The Seed Is Worth More Than The Planter

I came across this post on Machinery Talk and that this was a very quotable post.

"The seed is worth more than the planter."

I am not sure I've ever done this but probably I have.  When I had six units full of $159 seed corn on a 40 year old White 5100 no till planter, I may have been coming close.

In recent years, when I put 30 bags of it in a $30,000 12 row planter I wasn't coming close.  I hope my planter was always worth more than I seed I  put into it, but that's a good question.  Is your planter worth more than the seed you put into it?

Whatever it costs, I need the best planter I can find that will do the job I need it to do.  That was a 1976 White 5100 planter, modified greatly.  That planter lasted me for years.  I should have kept it for a HyMark Ag Museum but I passed it on to another young farmer instead.  I needed a little bigger planter, an 8 row, a 12 row and last year we used a 24 row.  That was a little too big for this little guy.

I need the best seed I can find to put into it, that was First Choice and Porter corn hybrids.  Another group of friends are introducing Genesys Seeds where the farmer owns the company and controls the shots.  Whatever you choose, make sure it does the job you need it to do.  I am so amazed so many farmers buy so many traits I really don't think they need.  They get hooked on the salesman and the company he represents rather than the product that represents them.  Thankfully, I tested and tried every seed and trait known to man early on and learned they didn't have one thing over what I was already planting.

Yesterday I took delivery on some 40 year old genetics from my friend in Iowa.  Those pictures of soybean florets in my posts are now seed in my barn.  Dr. Richard Cooper developed them at OARDC for his 100 bushel soybean experiments in the 70's.  He bred semi-dwarf soybeans that would yield well and not fall down.  I need them to make at least 70% of what they made as seed for a good profit.  I don't forget those 100 bushel beans right beside 20 bu GMO fields.

That makes $1000 worth of seed in a $40,000 drill or planter for me.  I am not so concerned who made the planter as I am who bred the seed and who produced it.

I think there is a whole lot of unknown value of seed.  You can see the planter but you can't see inside the seed's history unless you look real hard.

Billions of dollars worth of seed is poised to go into the ground right now.

Is it really the best seed for that farmer or has he been lead down the path of the machinery salesman?

Ed

Doctor Asked ME A Question

My doctor asked ME a question this morning.  He didn't say Mr. Winkle, he said Ed, I have to ask you about Obama signing the "Protection Act" about the legislation that protects biotech companies from being sued.

We discussed the whole ordeal.  I hope my knee got enough attention.  I will have it "scoped out" as I have a huge buildup under my kneecap from osteoarthritis.  That I expected.  I never expected the concern over our food system as I heard from my doctor.

I told him about the pink leaves in corn today from coast to coast because the plant can't transfer enough sugars to the ear.  I told him about the black lesions on stalks with plant milk leaking out.  I told him about the deformed plants I see, and on and on.  He just shook his head yes the whole conversation.  I encouraged him to share the things I have learned through good sources to his sources.  The doctors want to know how they see what they see in patients that correlates to the food system and to science.

Autism was an early warning sign, ADHD was on the news last night, stomach problems are record high and even things like me knee is blowing out of proportion?  Could these problems be linked to our food system?  They sure could, but what's the truth?

The truth is we don't know but the pioneers of bioseeds are so afraid of litigation they got the "Monsanto Protection Act" passed under HR933.  Does that tell you anything?

Did GMO open the Pandora's Box?  I don't know but it sent me running and screaming for non GMO seed and better soil fertility and biology.  Is GMO killing that?  I don't know that either but I am going to stay with what I have been doing.  It is working better.

I really want to leave this place better than I found it.

Ed

Proposed Ohio Fertilizer Law

Ohio farmers, have you read this?  We discussed this topic this week on Crop Talk.

"It would give Ohio Department of Agriculture rule-making authority to develop a fertilizer application certification program, and require anyone who applies fertilizer for ag production on areas of more than 10 acres, to be certified by ODA.

It also would expand ODNR’s authority through the Division of Soil and Water Resources, to develop operation and nutrient management plans for commercial fertilizer, in addition to manure, sediment and materials attached to sediment.

These plans would address the “methods, amount, form, placement and timing” of all nutrient applications.

Fertilizer as ‘pollutant’?

The proposal also effectively classifies nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as “agricultural pollutants,” according to the OFBF summary.

The question with fertilizer is always, “when does it become a pollutant?” He said it must be remembered there are many factors affecting fertilizer and where it ends up, as well as naturally occurring levels of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus from plant decay.

Two watersheds.

The proposal also allows the ODNR to classify two types of watersheds.One type, the “critical natural resources area,” would result in the following actions:

• An analysis by ODNR of the watershed, to identify sources and causes of ag pollution.

• A watershed management plan that would address the causes and sources of ag pollution, which may include requirements for storage, handling and land application of manure and fertilizer, as well as erosion control.

• Encourage all farmers to voluntarily develop and operate under an approved operation and nutrient management plan.

A second type of watershed, the “watershed in distress,” would result in most of the same actions, except there would be more emphasis on “requirements.”  I am aware of Lake St. Mary in Auglaize County and Lake Erie being watersheds in distress.

Farmers would be required to follow an approved operation and nutrient management plan, and to establish a schedule for implementing this plan."

Fertilizer is a pollutant?  That is going to go over big!

Ed

Farmland Sale Socioeconomics

Blessed Easter Sunday to you all.  I jotted down these notes yesterday and share them with you today.

There was another farm auction today at the Elk's Lodge where LuAnn and I bought our last farm in November.  It was an interesting study of people, farmers, economy and socioeconomics.  I believe that is the word I am looking for but there was a lot of group dynamics involved, too.

It's a nice 106 acre farm 5 miles from us or so near Cuba on old US 68 or Cuba Pike.  It's been one family a long time.  The old house even has the old German wood floors those farmers were famous for.

Someone I know put in a bid for $4000.  It went to $4300 per acre and stopped.  The auctioneer started into his closing chant but we all knew it should bring more than that.  The woman next to me was from Cincinnati and I had just met her and her husband.  I had just told her about the one near me that brought $6,000 an acre. She asked me if $4400 was too much and I said no.  I was sure it would bring between $5-6000 per acre.  She raised her hand and that broke the ice.

The bidding took off to $5,000 per acre quickly and at about $5200 it stopped again.  This time the auctioneer said I would take a $50 bid on this fine spring day and the bidding took off again.  I couldn't see who was bidding but it was coming from the big group of farmers in the back of the room.  I spotted an old friend who bid and kissed his wife.  The auction was slow at this time but kept moving.  The auctioneer got down to $25 per acre bids but confused himself by saying "I have fifty two two fifty" instead of saying $5225.  The bids kept creeping up slowly and finally he got to $5775 per acre and asked for $5800.  The older farmer finally bid that before the sale ended and that stopped the other bidder, whoever that was.

The farm sold for $5800 per acre or just under $620,000 total.  He had to write a check for about $62,000 or ten percent of the purchase price.  The lady I referred to made the auctioneers day when her husband asked what the bidders premium was and the auctioneer said there was none.  "Most of these people think I am overpaid anyway," was his response.

Land in economically depressed southern Ohio has crept higher, still half that of neighboring states.  I had wondered if the 50 cent drop in market price this week would deter anyone and when the bidding died at $4300 I thought maybe it had.

After $5800 per acre, I would say not.  My old friend got a good farm for a high price around here but half what neighboring states bring.

Ed

Tax Management

I haven't done the best job of record keeping the last nine years but I think I  have done a pretty good job of tax management.  I raised these questions in the Cafe yesterday:

"Does tax management drive you a little crazy? A little insane? I am thankful we didn't have to file until April 15 this year, that's the latest we've filed in a long time.   This year there were government problems relating to 1040-F and associated documents and the deadline for filing for farmers was extended to April 15.

I can tell you we were one happy couple walking out of WTS Tax Services today. All of our laboring over last year's record amount of records resulted in what I consider a fair tax though it's still a hefty tax. I don't think I've ever worked so hard on taxes in one year. Have you?

I know farmers who make buying and selling decisions largely based on tax consequences. Thankfully, I haven't had to do that too much either though they always enter into my decision to buy or sell.

The one thing I have noticed is my daily log is my lifesaver. I got compliments from our tax lady and from my wife. That log shows where I went, who I talked to and what I pretty much spent that day. I got into the habit of doing that as an ag teacher in 1971 to justify my existence to the school board and it has served me well over these many years.

What is the one best thing you have done for tax management? It can drive you nuts or you just pay the tax. It shouldn't rule your life, but in America you've got to have good records to pay your fair share of taxes by law.  What do you think?"

I got some good replies, I will post the one from my friend Eddie in Missouri:  "each year it gets easier once you get a template to follow so you can just fill in the blanks. Start about a month ahead of year end and you can get yourself real close to where you want to be, My dad does ours, works very hard at it, is a very meticulous person, frets over it the last month and always comes out very close to the max number in the tax bracket he wants to be in. It takes work."

It DOES take work.  Is it worth it?  Wouldn't we be better off with a flat tax?  I don't think its worth talking about since everyone who ran for office or brought it up has been shot down.  How would we lay off all those poor federal workers?

One fourth of 2013 taxes are in the record book already!  What can we do today to make things easier come this time next year?  I need a little more time in the woods this year.

A little daily record keeping is essential to my mess.  How about yours?

Thanks,

Ed

Miltary Protection Acts on Good Friday

I read Mike Huckabee on Facebook almost every day.  I voted for Mike and wish he was our president.  He made a  post this morning that made me think of all our military people and all of their service to our country over its short history.

"This morning I'd like to do something special for the men and women who are serving in our armed forces away from home this Easter weekend. If you have a loved one or a friend who is serving, please list their name below as a comment to this post. I ask that everyone else thank these men and women by replying to these comments. I will try to thank as many as I can because their sacrifice keeps us free. May God bless you and your families."

We have one military man in our family.  He survived 2 tours to the Middle East to come home permanently injured from his service so he can try and live a normal life with his beautiful family.  I feel very humble with sincere gratitude for his service and for the service of all soldiers.  I can't ever repay their gift but I can give thanks for it this Good Friday and Easter weekend.

What is the meaning of Good Friday?  " The origin of the term Good is not clear. Some say it is from "God's Friday" (Gottes Freitag); others maintain that it is from the German Gute Freitag, and not specially English. Sometimes, too, the day was called Long Friday by the Anglo-Saxons; so today in Denmark"

The good in Greek means obedience to God's Will.  God took something horrible that happened on Good Friday into something great for mankind forever beyond that day.  For both, I give thanks!

One old saying is plant crops on Good Friday for good crops.  I think that depends where you live!  Last year was a good day to plant and now that our snow is melting off it looks like we could plant in a few weeks.  Has anyone planted their potatoes or peas?  It's not been fit here but has other places in the US and the world.

I have the freedom to do a lot of things I take for granted.  Today, I honor our soldiers who have kept us free and our Lord who has given us Eternal Freedom.

Ed Winkle

Mosanto Protection Act

President Obama signed into law HB 933 yesterday, the Monsanto Protection Act.  I didn't even know there was one!  I guess our lazy house has been up to something, but is it no good?

"Slipped into the Agricultural Appropriations Bill, which passed through Congress last week, was a small provision that’s a big deal for Monsanto and its opponents. The provision protects genetically modified seeds from litigation in the face of health risks and has thus been dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act” by activists who oppose the biotech giant. President Barack Obama signed the spending bill, including the provision, into law on Tuesday


Since the act’s passing, more than 250,000 people have signed a petition opposing the provision and a rally, consisting largely of farmers organized by the Food Democracy Now network, protested outside the White House Wednesday. Not only has anger been directed at the Monsanto Protection Act’s content, but the way in which the provision was passed through Congress without appropriate review by the Agricultural or Judiciary Committees. The biotech rider instead was introduced anonymously as the larger bill progressed — little wonder food activists are accusing lobbyists and Congress members of backroom dealings.

The Food Democracy Now and the Center for Food are directing blame at the Senate Appropriations Committee and its chairman, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. According to reports, many members of Congress were apparently unaware that the “Monsanto Protection Act” even existed within the spending bill, HR 933; they voted in order to avert a government shutdown.

“It sets a terrible precedent,” noted the International Business Times. “Though it will only remain in effect for six months until the government finds another way to fund its operations, the message it sends is that corporations can get around consumer safety protections if they get Congress on their side. Furthermore, it sets a precedent that suggests that court challenges are a privilege, not a right.”

What do you think?  Does this sound like a few lawmakers slipped another fast one onto their fellow house members and the American People with this bill?

Ed