There is so much to be aware of when you are looking to market your crops. Many factors are going to come into play after a year like 2019. The folks at Rabo AgriFinance want you to be aware of all these factors, the ones you can control as well as what you cannot....
Trade Talk 2019
Corn growers plant, harvest and battle government
The corn harvest is just about over in Iowa, but the issues of being a corn grower never end.Trade, regulation, ethanol and a long list are on the agenda of the National Corn Growers Association. I spoke with Lynn Chrisp, of Nebraska, who serves as chairman of the...
Dealing with soil compaction
An equipment specialist speaks to soil compaction caused by heavy equipment making trips across fields. In 2019, the ground was likely wet and the compaction will show up next spring.CJ Parker, equipment specialist with Case IH, spoke to me about how to limit soil...
Soy processors ready for better times
There may be good news for the soybean industry, from grower to processor to exporter, as a partial trade deal with China has been reached.How have soybean processors been doing? What about biodiesel? If China trade normalization does not come through, what is their...
Keeping nitrogen fertilizer where it is needed
How do we keep nitrogen fertilizer in the soil until it is needed? An old question with some new answers. Suggestions and products from Koch Agronomic Services.AUDIO: Michael Berry, Koch Agronomic ServicesAUDIO: Profit Matters 12-11-19Ken Root: Michael Berry, with...
2019: A year to forget or one to learn from?
The 2019 calendar year has been one for the record books. Wet, cold, late, hot, wet again. The year was so far from normal that it may be of little interest to try to try to breed crops to deal with this type of extreme. One farmer told me he needs to plant corn that...
Road, rail and river infrastructure needs attention
Soybean harvest is finished. Corn harvest is now down to about eight-percent left in southwest and northeast Iowa, but less in other areas.With grain in storage, what is the next move? If we were not able to export two-thirds of our soybean production, it would be...
Case IH rolls out more high-tech farm machinery
One of the greatest advancements in agriculture has occurred since 1994, the year when tractors and combines had the first auto steering capabilities and yield monitoring. These technologies have been refined and expanded since. You cannot work on machines under a...
Ag bankers examine farmer’s financial health
How is your health, as a farmer?I am not talking about physical health. I am talking about your financial health. Agricultural bankers are concerned about how their farm loans are doing, sometimes more than the farmer. I spoke with a representative of the American...
FarmOp Capital finances producers who rent more land than they own
Agricultural financing is a slippery slope, especially in the economic climate in which producers are in. Securing that financing is tricky, even when you have the assets to borrow against. But what happens when you are a producer whose operation consists of more...