Corn+Soybean Digest • 10/18/2018

Find harvest joy

There’s nothing like Autumn on the farm. Yes, there’s the hurried pace, the hectic family farm schedules, the long hours spent racing Mother Nature to the bin or elevator, the mechanical and GPS malfunctions, resistant weeds, rocks, the post-harvest field work and much more.But amidst this craziness, there’s the joy, right?There’s no greater satisfaction that watching the crops fill the combine grain tank as you make round after round in every field. It’s the culmination of a long season, where...

Farm Progress • 08/16/2018

Journalists not the enemy

At our recent annual meeting of the American Agricultural Editors’ Association, I met with a group of editor peers at competing national and regional magazines/websites to discuss the issue of fake news.

We came to a unanimous conclusion that our industry needs to voice united support for our craft and for a free press—as professionally trained journalists. Since this decision, hundreds of competitive news organizations came together today (August 16) to write editorials that highlight the dang

Farm Progress • 06/29/2018

Grow organic?

I know organic can be a contentious topic, as conventional and organic farmers have long clashed over food safety and quality, spray drift, product value and much more—and I get negative email and letters whenever I broach the subject.

But hear me out, as farmers have forever said they would grow what the market wants. In these tougher economic times, diversification into higher returns can be a sound business strategy.

Organic food and feed is still a fast-growing segment in the U.S.

Organic

Farm Progress • 06/15/2018

Conservation programs need greater focus

It’s true that government conservation programs have helped improve soil erosion and water quality through better practices implemented on farms. But at the current improvement pace, these voluntary programs with budget constraints will not reach huge water quality goals in many watershed and nutrient reduction programs underway in numerous states.

University of Illinois researcher Laura Gentry says the nutrient reduction strategy will only achieve 6 to 8% of water quality goals. Long-time cons

Corn+Soybean Digest • 05/11/2018

Wait, there’s profit in conservation practices?

I doubt too many farmers have a budget line item for conservation practices. Why bother, right? Sure, you may have some income for CRP, maybe EQIP dollars, possibly a few bucks for cover crops. But, profit in conservation? Not hardly, as most income is probably turned into red numbers due to expenses.But are we looking at each practice in a silo?In many of the stories we’ve written over the years on conservation practices, farmers have a tough time with the profitability question, as real data i...

Farm Progress • 12/28/2017

Lessons from Dad

The best lesson my dad drilled into me was the value of thinking for myself and not simply following a group. Yes, I failed at times and I’ll never forget the “extra” farm work consequences I earned for missing curfew by following the thoughts of a cast of characters.

Fortunately, my group think misadventures gave me a larger perspective and helped me better relate to different groups. I had friends from all socio-economic classes that inhabited small town America back then. Such lessons carry

Farm Progress • 11/10/2017

Soil life matters

This is about paying attention.

To your soils. And your landowners’ soils.

Perhaps a harsh headline to some. While soil life is not viewed by many people as even closely relatable to human lives, I use the analogy to grab attention, and make a point.

Civilizations have been lost due to soil degradation.

If you don’t believe me, read “Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations” by David Montgomery.

I’ve been accused before of being anti-tillage. I’m not. I’m pro science, and pro ROI.

I’d love it if

Corn+Soybean Digest • 10/12/2017

Technology Adoption

In our annual fall survey with readers, funded by our parent company Farm Progress/Informa, we continue to track precision farming technology adoption. It helps us create targeted content and continue to improve our popular Ag Data Conference in late November.With continued thin margins on corn and soybeans, we all know efficiency is critical. To that end, these statistics from more than 1,100 farmers offer proof that there’s room for improvement:As you can clearly see, the average numbers vary...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 09/04/2017

Soil health not fake news

As this issue hits your mailbox in mid-August, I’m sure most of you are sizing up potential bushels per field, and maybe not the health of your soil – but perhaps both, I hope, as you gear up to seed cover crops.As a journalist, I’ve grown weary of the fake news label being thrown about with little regard for facts. Proven facts are facts, not fake. Just like cover crop science leading to improved soil health. More research, more data, and more farmers are proving how cover crops are building so...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 09/01/2017

Precision adoption slow?

As I write this, in the dog days of summer (late-August), it’s usually a time when I ponder winter story ideas, work on finalizing speakers for our upcoming Ag Data Conference  and dig into other big picture stuff before heading to our Farm Progress Show.One topic that piques my curiosity is technology adoption. On the surface it seems slow, especially when I review our 2016 survey that produced data like this:·         64% of farmers use field mapping·         63% collect/use yield monitor data...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 04/11/2017

Water quality urgency?

The 2015 nitrate pollution lawsuit by Des Moines Water Works against three drainage districts in Iowa was dismissed on March 17. The Iowa Supreme court ruled that the state’s water quality problems should be resolved by the state legislature, not the courts.The Des Moines utility wanted drainage districts regulated (ultimately farmers and their field drainage tile outlets) under the federal Clean Water Act as a “point source,” like manufacturing plants and businesses. The big question now become...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 04/06/2017

Think Different: Support your conservation

Yes, Corn+Soybean Digest isn’t an agricultural policy brand – we leave that to our sister brands like Farm Futures, Farm Progress, Farm Press, our livestock and even our radio/TV brands.However, at CSD, we are champions for conservation and soil health. So sometimes, we also think different editorially, when it comes to important information we feel compelled to deliver.To that end, with Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue finally in place, have you contacted your lawmakers yet about the critical importan...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 02/23/2017

All about the soil

These farmer beliefs and proven realities come from the winning family farms in the American Soybean Association’s Conservation Legacy project — that we are privileged to showcase every February. Reading through their stories in this issue should instill greater confidence as you build on your own conservation legacy, while growing greater sustainable revenue.Along this theme, we followed up with a couple of past ASA Conservation Legacy Award winners to share what is working on their farms. On P...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 01/13/2017

Nitrogen use: Science or art?

Anyone who reads this column knows my bias toward science (yes, even on the causes of climate extremes).However, when I read CSD contributing editor Jim Ruen’s cover story that uses the word “art” in a nitrogen application discussion, I was both puzzled and intrigued – because there exists some common sense.The story cites these inconsistent N riddles:- N sidedress application can succeed or fail, depending on timing, rates and rainfall amounts. Yet, a planned split application can reduce input...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 10/04/2016

Green Autumn fields

SILVER AWARD WINNING COLUMN 2017

How many of your corn and soybean fields are green with cover crops after harvest? Like the cover photo, or this nice North Dakota corn field with interseeded cover crops?How many of your fields have been ripped and blanket fertilized?While it’s true the latter practice, along with its predecessor the moldboard plow, helped turn the U.S. into the breadbasket of the world. But such productivity took a toll – poor soils that are hooked on chemicals. Hence the need for soil rehab.As Illinois crop c...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 08/26/2016

NCGA yield contest outdated?

One year ago, my Think Different column addressed the topic “Why promote 500-bushel corn?” http://bit.ly/Promote500BushelCorn (FIRST PLACE AWARD WINNING COLUMN-AAEA). My hope was to start a discussion about NCGA’s yield-only contest and its lack of recognition for the best nitrogen-efficient yields.Since then, nothing happened (other than a few farmer comments, and this column winning the first-place award for best column at the recent American Agricultural Editors’ Association annual meeting). I didn’t expect much, especially when a...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 06/07/2016

Why I can't bring myself to plant milkWEEDS near a farm field

Now, I get it that supporting the beautiful Monarch butterfly is important (to some, right!). But when this video crossed my email and I actually clicked on the play arrow, I cringed -- because it actually shows the planting of milkweed, then watering and nurturing the "plants?"Huh?! Is it only me that can see the last four letters of that so-called plant? W-E-E-D, it spells.See, my milkWEEDophobia, (okay maybe it's anger, fear, whatever), began during my youth on our Iowa farm in the late 60s a...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 04/29/2016

Save the whales…I mean nutrients

I haven’t lost my marbles and started cruising the high seas on a Greenpeace ship. However, I did accept an invitation to meet with an environmental group during Commodity Classic.Odd, I know, right?On my journey to this meeting, dodging an interesting crowd in the French Quarter of New Orleans, my thoughts turned to the possibility of anti-agriculture activists. Had some extremist crazies heard about the 9,500 of us ag-loving types invading The Big Easy?Fortunately, there were no gas-mask-weari...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 02/10/2016

Too progressive?

I enjoy good debates with farmers because often, everyone gains something in the process. But conversations become difficult for me when science is ignored in favor of personal beliefs.A recent email exchange with a reader made me wonder if more farmers only trust science when it aligns with their own ingrained beliefs or long-held practices. The subject was a story we published on the myths of corn residue breakdown based on university lab and field trials.The reader didn’t agree with the tilla...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 01/25/2016

Will sustainability in agriculture work?

SILVER AWARD WINNING COLUMN

I recently participated in a sustainable agriculture summit in Minneapolis that brought together people from across the farmer-to-food retailer supply chain. My goal was to drive home the importance of farmers’ business needs so food company and sustainability proponents understand the challenges as they attempt to gain further adoption of sustainable practices.Many farmers feel they have little input into this sustainability effort — believing that the Walmarts, McDonald’s and General Mills of...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 11/30/2015

Embrace change in agriculture on your farm, in the field

Human behavior proves there is a natural resistance to change. I faced such resistance last month as I began my 58th year, traveling to a global agricultural journalists’ meeting in New Zealand (as past president of the American Agricultural Editors’ Association). I chose to embark on a weeklong journey of change — driving from the right side of an SUV on the left side of the road. I wanted the freedom to explore, rather than be held captive on a bus. As my great companion Shelli will attest, th...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 10/09/2015

Invest in soil biology

I recently spent two great days at a USDA workshop in Washington, D.C. How could that be fun, right?It was great because of thoughtful discussion and debate by many bright minds all focused on finding ways to get more farmers and landowners involved in the long-term value of soil health.Discussion ranged from agronomics to economic data needs to potential soil health policy. And there were small-group brainstorming sessions between presentations to help frame up goals, strategies and possible ta...

Corn+Soybean Digest • 08/03/2015

Why promote 500-bushel corn?

AWARDED American Agricultural Editors' Association FIRST PLACE COLUMN in 2016

It’s high time for high yield contest managers to think different – to recognize farmers that go beyond the weigh wagon – and reward yield along with environmental achievements such as reduced nitrogen use and increased soil health.

Why is it best to recognize the highest yield produced in a given portion of a field, especially when farmers can apply as much nitrogen, as much water (in irrigated fields) and as much other inputs as they want?

Given the pressure on farmers to help protect waters

Corn+Soybean Digest • 01/22/2015

Climate deniers: Reader responses to climate change editorial

Cyclical argumentsHi Kurt,I read your recent editorial, "Why Climate Deniers" with great interest. I believe you haven't really grasped why most farmers are bent on denying climate change.As an agricultural scientist with the University of Kentucky and someone who also hangs around with people who would describe their religious and political leanings as being pretty conservative, I believe I have your answer.Modern conservatives (probably most farmers ) tend to put near term economic stability a...