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With the prognosis for continued low
prices and the threat of drought looming on the horizon, let's discuss some
ideas that we can use to maintain profitability of corn production in
2002.
One of the first options in this year
of uncertainty is to explore the options of crop insurance that have been
discussed at many of the meetings we have conducted this fall. Hopefully many
of you have taken in one of these sessions this winter and are aware of the
options available and the reduced cost of coverage this year.
On the production side, our objectives
should be to keep costs and risks as low as possible. Inputs costs for N, seed,
and chemicals appear to have moderated this winter so be sure to shop for the
best deals on inputs if you haven't done so already. Given some of the
uncertainty that exists out there this is not the time for experimenting with
unproven inputs or those that have a low rate of return.
The dry fall and the subsequent
relatively dry winter should have translated into less soil compaction and N
leaching. Given that, I would consider less tillage, more no tillage and
certainly using the previous crop N credits in formulating your N program. The
dry fall has also resulted in drier than normal subsoil at this point. While
this could and hopefully will change before planting, I would continue to focus
on at least some proven hybrids with good drought tolerance
ratings-particularly for those situations with less than ideal
soils.
The decision to grow corn should be
reevaluated. Corn is a popular crop because there are good local markets and
it's often the most profitable alternative we have. But on some dairy farms,
growing corn for grain is not profitable and many dairy farms have realized
this. We also need to push the pencil on production on low yield acres. One
consultant I spoke with this year has been trying to identify low yield acres
that are perennial losers for his clients and switch them to other
crops.
For corn growers on livestock farms,
its time to revisit your phosphorus fertility program. If you haven't already,
make sure you are not adding additional P over and above crop needs that might
make you more vulnerable to P based nutrient management that appears on the
horizon. Based on some of our recent research, eliminating starter, using a low
rate pop-up or substituting more N for P in the starter could all be lower
cost, lower P alternatives.
These are a few of the ideas I would
consider for 2002. No doubt it will be another unique season with unique
challenges. |
