very subject.  The common theme seems to be that farmer’s will either need to find ways to cut expenses on corn production acres or some will switch more acres over to soybeans.  I feel that the phrase “cutting costs” when talking in relation to corn production is the wrong mindset.  Instead I think you need to look at it as being the most efficient and making sure that the money you spend, will return you the most money  back.  In one article I found on Agweb, Chris Barron a financial consultant with Ag View Solutions talks about budgeting and making sure you take into account all of your management expenses (Chris Barron article from AgWeb).  Look at things like truck expense or other on or off road vehicles, insurance, building repairs and other expenses to track and account for when looking at things to cut.  In an article published on Farmdoc Daily, Dr. Gary Schnitkey, an economist at the University of Illinois, looks at other expenses to try and control (Dr. Gary Schnitkey article from Farmdoc Daily).   Some of the areas that he cites are fertilizer costs, and making sure that you are getting the most bang for your buck when looking at what hybrids and varieties you are planting.  Dr. Schnitkey also talks about how when looking at budgets corn on corn rotations are returning less than corn following soybeans.  Another interesting idea that he brought up is that soybeans following soybeans have had a greater return than corn after corn when considering a 3 bushel decline in the soybeans and if soybean cyst is not a problem in the field.  I would encourage you to look at this article by clicking on the link below.  When looking at seed and how you can cut expenses another opinion is discussed in another article published on January 30, 2018 in the Agri-News.  Dr. Bob Nielsen, agronomy professor at Purdue University discusses ways to cut overhead costs without harming production (Dr. Bob Nielsen article from Agri-News ).  A key note I took away from this article was that we should look at seeding rates and see what the optimum range is for a particular hybrid.  Dr. Nielsen states that in his studies an optimum seeding rate has been around 27,800 seeds per acre.  I would suggest that you talk with yourseed professional and see if you really need to be planting 34 to 35 thousand.  Could you get away with less seeds per acre and still achieve optimum yield?  I am sure that the seed companies have done research into this and could give you a range to plant in and still maximize yield.  In looking at these articles you will see that they don’t talk about just making wholesale cuts to your budget, they encourage you to be more cognizant of what you spend and make sure you maximize your Return on Investment (R.O.I.).  To see and of the articles discussed click on the link below.

 

Dr. Bob Nielsen article from Agri-News 

 

Dr. Gary Schnitkey article from Farmdoc Daily

 

Chris Barron article from AgWeb

 

News That Caught Our Eye

 

For a little over a year Akron Services has been working with a company called Farmer’s Edge.  Farmer’s Edge is a soil testing and data management company that offers a variety of products and services at a very affordable price.  Recently it was announced that Farmer’s Edge has partnered with a company called Planet to offer daily high resolution images as a part of their services (Farmer's Edge partner with Planet to provide daily imagery.)  With the evolution of imagery over the past few years the ability to get daily images of your fields would be very valuable to a farmer.  Akron works with three different companies that offer different types of aerial imagery.  Currently we work with Climate/ Field View, Air Scout and Farmer’s Edge.  Each company brings something different to the market place.  The advantage of having daily high resolution images of your field is not necessarily in having all of the images, but the fact that you will be able to have an image available to you more readily.  How many times in the past have you became frustrated because you get a picture of your field this week but it might be two or three weeks before you get another due to some weather factor (cloud cover, or other event).  I would suggest that you don’t look at the images everyday but rather look at them on a regular basis from week to week.  With having images taken every day you are more likely to be able to get a picture of your field ona more consistent basis.  Talk to one of the Agronomists here at Akron for more information on Famer’s Edge and look for our product spotlights coming out in the next few weeks talking about each of the imagery services Akron represents.

 

Farmer's Edge partner with Planet to provide daily imagery.

 

That is all for this week.  Let us know what you think of the new format.

 

Thank you for your business.