Nothing Radical

'26 field operations launched this weekend. Rock pickers were dispatched to Buck and Wheeler, Mitch tested the ammonia bar on Jordan, and Matt warmed up the manure application machinery at Carpenter. We don't have this crop production thing perfected yet, but we are in the incremental adjustment phase. Year to year changes are less obvious.    

For the first time in forever, our squadron of spring tillage tools is a carbon copy of last year. Based on '25 results, we think we will see our all-time best c/c seedbeds in fields fall tilled with the Lemken, a primary tillage tool using large diameter concave discs to loosen soil, size and bury residue, followed by a JD field cultivator with rolling baskets. Although conventional tillage systems constantly evolve, we are optimistic that this combo will be around a few years. 

In the application department, we modestly increased capacity. To keep up with the expanding hog enterprise, Matt has a new 50' manure bar to replace the 40'er. The 50' bar has improved disc openers that more effectively incorporate. We also added a second Hagie to bring fungicide application 100% in house and improve timeliness of side dress. In both cases, we will get more done. More importantly, it will be done better. 

Planting capacity is unchanged. We did upgrade Deon's planter and traded his large frame track tractor for a FWA wheel machine. Deon fears he will miss the higher hp track machine. He might. However, the wheel tractor, being smaller/lighter, is more seedbed friendly. Ben and I round out the corn planting Team with the same machines as last year. Ditto with Caleb on the bean planter. 

Thanks to the Iran war, nitrogen fertilizer prices have appreciated wildly. As a result, we have chosen to apply more NH3 pre plant. Side dressing is the surest way to ensure our fields have the N they need when they need it. On the other hand, side dressing requires extra trips and more costly N solutions. We are attempting to separate the farms that will reward us with justifiably higher yield vs those that won't. With a $50/acre difference in N cost between these options, there will be farms in both categories. We see an opportunity to minimize the latter.        

The blend of soils, climate, and geography make our family of farms unique. It has taken decades, but we believe we are getting closer to a crop production system ideally suited for our location and values. Our best crop ever is inevitable. Someday. 😎

Jim