Four Questions to Ask Before Buying Seed Treatments
We are about three to four months away from bringing out the dedicated soybean planter and starting to plant the 2021 soybean crop. At this point, I hope the question is not whether or not to have your soybeans treated, but what to have them treated with and where will they be treated. Seed treatments have been on the market for many years now and has had a strong adoption amongst progressive growers. It’s hard to prove if a seed treatment will directly make you money, however they will indirectly make you money most of the time. This is [...]
PCM Financial Analysis of Tillage Operations for Soybean Production
We’re excited to introduce ILSoyAdvisor readers to Precision Conservation Management (PCM). PCM is a farmer service program in Illinois and Kentucky that helps farmers scale use of conservation practices like reduced tillage, nutrient management and cover crops in a way that focuses on impact to farm income. PCM was launched by the IL Corn Growers Association in 2015 and has grown rapidly, now serving around 350 farmers and representing over 300,000 acres of farmland in Illinois. Following the exciting announcement that the Illinois Soybean Association is joining IL Corn Growers as joint partners in PCM, this seems like a [...]
How to Use a Soybean Product Guide
Sometimes soybean product guides are like yield maps - pretty pictures, but they do not get much use. However, just like that yield map, a product guide can produce valuable insight on how to manage a given soybean genetic line. Soybean varieties are typically selected based off their performance in yield trials or contests. But how often do farmers understand the do’s and don’ts of their high-yielding, selected soybean products? Below are a few items that can be found in most quality soybean product guides. Now that we are in a modern digital age, many companies offer their product [...]
Does New Technology Fit Your Farm?
Evaluating new technology for the farm is not one-size-fits-all. What works successfully on one operation may have a lower-than-expected return on investment (ROI) on another. However, best practices can help you determine when to try out an innovative product or practice on your farm and how to evaluate its impact. Consider these three tips: 1. Know your agtech temperament. Be aware of your level of risk tolerance and how that compares with the upside potential of the new technology. Be honest about your ability to implement it. Do you have the time and patience to adopt the skills and [...]
What You Need to Know About Hiring Workers: How to Start Your Business on Payroll
As farm families across the Midwest get busier each year, the need for part-time, hired help becomes prevalent. However, it’s not as easy as simply writing them a check every week. We need to ensure the proper steps are completed before beginning to pay an employee as well as continued compliance and reporting once the employee relationship is established. This article discusses the necessary steps to set your business up for payroll. Employee or Contract Labor? The first step is to determine if you are hiring an employee or if you are hiring contract labor. There are three general [...]
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