These days, most farmers have sizeable grain bin systems that jut out of the landscape like the Grand Tetons. In fact, some bin setups rival – often surpass – what you’d find at a local country elevator. Many of these Cadillac systems have been built with every intention of expanding further....More
Brandon Diedrich draws a step-by-step diagram of his farm’s corn-handling process for his energy auditor, Dave Warrington. In two hours, they’ll tally every fan, pipe, auger, electric motor and bin as they “follow the grain” from unloading to final storage....More
“Agriculture’s long-term future is very positive, but there will be bumps in the road,” Michael Boehlje, Purdue distinguished professor of agricultural economics, tells farmers this summer. “Make sure you aren’t road kill."...More
Just ask Charlie Crow, Franklin, IL, whose preharvest soybean marketing was dragging behind due to late-planted beans and too much rain. Then there’s Michael Bryant, Copeland, KS, who worried about forward contracting too much corn for fear of lower yields from the worst drought in decades....More
It’s not a question as to whether John Lindamood plants treated corn and soybean seed. That’s a given. It just gets down to which fungicide and insecticide products are most cost effective to his northwest Tennessee operation....More
“I’m into big iron and I love operating large, high-tech equipment,” admits Howard G. Buffett, farmer, conservationist and philanthropist. “But big iron can be a barrier to conservation tillage. Still, you can get that big-iron fix with today’s technology, farming more sustainably.”...More
Production agriculture has always had cycles. As long as the two basic human emotions of greed and fear are still present (last time I checked they still were), we will have cycles in farming....More
Did somebody change the rules? Look, for example, at corn and soybean prices. Since when do bull markets last a year? And since when do two incredibly strong bull markets repeat just three years apart, as they did in 2007-2008 and 2010-2011? I think somebody is messing with the rules....More
Lenders always encourage producers to have a marketing plan, and most producers know they need one. But in years like this, even some of the best mapped out marketing plans have the potential for leading to a road of disappointment....More