View from the Cab: Always Learning

As farmers, we are always learning. That’s why we attend so many meetings during the summer.

I attended last week’s field day event hosted by Brandt Consolidated at the company’s research farm near Lexington. Field advisor Yale Young discussed the various soybean platforms and emphasized the importance of communication in the ag community.

Soybean choices include non-GMO, Liberty, Roundup Ready 2 and Roundup Ready 2 Xtend. Xtendiflex soybeans will likely be in plots next year. This includes Dicamba and Liberty herbicide tolerance.

“Do what’s best for your operation. There are pros and cons,” Young said.

Seed treatment is available for any type of soybean trait platform, according to Young. Monsanto will have a new treatment in 2019 which helps with more nutrient uptake. The industry continues to push earlier planted soybeans in April to maximize daylight potential.

Brandt retail sales manager John Allen covered crop nutrition. He said micro-nutrients can be just as critical as macro-nutrients on crops. Soil test results between 2004 and 2017 revealed reductions in some potassium and phosphorus levels due to more crops being harvested.

“We are doing a better job of managing our soybean fertility today,” Allen admitted.

Allen suggests giving the next crop the same opportunity as the one you are harvesting. Agronomist Ed Corrigan noted phosphate and potash are the foundation to growing a great crop.

Eric Snodgrass, atmospheric scientist with Agrible and professor at the University of Illinois, gave an interesting presentation on what we can expect for weather down the road. It sounds like August could be cooler than normal at first and gradually warm up as the month progresses.

(The View from the Cab is powered each week by Petersen Motors in Fairbury)