Stick With Your Plan

"With lower commodity prices, Gary Fisher, United Soils marketing manager, said farmers tend to shy away from sticking with their fertility plan.

“They might decide not to spend some money on soil testing where we believe it’s just absolutely critical that if they’re on schedule, they get that soil testing completed, look at the fertility in the field and make the right decision with it,” he said.

“By cutting corners, sometimes you hurt yourself. So our biggest concern is they stay on task with the fertility plan that they’re on.

“To us, it’s all about standardization. Understand what you’re looking at, set a plan and stick with it. If you let the market kind of vary how you react (with nutrient management), with this end of the business we just think it’s going to hurt you in the field.”

Big yields also mean the crops took up large amounts of soil nutrients, and this also should be considered entering the 2015 season.

Chad Trachsel, who works with his father on the 600-acre family farm near Chenoa and is a regional salesman with United Soils in Fairbury said the fertilizer lost with the record crop needs to be addressed.

“People that have been planning maybe for 200-, even 220-bushel corn, but took 240, 250 or higher off need to really take that into consideration when they’re making their fertilizer decisions for this year,” he said.

Trachsel noted instances in his area where he saw corn plants running out of nitrogen as the big crop tried to get bigger.

“Nitrogen management is big. Fertilizer management is big and the final ultimate thing beside the weather is the almighty dollar and with the grain markets dropping and really not rallying in January, a lot of people are really considering what’s my bang for my buck and what do I need to do this year to make the best yield potential that I can for the minimum dollar,” he said.

“I’m not saying spend the least amount of money you possibly can, but spend the right amount of money so you get the right amount of yield. You don’t want to throw a bunch of money at it and end up with low yields.”

What is your plan?  Mine is frugality because my cancer has to come first.  This morning I am thinking we won't have a year anything like 13 or 14 and the market place will have to respond this summer.

It's a good thing we can't see the future!

Ed

Pollination By Insect

The pollination of agricultural crops by diverse insects such as bees, flies, beetles and butterflies is a very valuable ecosystem service. To compensate for the loss in diversity and abundance of wild pollinators across agricultural landscapes, farmers now pollinate many of their crops with managed colonies of honey bees. Honey bees are generally viewed as an effective substitute for the loss of wild pollinators. Not so, the February 28 Science paper suggests.

To measure how effective honey bees and wild insects are at pollinating crops, scientists measured how often these pollinators visited flowers blooming within agricultural landscapes and whether or not those visits resulted in successful pollination. Successful pollination was indicated by the amount of pollen deposited on the flower and the percentage of flowers setting into mature fruit and seeds. For the study, they sampled 600 agricultural fields on every continent except Antarctica. The fields were composed of 41 different types of fruit, nut, seed and coffee crops. They did not study crops that are primarily pollinated by the wind.

The results showed that visits from wild insects enhanced pollination in 100% of the crops studied. However, visits from honey bees only enhanced pollination in 14% of the crops. Furthermore, fruit set was enhanced twice as much by visits from wild insects as compared to honey bees. These results suggest that domesticated honey bees can only supplement, but not substitute for, the pollination services provided by wild insects.

The study concludes that providing natural habitat for wild pollinators could be a valuable strategy to enhance global crop yields.

"Our study shows that losses of wild insects from agricultural landscapes impact not only our natural heritage but also our agricultural harvests. We found that wild insects consistently enhanced the number of flowers setting fruits or seeds for a broad range of crops and agricultural practices on all continents with farmland. Long term, productive agricultural systems should include habitat for both honey bees and diverse wild insects. Our study prompts for the implementation of more sustainable agricultural practices.

Bottom line: Fifty scientists from 17 countries investigated the vital role that wild insects play in crop pollination. They sampled 600 agricultural fields on every continent except Antarctica. Their results, published in the journal Science on February 28, 2013, suggest that domesticated bees are less effective than their wild counterparts at pollinating fruit, nut, seed and coffee crops. The study concludes that providing natural habitat for wild pollinators could be a valuable strategy to enhance global crop yields."

It will be interesting to see how our pollinator crops perform in this service this year!

Ed Winkle

100 Largest US Land Owners

Who owns the most land in your neighborhood?  Is it over 1,000, 10,000 acres or even more?  Here is an interesting read on the 100 largest US land owners.

I know one local farmer who owns around 5,000 acres of farmland.  That's pretty good in southwest Ohio.  He started dairying when I started teaching school and plowed all of his spare money into farmland.  He has done real well.  There are several similar cases around these parts but that's the largest I know of.  I don't think anyone has ever compiled such a list of land owners in Ohio.

Several farms in Ohio have been held in the same family for over 100 or 200 years.  "Property deeds for Ohio’s 200-year-old farms bear the signatures of some of the nation’s first presidents: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Having a deed signed by President Jefferson and Secretary of State Madison doesn’t faze James “ Bob” Fagan, who came by his 227-acre farm in Fairfield County by way of his great-great-great-grandfather, Luke Decker.

“I live in a museum. That’s a fact,” said Fagan, who goes by his middle name. “There’s an awful lot of history here. We’re still discovering things that show us what it was like way back in the beginning.”

Ohio has certified 65 farms as “bicentennial” — having been in one family for at least 200 years. The Ohio Department of Agriculture recognized owners of some of those farms at county fairs this summer and fall.

The goal of the Ohio Century and Bicentennial Farm program is to recognize farming families for their agricultural contributions, said Cindy Winegardner Shy, the program’s manager.

“Their stories are historically rich and compelling, and we know that they are the basis for today’s agricultural industry,” she said in an email.

In central Ohio, Fairfield County has the most bicentennial farms — six. Pickaway County has three; Franklin, one.

Ohio has 73,400 farms, according to the agriculture department. Those farms produced $8.8 billion in economic output and employed more than 93,000 people in 2010, according to Ohio State University.
Owners of the farms are quick to talk about how their ancestors traveled west on horseback or in ox-drawn wagons to buy hundreds of acres in the Ohio River Base for a few dollars apiece."

I don't know how this farm or mom's farm, where two generations of Winkle's were raised, were settled but I bet it's an interesting story.

Ed Winkle

The Cover Crop Story

Cover crops are slowly changing the soil around us.  Cover crops have been around a long time as a few farmers were taught or learned that as soon as you harvest, your soil benefits by planting something else.  I don't know when "stale seedbeds" became the norm but they are slowly fading out of favor.

This video is on the CTIC website and explains "the story."  It's a big issue now in the Great Lakes with the huge algae issue that has caught many people's attention.  No one likes to recreate on a green gooey lake so rules of runoff are also changing.''

CTIC and other groups are working hard to get the message out.  Cover crops don't cost, they pay.  Here is the full report on how they proved this statement.  Farmers reported a 3.2% overall yield increase using cover crops ahead of their next crop.

Soybeans showed a 2 bushel increase nationwide.  That's only $20 in today's market and it's hard to plant another crop for that amount of money.  Still, the soil is moving ahead in soil health, not stagnant or going backward.

Grandpa had to have a longer rotation and sow cover crops because he only had the moldboard plow to control weeds and make a seedbed, and he always needed feed and pasture.  Machinery and herbicides lessened this need so the corn soybean rotation became in favor.  It still is today.

Even the gardner recognizes the value of cover crops to control weeds and build the soil for a good garden the following year.  He has the easiest job of taking a crop of and planting another.  Still, many people have not been taught to do that.

This year we are planting a bee pollinator crop on our CSP program.  It is a recognized soil and environment enhancement.  It requires at least nine different pollinator crops to attract and feed pollinating insects.  We are finishing up our order right now so we can enhance these valuable insects.

Hopefully, when you travel SR 28 through Martinsville this summer, you will see some beautiful flowers in our farm fields full of pollinating insects.

That will be the latest edition of "our cover crop story."  There are more pollinating insects than honey bees, though they get all of the spotlight.  Look for another blog on this subject.

Ed Winkle

GMO Labeling

Ben D from California made this post in the Cafe I agree with.  Farmers are pretty much againt GMO labeling but he makes a valid point why need to be part of the conversation.

"Okay, so the DNA thing just shows how uninformed/uneducated people are. Sort of like the classic survey to ban "Dihydrogen Monoxide(which is really just water)".

But, 82% of our customers want GMO foods labeled. They will get their wish. The only thing we need to look at is whether agricultural groups should be the ones writing it, or should we just continue to dig in our heels and eventually, let someone else write the legislation that will make it happen.

Measure 92 in Oregon failed by a couple hundred votes. With a margin that thin, they will try again. GMO labeling failed in California as well, but again, by a margin that makes me certain we'll see it on the ballot again. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, Monsanto has become public enemy #1. I think Farm Bureau, and all of the rest of the commodity groups are going to start to get a real black eye if we continue to lobby along with Monsanto against labeling. I don't think it is the kind of press agriculture really needs right now.

Now I'm glad 92 failed in Oregon, as it was a very poorly written piece of legislation. But if we don't want to get stuck with something like that, agriculture needs to get out ahead of this issue and get some labeling legislation out there that we can live with. Preferably at the national level so we don't end up with bastard state specific laws.

I would compare this to the rBST labeling. I've asked lots of people about the rBST labeling. Guess what? No one looks at it aside for a small minority that is concerned about it. So, they can buy rBST free milk now if they choose, and the rest of us can buy cheaper milk. The same thing will happen with GMO labeling, IMO. A few years ago it was a big issue, now very few can even remember what is was all about. The quickest way for us to end this debate is to get some small statement to the effect of "This product may contain GMO ingredients, which have been proven safe by the USDA, etc"

This issue is NOT going to go away. We can continue to just deny, deny, deny, and let the Sierra Club types write it for us, or we can be part of the conversation."

I agree.  What are your thoughts?

Ed

The Train

This is from our pastor Father Hank.  It is very appropriate for me and for all of us with the trials and tribulations we go through every day.  I offer it up in memory of my dear uncle Roy Winkle who will be buried near the home farm in Sardinia tomorrow, February 2, 2015.

"The following story, entitled “The Train”, was part of
someone’s Christmas greeting to me. I pass it on to you
because I think it has a powerful message.

“At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and
we believe they will always travel on our side.
However, at some station our parents will step down
from the train, leaving us on this journey alone.

As time goes by, other people will board the train; and
they will be significant (i.e. our siblings, friends,
children, and even the love of your life). Many will step
down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so
unnoticed that we don’t realize they vacated their seats.

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy,
expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success
consists of having a good relationship with all
passengers, requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which
station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live
in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who
we are. It is important to do this because, when the time
comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty, we
should leave behind beautiful memories for those who
will continue to travel on the train of life."

I am thankful I've met an great amount of good people on this ride.  Some of you I have met and know personally, most of you I have not.  Wouldn't it be great if we could meet before this train ride is over?

Have a blessed Sunday and don't forget this train ride.  I know I don't forget, it is my life.

Ed

Is There A Drone In Your Future

Is there a drone or UAV in your future to help you on your farm?  The FAA approved its first agricultural use of drone technology on farms.

"This month, the Federal Aviation Administration issued the first permit for agricultural use of unmanned aerial vehicles. Steven Edgar, president and CEO of ADAVSO, says his Idaho-based business will use a lightweight, fixed-wing drone to survey fields of crops.

Drone technology, already used in other countries, can make farmers more efficient by helping them locate problem spots in vast fields or ranchlands. Increased efficiency could mean lower costs for consumers and less impact on the environment if farmers used fewer chemicals because drones showed them exactly where to spray."

How could one help you?

FARMS
The first agriculture drones are looking at massive fields of crops to scout out where crops are too wet, too dry, too diseased or too infested with pests. They can help farmers count plants or measure their height. Farmers can now use satellite technology, but it’s slower and less detailed than images from low-flying drone.

“This is about getting the most productivity from every square inch of a farm,” says ADAVSO’s Edgar.

Alabama farmer Don Glenn(our friend from NAT) said he would buy a drone or use a service that provides drone surveillance on his farm of corn, wheat, soybeans and canola. It’s hard to survey corn fields when they are 8 feet to 10 feet tall, he says.

Drones can carry different tools, including high-resolution cameras, infrared sensors and thermal sensors. Ground-penetrating radar could even measure soil conditions.
___
APPLYING CHEMICALS
Once the land is surveyed, farmers could use that data to narrow the areas that need treatment. If a plot of farmland is infested with weeds, for example, a farmer could spray a small amount of herbicide just in that area, instead of an entire field, to kill them. Farmers hope that they eventually could use drones to do the spraying.

Kevin Price of the Iowa-based drone company RoboFlight Systems says that kind of precision would put farmers at a huge advantage, helping them reduce the costs of chemicals and their application.

I can see this happening.  Can you?

I feel good today and give thanks to God.  Have a blessed Sunday, the first one of February, 2015.

Ed Winkle