Are We Really Planting Wheat?
The answer? Yes. Well, I hope we do. The opportunity to sow wheat may seem bleak after a tasking 2019 planting season, but for a good portion of Illinois, especially for us in God’s Graceland (Southern Illinois), wheat is still an important crop within our farming operations. As with all cropping systems, hybrid selection and good seed-to-soil placement are prerequisites for any strong crop foundation. Key Recommendations to consider: 1. Fertility: Soil tests should always be referred to; local agronomists/CCA consultants can help with this. Increased P: The need for phosphorus is greater as we approach cooler weather to [...]
Three Phosphorus Tests and Which to Use on Your Soil
Phosphorus was recently in the spotlight as the American Society of Agronomy celebrated Phosphorus Week, September 15-21. It seems appropriate to celebrate the discovery of one of our most important crop nutrients and focus on how to manage it better. Discovered 350 years ago, phosphorus is the 11th most abundant element on earth. Because it is so plentiful, it would seem it should be one of the easiest to manage for crop production. However, it is not evenly distributed and not always readily available for plant growth. According to Emerson Nafzinger, University of Illinois Extension, soybeans remove 0.75 pounds [...]
Evaluating Pod Development & Seed Fill
It’s important to always know or have a close idea of where your soybeans are in their growth stage. This information is important not only when making fungicide applications, but also to evaluate the potential risk of threats that could be associated with the current and rest of a growing season. In 2019 several bean fields are slow to advance into the R7-R8 stages, which means there’s a large percentage of yield that is yet to be made and retained. Chart 1: Reproductive growth stages of a soybean plant. Chart 1 shows the eight growth stages of a soybean [...]
PODCAST: Soycoaster – 2019 Growing Season
CCA Soy Envoy, Jason Carr discusses the roller coaster that is the 2019 soybean growing season. From decisions made at planting time to what we are seeing in the fields now, Carr looks at how different decisions and forces were in play to affect yield potential this year. He also looks ahead to how the 2020 growing season may be impacted by 2019.
Are My Soybeans Turning Or Is That a Disease I See?
As I drive through southeastern Illinois, I see very few soybean fields that have started to turn. This is due in part to the late planting season and in part to the soybean maturities most common to this region. I have, however, seen a few fields with the characteristic yellowing of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS). Questions were raised early in the season as to whether or not this disease would be prevalent in 2019 and it turns out we are starting to see it show up in many soybean fields across the state. Causes and Development SDS is a [...]
Trust or LLC: Which is Better? (Wrong Question!)
This article was originally published in Illinois Prairie Farmer. Estate Plan Edge: Different legal ways of holding assets can get terribly confusing. Make sure you get the full story before you create something. The Farm Progress Show is always an enjoyable opportunity to visit with farmers about their goals and the planning they have done to accomplish those goals. I enjoy brainstorming with attendees who, I trust, leave with greater understanding of their options. One question that did not seem to come up this year was: “Which is better, a corporation or a limited liability company?” Word seems to [...]
Soybean Fungicide Application Advice
According to a recent @ILSoyAdvisor Twitter poll, over half (56%) of the respondents indicated that they always spray fungicide on their beans. We want to know: do you use fungicide on your beans? — ILSoyAdvisor (@ILSoyAdvisor) July 30, 2019 Another 27% responded that they “sometimes spray” based on disease pressure. Many of these growers have discovered what university research generally shows: A well-timed fungicide application will normally result in a positive ROI by protecting the yield potential of a soybean field. University studies consistently show an average yield increase from fungicide application of 2.5 bushels or greater. Obviously, the [...]
Hedging Strategies Session 4
This unit discusses the use of more advanced option strategies, such as strangles, straddles, and collars. When to use these advanced strategies and how elevators often use and price these strategies into the contracts they offer are also discussed.
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