What to Consider for 2017
As the year winds to a close we would like to thank you for your business and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope that 2017 is a profitable year full of laughter and good health for your entire family.
December is typically the month when we seriously start to consider all aspects of next year’s operation. It is important to keep in mind what worked well for you this past year and maybe some things that need improvement. The question is how are you evaluating whether a certain product or practice was a success or not? Are you basing only on the average yield of the field? It’s 2016 and we have tools available that can do better than that. We have run multiple articles about the numerous benefits our ProVantage software provides to operations of all sizes.
One of the things ProVantage allows you to do as a grower is to set different management zones in your field. These various zones allow you to do something as simple as changing the rate of your fertilizer to something as extreme as throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it. These management zones are georeferenced so they can be checked on throughout the growing season if you choose to do so. These management zones come with their own set of reports at the end of the year comparing how they did to similar areas in the same field. We highly recommend that you meet with our ProVantage Advisor to discuss how ProVantage fits into your operation and ultimately, establish a better way to evaluate your management decisions. Learn more about why you should join ProVantage here.
Now that we have established how to evaluate your practices and decisions (and to set up your meeting with Katie or Amber), let’s talk about what else you need to consider. We are under extreme scrutiny as an industry right now for our management practices. As it stands, Minnesota is already limiting or eliminating fall and winter nitrogen applications to areas that the state deems are “vulnerable to groundwater contamination.” We are next.
So what should we be doing? We need to show that we are good stewards of the environment. This means following the 4R system: using the Right Source, the Right Rate, at the Right Time, and in the Right Place. Now, we know that timing can be extremely hard and if you have a seemingly endless spring task list, fall nitrogen is a lot more feasible for you personally. That is fine but you need to be using a source that isn’t as prone to leaching (ALF) or include a nitrogen stabilizer. It’s economical for us to add these stabilization products to our nitrogen to help protect the investment you have made; consider this a form of insurance. Make sure that your fertilizer will still be there in 4-6 months when the crop gets planted and needs it most.
Lastly, we can’t forget about weeds, the scourge of the Earth. How did your herbicide program work for you last year? There are two different mindsets for this next year and it is important to understand which one you fall into. The first is that of a weed warrior; you hate the sight of weeds, will do anything to ensure that you have clean fields and that your yields will not suffer due to weed pressure. If this is the case, talk to your salesperson about what weed(s) concern you the most and go over the best multiple MOA herbicide plans to combat them. It is also a good idea to talk to them about when the ideal time to spray is based on your plan so as you are scouting your fields during the growing season, you know when to call ahead.
The second category is that of the bare minimalist. If you fall into this category know right now that your field will not be entirely clean. If you want the lowest cost program possible, then you are saying that you are okay dealing with some weed spots in the field. Talk to your salesperson about when you should spray based upon the program you both agree to. In this category, timing will be increasingly critical to your operation. If you are not diligently scouting and miss the ideal spraying window, you will probably not even get adequate control of the weeds and your yields will suffer because of it.
We want to see you succeed. We evaluate our success based upon your success. Times are tough but together we can find solutions to all your areas of concern to maximize your yields. For 2017, take advantage of low prices and make it a priority to focus on your goals.
Meet with a Stutsman Agronomist to establish your 2017 game plan.