Machinery and

parts shortages
make for a
tight market.
What’s the outlook for 2022? P. 24
For families who make farming and ranching their business® | Vol. 119 | No. 11 | Agriculture.com
With tens of millions of acres planted in the U.S., the
Enlist™ weed control system is rapidly gaining in popularity,
thanks to near-zero volatility and reduced potential for
drift. Plus, Pioneer® brand Enlist E3® soybeans have a
proven yield advantage.1 Learn how better technology
is better for your operation.

Pioneer.com/Decide

1
Data is based on an average of 2020 comparisons made in US for Pioneer’s top 10 volume forecasted Enlist E3® soybean
products with 973 comparisons through December 10, 2020. Comparisons are against all competitors, unless otherwise
stated, and within +/- 3 RM of the competitive brand. The foregoing is provided for informational use only. Please contact
your Pioneer sales professional for information and suggestions specific to your operation. Product performance is variable
and depends on many factors such as moisture and heat stress, soil type, management practices and environmental stress
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ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS.
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are part of the labeling and purchase documents. ™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies.
© 2021 Corteva.
/November 2021

Gleanings The Bottom Line

15 Minutes With a Farmer Useful tidbits about the Land, income comparisons
Amber Kohlhaas world of agriculture reveal our national patchwork.

4 6 12
Can Their Problem Machinery Insider™
Be Solved? Supplies of high-
What are the dos
and don’ts when WHAT’S horsepower FWD
tractors are tight.

INSIDE
gifting farmland?

16 21
weld

Where Has All the Hard Times for Herbicides, Pt. 2 All Around the Farm®
Machinery Gone? Controlling herbicide-resistant Ideas from farmers
Today’s equipment shortage is weeds begins with weed seed bank since 1929
the worst since World War II. management.

24 29 77
2 Across the Editor’s Desk® 17 Your Profit 44 Dicamba’s Dilemma
4 15 Minutes With a Farmer 19 They Said It 47 40 Seasons
5 Agriculture.com™ 20 Weather Trends 52 Seed Masters
6 Gleanings 21 Machinery Insider™ 54 FFA New Horizons
8 Q&A: Jason Weller 24 Cover Story: Where Has All 60 Dairy Insider™
9 In Case You Missed It The Machinery Gone? 64 Start-Up Spotlight
12 The Bottom Line 29 Hard Times for Herbicides, Part 2 66 Family
16 Can Their Problem Be Solved? 34 Carbon Farming Section 77 All Around the Farm®

Successful Farming magazine serves the diverse business, production, and family information needs of families who make farming
and ranching their business. Our passion is to help you make money, save time, and grow your satisfaction in the farming business.

Cover Illustration: P‰tŽ November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 1

 ACROSS THE
EDITOR'S DESK ¨ ¨

Editorial Crops Technology

Executive Editor Gil Gullickson
Successful Farming Magazine
Agronomy & Technology Editor
1716 Locust Street/LS257

THANKFUL
Megan Schilling
Des Moines, IA 50309-3023
Crops Editor Bill Spiegel
Email: adminsf@meredith.com
Family
Editorial Content Director Dave Kurns Family & Farmstead Editor
Lisa Foust Prater
Art & Production
Creative Director Matt Strelecki Audio & Video
There is a lot to be grateful for, Editorial Production Manager Executive Producer & Custom Solutions
David Ekstrom
Diana Weesner
looking back over a year of news. News & Business
Multimedia Editor Jodi Henke

N
ovember is a time to give thanks. The holidays have
begun, harvest is over, seasons have changed, and there’s
time to reflect on the year that is coming to a close.
I looked back and reviewed some of
the most popular stories on our website,
Agriculture.com, to reflect. What a year!
Most of all, I am thankful for the team it
takes to bring you content via our website, this
magazine, along with radio and TV. Here are
some hot topics from 2021.
Commodity Prices
Executive Editor Laurie Bedord
Editors Emeritus Gene Johnston, Dan
Managing Editor - News Natalina Bausch
Looker, Cheryl Tevis, John Walter
Markets Editor Mike McGinnis
Content Editor Paula Barbour
Machinery
Contributing Copy Editor Nancy Dietz
Contributing Editors Al Kluis, Raylene
Executive Editor Dave Mowitz Nickel, Shawn Williamson
Publishing Administration / Advertising Sales
Sales & Marketing Director Marty Wolske
National Account Executives Tom Hosack, Ali Peltier,
Brian Keane, Steve Dado
Marketplace Executive Collin Coughlon
Director of Digital Strategy Jessie Scott
Digital Services Manager Logan Pralle
Digital Campaign Specialist Olivia Stoops
Customer Experience Manager Jana Morrissey
Customer Insights Analyst Lucy Hermann
Contracts and Billing Specialist Kat Lewis

After several years of depressed commodity Meredith Agrimedia Custom Studio

prices for corn, soybeans, and wheat, I am not Content Director Justin Davey
Content Manager Kasey Heath
cringing anymore when looking at futures prices.
Several stories were wildly popular, such Consumer Marketing Manager Karlee Bahlmann
Business Manager Darren Tollefson
as “Highest corn and soybean prices since the Senior Production Manager Jim Nelson
Digital Imaging Specialist Christopher Sprague
commodity boom,” and the article “We are in Get “Successful Director of Quality Joseph Kohler
the beginnings of a commodity super cycle.” Farming Live” Senior Vice President/Group Publisher Scott Mortimer
from Alexa
Land Prices here.
Meredith National Media Group
It was quite a year for land stories. From a President CATHERINE LEVENE
President, Meredith Magazines DOUG OLSON
Kansas land sale of 10,900 acres to the 1,900-acre sale of the Garst President, Consumer Products TOM WITSCHI
family’s Iowa farm for $19 million, these stories rang the bell. President, Meredith Digital ALYSIA BORSA
EVP, Strategic & Business Development DAPHNE KWON
Topping it off — the story of Bill Gates becoming the largest Executive Vice Presidents
farmland owner in the country really connected with visitors. Chief Revenue Officer MICHAEL BROWNSTEIN
Digital Sales MARLA NEWMAN
Finance MICHAEL RIGGS
Marketing & Integrated Communications NANCY WEBER
Machinery
Senior Vice Presidents
Our coverage of new and used farm equipment has never been Consumer Marketing STEVE CROWE Consumer Revenue ANDY WILSON
better. The team covered auctions and the launch of new iron Corporate Sales BRIAN KIGHTLINGER
Product & Technology JUSTIN LAW
Foundry 360 MATT PETERSEN
Research Solutions BRITTACLEVELAND
from Massey Ferguson and John Deere, among others. Our col- Strategic Planning AMY THIND
Strategic Sourcing, Newsstand, Production CHUCK HOWELL
umnist Ryan Roossinck of Tractor Zoom had a few top stories, Vice Presidents
including my favorite, “The billy goat of a tractor.” Brand Licensing TOYE CODY & SONDRA NEWKIRK Finance CHRIS SUSIL
Business Planning & Analysis ROB SILVERSTONE Strategic Partnerships ALICIA CERVINI
Strategic Development KELSEY ANDERSEN
Vice President, Group Editorial Director STEPHEN ORR
Every story mattered, whether it was about crops, livestock, Chief Digital Content Officer AMANDA DAMERON
weather, or “26 Bible verses for farmers.” All of them make me Director, Editorial Operations & Finance GREG KAYKO

thankful for being part of a team that cares so much to be the best.
Here’s to a successful November!
Meredith Corporation
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer TOM HARTY
Chief Financial Officer JASON FRIEROTT
Chief Development Officer JOHN ZIESER
President, Meredith Local Media Group PATRICK McCREERY
Senior Vice President, Human Resources DINA NATHANSON
Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer ERICA JENSEN

Vice Chairman MELL MEREDITH FRAZIER

Dave Kurns For Subscription Help: Visit Agriculture.com/myaccount,

Editorial Content Director email sfgcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com, or call 800/374-3276.
David.Kurns@meredith.com
Twitter: @davekurns Our subscriber list is occasionally made available to carefully selected firms whose
products may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive information from these
companies by mail or by phone, please let us know. Send your request along with your
Follow us: Twitter: @ SuccessfulFarm • Facebook: @SuccessfulFarmingUSA mailing label to Magazine Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508.

2 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021

25 SEASONS OF
GRATITUDE
O U R A P P R E C I AT I O N K E E P S G R O W I N G .
Every season has been a learning opportunity, so what have we discovered
over the last 25 years? Just how grateful we are for the growers who trust their
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©2021 WinField United. CROPLAN® is a registered trademark of WinField United.
 15 MINUTES
WITH A FARMER

AMBER KOHLHAAS
I am lucky to have them as
mentors. I am learning a
lot about the business side
Life has taught this Iowa farmer that nothing like the behind-the-scenes
support that comes with the
worth having comes easy. many decisions that need to
be made. I’ve also spent a
By Laurie Bedord pigs in. Had she walked to the farthest pen, lot of hours with my dad to
Executive Editor, News & Technology
Laurie.Bedord@meredith.com | @BedordLaurie
the judge told her later, Kohlhaas would understand the mechanics

F
lipping through a three-ring binder
filled with memories of 4-H, Amber
Kohlhaas stops at a project record she
completed more than 30 years ago.
Her goals, wrote the then 9-year-
old, were to care for and raise
three healthy pigs to show and
sell at the fair, demonstrat-
ing to her parents that she
could be responsible.
While the experience
taught her many valuable
lessons, the one learned
from a split-second deci-
sion is still with Kohlhaas
today.
It was 1991, and her
first year showing pigs.
Kohlhaas, who grew up
on a grain and livestock
farm near Garner, Iowa,
was admittedly nervous
as she entered the show
ring, competing for
showmanship.
“It is my favorite class
because it does not matter how expensive
your animal is or how fancy your gear is,”
she says. “It’s all about the person showing
the animal.”
As the judge evaluated animals and
owner alike, Kohlhaas was told to move her
pigs to one of four pens. Since pen four was
closest, she opened the gate and guided her
Background: Amber and Jason
Kohlhaas have a small cow-calf herd
near Lu Verne, Iowa. The breeders
raise quality cattle for breeding
stock, show calves, sire prospects, as
well as run a small feedlot for end-
user meat purchases.
have placed first.
“He said I took the easiest route, so he
ranked me fourth,” she recalls. “It was a
hard lesson to learn at a young age.”
Glimpse inside Kohlhaas’ life today and
it’s clear the experience taught her that noth-
ing worth having comes easy. “You
have to earn it!” she says.
A fourth-generation farmer,
her days are filled with many
early mornings and late nights
helping husband Jason care for
cattle, growing crops, judging
livestock, serving on several
boards, and working as the
marketing specialist for
Dragotec, all while raising
3-year-old Lonna and
1-year-old Holden.
“I’ve been told I
missed my calling
to be a veterinarian.
Sometimes I wonder about
that, but being a farmer is the
next best thing as I get to work
with animals every day,” Kohlhaas says.
“It’s not unusual for our house to smell like
hay, manure, and soup!”
SF: You are growing your own crop for
the first time this year. What has that
experience been like?
AK: I helped on our family farm for decades,
so I thought I knew how to farm. When
you start making the decisions and cutting
the checks from your
account, it is a whole new
ball game. There is so
much to learn, and there
Lu Verne, Iowa are days I feel like I’m
Population: 258 (2020) drinking from a fire hose.
Named after My dad, Marv, and uncle
Luverne, Minnesota Wayne have 47 years of
farming experience, and
and maintenance of the
equipment. I am soaking up
the time we spend together,
absorbing as much as I can
as quickly as I can. I am
grateful to both of them for
giving me the opportunity to
farm, but I also know I have
some big shoes to fill!
SF: What are your biggest
challenges as a farmer?
AK: The opportunity to grow
with integrity. I don’t want
to take rented ground from
a neighbor, but I can’t afford
to buy land either. I also don’t
fit the young farmer mold, so
finding resources that meet
my needs has been tough.
SF: What do you hope the
future holds for your two
children and a career in
agriculture?
AK: Our kids are right
alongside us in the field and
on the farm. They fight to
be able to be with us in our
day-to-day life on the farm,
which makes me proud
that they enjoy it. If farm-
ing is their passion, we will
support them in every way
possible.
SF: What piece of advice
would you give to a farmer
starting out?
AK: Don’t try to be
everything to everyone.
Figure out what makes you
tick. Your passion isn’t
random; it is your calling.

4 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Illustration: Lauren Crow

 PERFORMANCE. PRICE. SERVICE

CELEBRATING
50 YEARS
AS A
DISTRIBUTOR
AND
MANUFACTURER
OF
AGRICULTURAL
REPAIR PARTS

Don’t miss these popular stories on Agriculture.com.

Farmers and ranchers need tools in the shop, in the field — wherever. Successful Farming
launched its exclusive “Tools of the Year” program in October to highlight new and
innovative tools that get the job done. Find links to manufacturers in all eight categories.

• Power Tools
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Photography: Manufacturers November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 5

 On average, every human created
GLEANINGS at least 1.7 megabytes of
data per second in 2020.

DATA A kilobyte is 1,024 bytes.

A megabyte is 1,024 kilobytes.

Compiled by
Megan Schilling
Agronomy &
Technology Editor

Instagram is the
social media
platform with
the biggest
increase
of content
removal, up
427% in the
past year.

500,000 new
tweets were
posted every
day in 2020.
downloaded
worldwide
in 2020.

That is nearly 60% of Machine-generated data

the world population. accounted for over 40%
of internet data in 2020.
Source: Reboot Digital PR Agency, TechJury, Statista
6 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Artwork: Getty Images, gremlin, Mr.Timoty, Nadiinko, Owen Design
 ®

® ® ® ®
 Q&A
The Successful
Interview
JASON WELLER
Precision conservation is the way of the future.
By Megan Schilling
Agronomy & Technology Editor
R
megan.schilling@meredith.com | @meganjoys
egenerative ag, soil health, and
sustainability aren’t just buzzwords
at Land O’Lakes, Inc. – they’re
tools. Jason Weller, vice president
of Truterra, LLC, says farmers are
uniquely positioned to use those tools to
relieve pressure on the food supply chain
and environment.
The results from year two of a project
between Campbell Soup Company
and Truterra prove it.
The farmers involved adopt
conservation practices and the
results are tracked. Participating
farms during the 2018-2019 crop
year demonstrated near-zero net
on-farm greenhouse gas emissions,
improved nitrogen use efficiency,
and lower soil erosion.
What started out as a
10,000-acre pilot project in the
Chesapeake Bay area has grown
to cover 70,000 acres, including farmland
in the Great Lakes Watershed. Weller
attributes the success of this project to true
partnership between ag retailers, farmers,
and technology.
SF: Why is Land O’Lakes focused on
sustainability?
JW: We’re a farmer-owned cooperative that
believes agriculture is foundational for our
future. That means securing quality of life,
access to affordable nutritious food, rural
economic vitality, and national security.
I think the global crisis in 2020 has re-
vealed for many the critical importance of a
secure food system. Agriculture doesn’t get
the credit it deserves as one of the solutions
for the future. We really want to highlight
the great stewardship of the American
farmer and give them the assistance they
need to keep the farm, to grow food, and to
protect our waters and natural resources.
8 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
SF: How did the Campbell Truterra project
become successful?
JW: Our theory is you need to work together
with the retailer and the farmer to create
a plan that boosts profit. We see producers
take the step because the plan fits their farms
and fields. It isn’t a top-down approach.
We do a one-on-one consultation, give the
farmer the tools and the information, and let
them decide what’s best for their farm.
SF: Why are the data and results of this
project so important?
JW: For many, me included, data
sounds like a boring topic, but data
is actually foundational. You can’t
address what you don’t measure
and you can’t improve what
you don’t track or understand.
Precision ag is the future of preci-
sion conservation. Farmers in the
Chesapeake Bay region and in
the Lake Erie Basin have been
under the spotlight and have ad-
dressed many of the natural resource
concerns through tremendous conser-
vation. But there are still opportunities to do
more. Data and precision ag help the farmer
identify where and what that next step is,
especially when some of it may be invisible
to the human eye.
SF: How can precision conservation be
applied on the farm?
JW: Precision conservation for sustainabil-
ity is the biggest opportunity economically
and environmentally – it doesn’t matter
where you are in the country.
For example, if you manage a field
uniformly with seeding rate and fertilizer
application, where there are variabilities in
slope, terrain, and soil type, you can have
huge differences in leaching or runoff
rates. We want to help the farmer under-
stand those risks and come up with a plan
to optimize their management.
With a really good prescription, farmers
may be able to boost yield
and profit on a per-acre
basis. By doubling down
where the soils in the fields
perform well and pump-
ing the brakes where the
soils won’t be as economi-
cally successful, we get a
net result of an optimized
production system by field.
That means more inputs
leave the field in grain and
fewer inputs leave the field
as runoff or leaching.
SF: What can we expect
from Truterra in the future?
JW: Our strategic approach
has been to answer the
questions with the farmer
and then all that down-
stream benefit accrues. The
good news is farmers are
adopting new practices, but
it isn’t all rainbows.
When we don’t see an
expected outcome, we take
a step back and ask what
happened. This allows us to
be more strategic and
thoughtful in creating a
game plan for the future.
Farmers deal with hun-
dreds of variables on a daily
basis. And you can’t predict
what these variables will do
from week to week, let
alone month to month or
year to year. So, we become
a partner to help manage
variability and risk into the
future. This is an authentic
and honest approach, but it
puts the farmers in control.
We’re not here to tell them
what to do. We’re here to
give them options, insights,
to help them find partners,
and in some cases additional
financial assistance. And
then, frankly, be there as
needed, but let them take
the lead.
Illustration: Lauren Crow

ICYMI
EBBING AWAY
Farm income to fall as pandemic cash dries up.
V
astly larger crop and livestock
receipts, up by nearly 20% from the
pandemic upheavals of 2020, are fu-
eling a farm financial explosion this
year. Net farm income will leap by
$27.4 billion to its highest level since 2013,
estimates the FAPRI think tank, and it
could drop almost as far in the new year as
government payments decline and produc-
tion expenses continue to climb.
In a fall update, FAPRI forecast net farm
income at $99.3 billion next year, a $23 bil-
lion decline from this year’s $122.3 billion.
Direct federal payments were pegged at $6.2
billion, down by $22 billion from this year,
with the demise of CFAP, PPP, and other
pandemic relief programs.
“Reduced government payments and
higher production expenses explain the
decline, as there is little net change in farm
receipts,” said the University of Missouri
think tank. It estimated that farm receipts
will total $427.9 billion in 2022, compared
with $431.1 billion this year. Market prices
for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and
sorghum crops were projected to decline in
2022. “In contrast, receipts for cattle, dairy,
and poultry all continue to increase,” said
FAPRI. Hog prices were forecast to moder-
ate in 2022.
“Higher costs for feed,
purchased livestock, fertil-
izer, and other farm inputs
raise farm production
expenses by $27 billion in
2021, and a smaller increase
is projected for 2022,” said
FAPRI. The increase of
$12.9 billion, or 3.3%, next
year would be less than half
of this year’s 7.6%.
FAPRI’s farm income
estimate is several billion
dollars higher than USDA’s
for 2020. Receipts from corn,
soybeans, and other crops
will be higher than USDA
calculated, it said. USDA
will update its 2021 forecast
December 1 and make its
first forecast of 2022 income
in February.
This year’s corn crop
could sell for a season-
average $5.34 a bushel, the
highest annual price since
the 2012 drought crop,
because of strong demand by
China and reduced produc-
tion in Brazil, said FAPRI.
 Similarly, soybean prices were lifted
by the burgeoning market for renew-
able diesel fuel. University of Illinois
economist Scott Irwin said the rush of
investment into renewable diesel “is
very comparable, I believe, to the etha-
nol boom of the mid-2000s.”
In Case You Missed It
FOOD POLICY
Productivity Coalition vs. EU
Farm to Fork
T he United States is forming a coalition
for productivity growth, promoting the
use of high-tech tools such as gene editing
and precision agriculture, as an international
Put life back into the soil with counterbalance to the EU’s Farm to Fork
Resurge®, a low-dust granule that strategy of cutting back on fertilizers and
delivers humic compounds directly pesticides while putting more land into organic
farming. “There has to be a recognition
to the soil with a quick release of
there are multiple ways to get to the goal” of
the highest-quality humic ore source sustainable food production, said Agriculture
available. Secretary Tom Vilsack. Farm to Fork, adopted
by the EU in 2020, has taken the spotlight as a
Contact your local Helena bold plan to transform the food system despite
representative or visit U.S. criticism it will inevitably drive up food
HelenaAgri.com for more prices by abandoning high-yielding agriculture.
information. Brazil, Canada, and Mexico hold views similar to
America’s on agricultural methods, said Vilsack.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
As U.S. Presses China, Ag Trade
Is ‘Unpredictable Sector’
K atherine Tai, U.S. trade represen-
tative, described Sino-U.S. ag trade
as an “unpredictable sector” because of
China’s willingness to intervene in the
market at the same time she said the
Biden administration will demand that
China live up to its commitments in the
phase-one agreement. Ag trade has been
volatile, shrinking to $9.2 billion in 2018
after President Trump started a trade
war but rebounding to $26.4 billion last
year.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
said China has yet to act on “seven
very big” regulatory issues that were
part of phase one. President Biden and
President Xi Jinping of China were ex-
pected to hold a virtual meeting before
Upcoming
November
• 14-17: National Agricultural Bankers
conference, Cincinnati, OH
• 15-17: NMPF/DMI/UDIA Joint Annual
Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not Meeting, Las Vegas, NV
be registered for sale or use in all states and counties. Please check with your
Helena representative to ensure registration status. Helena and Resurge are
registered trademarks of Helena Holding Company.
© 2021 Helena Holding Company. 10
the end of this year as the White House
recalibrates the bilateral relationship.
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH
Genius Grant for Prairie
Strips Creator
I owa State University (ISU) professor Lisa
Schulte Moore is the winner of a $625,000
MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” —
officially a fellowship that is paid over five years
— for creation of prairie strips in farm fields to
markedly reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss.
A mixture of wildflowers and prairie tallgrass,
prairie strips are planted across the downslope
of a field, 30 to 120 feet wide, to maximize
soil and nutrient retention. The Chicago-based
foundation described Schulte Moore as “a
landscape ecologist working closely with
farmers to build more sustainable and resilient
agricultural systems.”
“I am focused on the Corn Belt — the highly
productive middle of the United States —
because of its outsized influence on agricultural
technology, markets, and policies, both
nationally and globally,” said Schulte Moore, 50,
a professor of natural resource ecology. She is
the first ISU winner of a genius grant.
INTERSTATE TRADE
Trying the Supreme Court
Again With Prop 12
U nsuccessful at the trial and appel-
late court levels, the National Pork
Producers Council and the Farm Bureau
asked the Supreme Court to invalidate
California’s Proposition 12 animal-
welfare law as an unconstitutional
burden on U.S. farmers and consumers.
Prop 12 bans the sale of pork products
that are produced outside the state if
they do not meet California’s standards.
The farm groups say it’s impracticable
to track the origin of a package of pork,
so all farmers will have to remodel their
buildings, meaning higher pork prices
everywhere. Justices refused to hear a
meat industry challenge in June.
USDA LEADERSHIP
Slow Going for USDA
Subcabinet Posts
A griculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has been
on the job since February 24, but he’s
• 23: USDA report on ag exports
December
• 6-9: National Grazing Lands Coalition
conference, Myrtle Beach, SC
• 7-9: NGFA annual Country Elevator
Conference, Chicago, IL
This article was produced in collaboration with the Food & Environment
Reporting Network, an independent, nonprofit news organization producing
investigative reporting on food, agriculture, and environmental health.
shorthanded when it comes to the high-level
presidential appointees who help run USDA.
Only two nominees for the eight undersecretary
posts were confirmed by the Senate as of
early October: Jennifer Moffitt (marketing) and
Xochitl Torres Small (rural development). The
White House had yet to announce nominees
to oversee USDA’s food safety agencies, to
promote export trade, and to supervise food
stamps and other public nutrition programs.
RACIAL JUSTICE
Equity Commission to Examine
USDA and Its Programs for Bias
J ewel Bronaugh, USDA deputy
secretary, was named the co-chair
of a congressionally approved Equity
Commission to address racial discrimi-
nation within USDA and its programs.
The commission will have 15 members
with an additional 15 members on a
subcommittee devoted to agricultural
issues. It is expected to issue an interim
report and provide “actionable recom-
mendations” within 12 months of setting
to work. USDA has been called “the last
plantation” because of bias in its opera-
tions; it paid $2.2 billion to Black farmers
and their descendants in the so-called
Pigford settlements.
Corteva Agriscience Leads
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alancing yield potential with
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“The goal for our seed business is to
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Consider this by-the-numbers look
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THE BOTTOM
LINE
FARM DATA BY STATE
Land, income comparisons reveal our national patchwork.
D
By Shawn Williamson
riving the rural highways of Illinois
reveals mile after mile of corn, soy-
beans, and wheat. Recently I traveled
to California and was driving on a
long highway in the central part of
that state. It was similar to the highways
in my home state of Illinois, flat with small
towns scattered along the way. However,
the only crops I saw were irrigated almonds,
grapes, and oranges. Around the edges of
the fields, nothing without irrigation was
green, not even weeds.
This got me thinking about perspective:
We often don’t know much about the overall
farm landscape in faraway states. The range
and variation of income and farm size is
wide, as evidenced by comparisons of farm
income, farm size, and crop production in
different states based on USDA data for
2019.
12 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
The state with the largest number of
farms, by far, was Texas with 247,000
farms and 126 million acres of farmland
and ranches. However, the largest number
of farms and greatest number of acres of
farmland did not yield the highest net farm
income, which at a little over $5.5 billion col-
lectively earned Texas only second place.
California put up $10.9 billion in net farm
income coming from only 69,000 farms.
Obviously, those are some large and profit-
able farms, because average net income per
farm was about $158,000. At the other end
of the net income spectrum is Alaska, where
farms collectively netted a loss of $5.5 mil-
lion, about $5,200 of loss per farm. No other
state showed a cumulative net farm loss for
2019. Surprisingly, the largest state (Alaska)
has even fewer farms than the smallest state
(Rhode Island): 1,050 versus 1,100.
Rounding out the top five in farm net in-
come per state are Nebraska
with $4.1 billion, Iowa with
$3.2 billion, and Washington
with about $3 billion. The
last one surprised me.
Washington producers grow
close to $2 billion worth of
apples, and those apples are
profitable, since Washington
is only 12th in total farm
cash receipts but fifth in
farm net income. Farmers in
Washington also raise cattle
and produce a lot of dairy
products and potatoes.
The tropical paradise of
Hawaii is ahead of New
Hampshire, Rhode Island,
and Alaska in farm net
income with $111 million. A
drive around the big island
reveals thousands of acres of
cattle plus goats and chick-
ens wandering along the
edge of roads. Hawaii’s 7,300
farmers working 1.1 million
acres also grow macadamia
nuts, coffee, papaya, and
avocados.
Where Are the Farms?
A nother surprise to me
were the top states in
number of farms. After
Texas, Missouri had the sec-
ond largest number of farms
with 95,200. Divide the $2.3
billion in farm net income
by that number, and it’s only
$24,200 per farm. Third
was Iowa, as one might
expect, with 85,300 farms.
Numbers four and five were
Ohio with 77,800 farms and
Oklahoma with 77,300. I
was surprised that Nebraska,
with the third highest farm
net income, only has 45,700
farms, which is 18th in num-
ber of farms. The state has
Photography: Monte Goodyk, Getty Images
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 THE BOTTOM
LINE
continued
Top 10 Farm Cash
States Receipts
California $49,938,076,000
Iowa $27,487,829,000
Nebraska $21,436,242,000
Texas $21,249,024,000
Minnesota $16,632,782,000
Illinois $16,318,156,000
Kansas $16,301,222,000
Wisconsin $11,246,602,000
North Carolina $10,603,108,000
Indiana $10,587,053,000
a large average size of farm at 983 acres.
The number of acres of farmland by
state was intriguing as well. Texas towers
above all other states in number of acres,
more than twice as many as second-place
Montana with 58 million acres of farmland.
As expected, Montana’s top crop is cattle
($1.35 billion in cash receipts), but the wheat
and hay income combined exceeds cattle
revenue. Kansas is third with 45.7 million
farmland acres. Cattle lead in cash receipts
($8.4 billion), but Kansas farmers also grow
a lot of corn, soybeans, wheat, and grain
sorghum, nearly $6 billion worth collectively.
Rounding out the top five in farm and ranch
acres are Nebraska with 44.9 million acres
and South Dakota with 43.2 million acres.
South Dakota has very balanced farm pro-
duction between animals and grain at about
$3.5 billion in cattle and hogs and about $3.8
billion in corn and soybeans combined.
The smallest three states in number of
acres are New Hampshire with 430,000
acres, Connecticut with 380,000 acres, and
Rhode Island with only 60,000 acres. Some
individual farms in the Heartland are bigger
14 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
Another interesting statis-
Farm Net Farm Net Income as tic is that farm net income as
Income a % of Cash Receipts
a percentage of gross receipts
is generally higher in the 10
$10,904,642,000 21.8%
states with the least farm
production. Apparently, in
$3,197,654,000 11.6
Massachusetts, Connecticut,
and New Hampshire mar-
$4,148,865,000 19.4
gins are higher on crops such
as flowers, vegetables, cran-
$5,555,251,000 26.1
berries, melons, and turkeys
— over 40% to net income on
$1,480,793,000 8.9
average. When you are farm-
$2,709,471,000 16.6
ing 70 acres total, you need
efficient crops.
$2,283,994,000 14.0
While traveling around the
country, I have noticed a big
$2,391,429,000 21.3 difference in what is
considered a “large” or a
$2,108,666,000 19.9 “small” farm. In Kanawha
County, West Virginia,
$1,935,299,000 18.3 where I was born, you’re
lucky to find 5 flat acres.
Twenty acres would be
than the entire inventory of farm acres in considered an enormous
the State of Rhode Island. In fact, Bill Gates field. However, in Illinois, 20
owns six Rhode Islands worth of farmland. acres is barely enough to
Ranking states by gross farm cash receipts entice a grain farmer to rent
reveals California with almost $50 billion, it. A quarter section (160
followed by Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, and acres) is considered a
Minnesota. (See the chart, above.) On a gross decent-size field in southern
receipt basis, dairy products are the biggest Illinois, but in eastern
crop for California. Corn is the top crop Colorado a nonirrigated
for Iowa and Minnesota, and cattle the big- quarter section is considered
gest part of cash receipts for Nebraska and a pip-squeak, barely worth
Texas. Most of the crops of the top produc- messing with. On the flip
tion states are the usual suspects. However, side, the grain farmers I
Texas is also producing more than $2 billion know in Illinois can’t
a year in cotton and over $2 billion in broil- imagine managing a
ers (chickens). 70,000-acre cattle ranch in
Colorado or farming 10,000
Perspective of Farm Size and Type acres of wheat by themselves.
O ther notable crops among the top 10
production states are turkeys in North
Carolina and chicken eggs in Indiana.
It’s all about perspective. The
average farm size in China is
just an acre or two, and they
Hogs are not the top crop in any of the top make a living on that.
10 production states, but they are a major Bottom line, people are
component of cash receipts in six of them: farming millions of different
Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, North situations in millions of
Carolina, and Indiana. different ways.
Chart Source: USDA
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 CAN THEIR
PROBLEM BE
SOLVED?
STOP GOOD GIFTS FROM GOING BAD
Problem: What are the dos and don’ts when gifting farmland?
O
By Mark McLaughlin
ur advisers recommended that we
gift 40% of our land to our kids to
reduce potential estate losses upon
death. One son farms, and the other
three have off-farm jobs. We have
appraisals and plan to use some of our
lifetime credit through the Form 709 gift
tax return. What else should we be thinking
about before making the gift?
–Submitted by email from T.M.
Solution:
I remember a Christmas morning several
years ago. Our son was the first to open a
gift under the tree. It was his dream Lego
set. He raced to his room, slammed the door,
and started playing before the wrapping
paper even hit the floor! We were happy
that he liked his gift, but we expected our
family to share Christmas morning together,
not in playful isolation. We quickly came up
with rules about experiencing the joy of the
gift while staying together as a family. I’d
encourage you to do the same for your farm.
Be careful, though. I’ve seen well-inten-
tioned gifts go bad when the gifting was not
aligned with the farm succession goals. Here
are some gifting dos and don’ts to avoid
future problems.
Do quantify potential estate losses. I get a
lot of calls from farmers determined to gift
16 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
Do analyze your remaining
collateral position. Do you
have existing debt? Or do
you want to buy more land
someday? How will the
balance sheet transfer impact
your financing?
Don’t forget to talk to your
banker. Existing debt might
need to be transferred with
the gift or reassigned to other
farms before approval.
Do consider your farming
heir’s collateral. Will your
farming heir eventually
collateralize his gifted land
for expansion? That might
be difficult if the land is split
tenants in common between
the siblings or comingled
within an entity. Keep just
their land away, only to discover that they’re his name on his deed if
way below the tax threshold. If you do need possible.
to reduce your estate, also consider entity dis- Don’t overlook the equity
counts, special use valuation, and transferring risk with the off-farm heirs.
nonfarm assets like cash and life insurance What if the off-farm heirs
ownership. want to leverage their land?
Don’t forget about cost basis and deprecia- Is that OK? Are there
tion. There are some advantages to inherit- concerns about financial
ing assets vs. receiving a gift. problems or divorce?
Do establish operating rules and exit These issues are all
strategies first. It’s pointless to close the gate solvable. They’re actually
after the cattle escape. Define the manage- key decisions within your
ment rules, rental options, valuation methods, farm succession plan. Do you
permissible owners, and buyout terms before
you make the gift.
Don’t rely on the kids to “figure it all out.”
want to prevent good gifts
from going bad? Then begin
with the end in mind.
The kids can always choose to get along. The Design your farm succession
rules are there in case they don’t. plan first. Then coordinate
Do calculate your cash flow after the gift. The your gifting. Your kids will
net income off the land follows ownership. If experience the joy of the gift
you gift away 40% of your land, you may lose while keeping the farm and
40% of your income. Plan accordingly. the family together.
Don’t rely on your kids to gift
back income if you need it.
Over time, their new income Mark McLaughlin is an associate
usually builds their lifestyle, with Farm Financial Strategies and
a co-owner of Farm Estate GPS in
not yours. Plus, what if they
Ankeny, Iowa. He’s helped farm
pass away and their estate families across the Midwest develop
automatically passes to a their farm succession strategies for
spouse? Will the in-laws (and the last 17 years. McLaughlin grew up on a family
perhaps spouse No. 2) take farm near Defiance, Iowa, and shares in the fifth
care of you? generation of ownership. FarmEstateGPS.com
Illustration: Matt Wood
 YOUR
PROFIT
MARCH AND DECEMBER 2022 CORN March 2022
650’ 0
625’ 0
600’ 0
575’ 0
550’ 0
528’ 2
500’ 0
475’ 0
450’ 0
425’ 0
400’ 0
375’ 0
350’ 0
Sep 2020 Nov 2021
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE 2O21
BULL MARKET IN GRAINS
Farmers managed the rally by following three good decisions.
O
By Al Kluis
ver the past 20 years, I have watched
three major bull markets in the grain
markets. Each one had the potential
to have a huge impact on your farm’s
profits, and so will the next rally,
when it comes.
Each rally is different, but how you should
handle it is not. Let’s start by looking back
at how each of the three rallies unfolded and
what happened when the trends changed.
• Rally #1: The first rally started after the
lows in 2006 and took prices much higher
from early 2007 into June 2008. This rally
started as a demand-driven market. When
spring weather problems developed, prices
spiked higher into June. Prices put in a
major high the third week of June. Then,
as the nation entered a major financial
crisis and recession, stock and commodity
markets crashed. Prices eventually made a
low in December 2008. However, the grain
markets stayed under pressure for two
Chart Source: DTN ProphetX
December 2022
650’ 0
625’ 0
600’0
575’ 0
550’ 0
525’ 0
500’ 0
475’ 0
450’ 0
425’ 0
400’ 0
375’ 0
350’ 0
Mar May Jul
years, and prices didn’t bottom until the
harvest of 2010.
• Rally #2: The second rally started in 2010,
and corn and soybean prices rallied to
all-time highs by the third quarter of 2012.
That year, the late-summer drought in the
central and southern Corn Belt cooked the
crop. Prices rallied to the late August 2012
high before prices collapsed lower into the
fall of 2014. The grain markets stayed low
with limited profit opportunities all the way
through 2019. The COVID-19 meltdown
took prices to new lows in April 2020. Prices
were flat for most of that summer with an
important secondary low in August.
• Rally #3: The third rally started in August
2020. That was when a late-summer
drought developed and China started to ac-
tively buy record amounts of U.S. corn and
soybeans. The corn and soybean markets
peaked in May 2021 and hit an important
secondary high in early July. Then prices
turned sharply lower into the preharvest
November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com
This chart shows March 2022 and
December 2022 corn prices. (The
March prices are in red and the
December prices are in black.)
This chart depicts the huge rally
from the third quarter of 2020 to
the May 2021 high. Farmers who
made scale-up new-crop hedges
between May and June locked
in good profits on their 2021 and
2022 crops. From the spring high,
the March 2022 corn futures
market dropped by over $1.00
per bushel, while the December
2022 price is down about 60¢ per
bushel (so far).
lows. The 2021 rally was
driven by strong demand.
Many farmers across the
Corn Belt sold corn and
soybeans at a large premium
to the CBOT futures price.
By harvest, the big basis
premiums were gone.
What are the good de-
cisions made by successful
farmers in each of these
major rallies?
• Good decision #1: Making
incremental cash sales.
Farmers made a series of
incremental cash sales as
the futures market rallied
from the late-March lows
to the highs between May
and early July. In 2012, the
rally lasted into late August.
However, in 2008 and in
2021, hanging on to any
grain into the month of
August was a big mistake.
As I evaluate risk vs. reward,
I never hold any cash grain
after the Fourth of July.
Notice I have written that
they made a series of cash
sales. Many farmers who
wanted to hold for the top
17
 YOUR
PROFIT
continued

MARCH AND NOVEMBER 2022 SOYBEANS March 2022 November 2022

1450’ 0 1450’ 0
1400’ 0 1400’ 0
1350’ 0 1350’ 0
1300’ 2 1300’ 0
1250’ 0 1250’ 2
1200’ 0 1200’ 0
1150’ 0 1150’ 0
1100’ 0 1100’ 0
1050’ 0 1050’ 0
1000’ 0 1000’ 0
950’ 0 950’ 0
900’ 0 900’ 0
850’ 0 850’ 0
Sep 2020 Nov 2021 Mar May Jul

This chart shows March 2022 and November 2022
soybean prices. (The March prices are in red and
the November prices are in black.) This chart illus-
trates the huge rally from the third quarter of 2020
to the May 2021 high. Farmers were able to hedge
in good prices on the 2021 and 2022 soybean crops.
By the fall harvest of 2021, the March 2022 soybean
futures dropped by over $1.20 per bushel and the
November 2022 soybean futures were down 70¢
per bushel (so far).
were pretty upset by late August.
• Good decision #2: Getting hedged on
new-crop sales. Many farmers made a series
of 10% sales starting at $5.20 and had 40%
to 60% sold by the time December corn hit
$6.20. They ended up with a really good
average price. For soybeans, a lot of farmers
started at $11.20 and just kept on making
10% sales as the November contract rallied
to over $14.20. This scale-up method of
getting 40% to 60% hedged looked really
good at harvest.
• Good decision #3: Selling 10% to 30% two
or three years out. One group of farmers
sold 10% to 30% of the 2022 crop ahead
using hedges or hedge-to-arrive contracts.
Many of these farmers also sold some grain
ahead two or three years in 2008 and 2012.
This gave them the confidence to price grain
out for two years again in 2021. I know it
is hard to hedge corn two years out at just
over $5.00 per bushel when nearby corn is a suitable investment. Past
over $7.00 a bushel. It’s just as hard when performance — whether ac-
nearby soybean futures are over $15 and the tual or indicated by simulated
2022 bid is only at $12.50. It’s just tough to historical tests of strategies
get excited about hedging. However, history — is not indicative of future
shows the rallies do not last forever. Farmers results. Trading advice re-
who make disciplined sales on a rally are flects good-faith judgment at
generally happy with the hedges when they a specific time and is subject
eventually deliver at harvest. to change without notice.
Now the next two big questions: When There is no guarantee that
is the major low coming? Are we going the advice given will result in
to have another three- to five-year bear profitable trades.
market?
Let’s start with the low. The long-term
corn and soybean charts I work with pro- Al Kluis
jected a major low in 2019. The next time I Commodity Trader
expect a major low is in the fall of 2022. Al Kluis has
What about a long bear market? I do been trading
grain futures
not expect a three- or five-year grinding since 1974.
bear market. After the low of 2022, I expect Sign up for a
higher grain prices. free trial to his
Meanwhile, one of the main challenges daily morning
over the long term will be managing input email and
costs and keeping your farm profitable. weekly
Keep yourself in the game, and you can be in “Kluis Report” by going to
position to make good marketing decisions kluiscommodities.com.
Kluis Commodity Advisors
when the next bull market comes around. 901 - 12 Oaks Center Drive
Suite 907
Note: The risk of loss in trading futures and/ Wayzata, MN 55391
or options is substantial, and each investor 888/345-2855
and/or trader must consider whether this is kluiscommodities.com

18 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Chart Source: DTN ProphetX

 Iowa Events Center
01.11.2022

THEY SAID IT
“I
believe
2022

“Resistance
is going to
get worse.
Having said that,
God left me here
off-target dicamba on Earth to
movement is the do something
real thing.” positive …”
Seed companies are seeing damage Indiana farmer builds and SAM ZELL
in research plots, p. 44. promotes soil health, p. 39. Founder,
Chairman
Equity Group

“THE TECHNOLOGY IS
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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
> VINCENT ANTER
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Torching weeds isn’t just for organic farmers anymore, p. 29. > JASON BROWN
> ERIN FITZGERALD

“It
> KEVIN FOLTA
“Don’t > JAY HILL
try to be
truly
> LARRY KUDLOW
> SARA WYANT
everything
to everyone. is a
Figure out grind
REGISTER TODAY!
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what makes of doing the little

In-Person or Virtual Option

you tick.” things right day in

Young farmer gives advice to
and day out.”
others starting out, p. 4. Learning patience is a big lesson, p. 47.
PRESENTED BY

November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 19

 WEATHER
TRENDS
BRAZIL’S LA NIÑA RAINFALL PATTERN
HOW LA NIÑA
INFLUENCES
C older water from the Pacific helps to
WEATHER
Reemergence of conditions
in the Pacific Ocean will guide
global patterns.
A
By Krissy Klinger
s we enter winter in the Northern
Hemisphere, La Niña has
emerged again. This will be the
second winter in a row with such
conditions, and this has big impacts
on global weather and consequences for
agriculture. Understanding exactly what La
Niña is allows us to better prepare for the
weather challenges ahead.
What Is It Exactly?
L a Niña is one phase of an El Niño-Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. Under normal
conditions, trade winds in the Pacific Ocean
blow from the east along the equator. Warm
water from near South America is pushed
toward Asia. The warm water is replaced
by cold water from deep in the ocean in a
process called upwelling. La Niña and the
opposite phase, El Niño, describe the climate
20 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
patterns when these normal
conditions in the Pacific
Ocean are broken.
During the La Niña
phase, the trade winds
are stronger than normal,
resulting in more warm
water being pushed
toward Asia. As warm
water is displaced,
upwelling brings cold
water to the surface. The
sea surface temperatures
in the central and east-
central equatorial Pacific
turn cooler than normal,
thus La Niña is considered
the “cool” phase of the
ENSO. La Niña is also characterized by
decreased tropical thunderstorm activity in
the central equatorial Pacific.
Weather Impacts
push the jet stream farther north across
North America. This shift typically leads to
drought in the southern United States, while
the Pacific Northwest and western Canada
are more prone to heavy rain and flooding.
In the winter, temperatures in the South are
warmer than normal but cooler than normal
in the North. The effects of La Niña are
usually most pronounced in the winter over
North America when the jet stream is the
strongest; La Niña tends to peak in intensity
during the Northern Hemisphere winters.
However, La Niña does influence weather
outside of winter. Tropical activity in the
Atlantic tends to be more active during
La Niña, producing more hurricanes.
In South America, the December
to February impacts of La Niña tend
to bring wetter weather to northern
Brazil with cooler-than-normal
temperatures more likely in southeast
Brazil. Drier conditions are more likely in
southern Brazil and into Argentina during
the Southern Hemisphere’s autumn and
winter seasons. Indeed, the La Niña event
in 2021 brought the worst drought in central
and southern Brazil in almost a century
around the month of May, according to
Brazilian government agencies.
While generalizations
can be made in regard to
what happens to weather
patterns during La Niña,
every event is different.
The magnitude of the cool
sea surface temperature
anomalies in the Pacific
Ocean, the location of the
coolest anomalies, and the
location of the tropical
Pacific thunderstorms can
alter the outcome.
Additionally, other
large-scale climate cycles
will influence the weather
pattern.
These large-scale climate
cycles are more predictable
at longer time ranges
than smaller-scale events.
Long-range forecasters,
like Weathertrends360, use
the ENSO in conjunction
with other climate cycles to
formulate forecasts up to a
year ahead.
How Long Will
La Niña Last?
L
a Niña typically lasts from
nine to 12 months; however,
some events may last as long
as two years. Back-to-back
episodes, like we’re
experiencing now, are fairly
common. La Niña officially
began in the summer of
2020, weakened in the
summer of 2021, and
reemerged in late
2021.
Weathertrends360
expects that La Niña
will fade sometime in April
to June.
Learn More
A FarmCast subscription for
Weathertrends360 forecasts
looking out up to 365 days can
be found at wt360.com/ag for
$369 a year.
Illustration: Weathertrends360
 MACHINERY
THE LOST ART OF DIAGNOSIS
When assessing a mechanical problem, first find the critical path.
I
By Ray Bohacz
n the automotive engineering
community, the term critical path is very
often employed. It describes the race
from concept to the marketplace. An
engineering version of the planting season
on the farm would be all hands are on
deck with speed and precision.
When it comes to diagnosing a problem
with anything mechanical, it is essential
to find the critical path. This route will
ultimately be the most direct, efficient,
and least costly. It will either get you back
into the field or on the road, making the
issue only a brief pit stop instead of a
major mechanical detour.
Photography: Manufacturer
D o not complicate a
The art of diagnosing machinery
has always been a weak spot for both
professional mechanics and farmers
alike. The difference between then and
now is the older equipment was a lot less
complex. This minimized the possible
potential trouble spots. Also, older
equipment was easier to work on and the
parts dramatically less expensive.
Shop Manual an Absolute Must
R eplacing parts is not diagnosing. Let’s
get this off the table first. Changing
every part that could potentially cause the
issue with either a new or used one is not
diagnosing the issue.
November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com
Pick the low-hanging fruit first
when diagnosing a repair problem.
If an engine is overheating, then
start with the radiator and give
it an examination for obvious
problems like being plugged with
residue or low on fluid.
The first step in proper
diagnostics happens long
before a problem occurs.
It is rooted in developing
knowledge about the
machine and its subsystems
and, if possible, investing in
a shop manual.
For the most part,
trying to diagnose an issue
without a shop manual
to follow wiring or
provide test specifications
is nothing more than
guessing. Today, guessing
is expensive.
Thorough Inspection
problem. Pick the low-
hanging fruit first. This
begins with a thorough
visual and tactile inspection
of the area. Study
everything for something
that may cause a problem.
Take your time when
searching for a problem:
This isn’t a race. Put your
hands on and tug gently
on wires, vacuum lines,
hoses, and so on. If it is
a threaded-in line, put a
wrench on it and see if
it is snug. When dealing
with pumps, checking the
tightness of the casing or
the volute with a wrench
is imperative. I have seen
slightly loose bolts that,
due to circumstances, will
cause the pump to lose its
siphoning effect and not
move any liquid.
When dealing with
electrical issues, do not
Bonus
 We can’t help your daughter get straight A’s, but
we can help you get the best genetics for your farm.

Scan to watch
the video
 MACHINERY
continued

Applying your hands and eyes

goes a long way in the early steps
of diagnosing engines issues.

Problem: Gas engine

stalls at idle when hot:
• Fuel mixture
• Exhaust gas recirculation
• Vacuum leak
• Voltage to coil
• Idle speed low
Once the differential
diagnostic steps identify
areas that you need to
check, then you assign
numbers and values during
the procedure.
When helping someone
to diagnose an issue, I will
always ask for a value,
such as fuel pressure or the
voltage drop on a ground
circuit. If I am told “it
is good,” then I know it
was not adequately tested.
Good is not a test number
or a value.
From my years of
diagnosing engines, this is
by far the No. 1 cause for
not finding the issue. If you
checked it, you would have
a number!
Would a doctor diagnose
only tug on the connectors and harness; if use it to “think talk” through a problem a person and prescribe
in doubt, also remove them and study the by writing down a differential diagnosis. medicine or an operation
integrity of the wiring and terminals. It is It sounds more complicated than it is. without testing first?
common for corrosion to enter the wire at Coming back to the first protocol I Would an agronomist
the terminal end (this is very widespread referenced, you must have more than a make a fertility plan
with battery cables) and create a voltage cursory knowledge of how the parts and without a soil test? Why
drop between the wire and the terminal systems work. The differential diagnosis would you try to fix a
end. will allow you to provide clarity to the mechanical issue without
Applying your hands and eyes goes a thought process. You will not only be thinking through the
long way in the early steps of diagnosing. studying it in your mind but also seeing it problem and testing the
on the dry-erase board. subject areas?
Differential Diagnosis State the problem and then list Remember, testing is to

I f these preliminary steps do not reveal

anything, then apply what I coined as the
SAT (stop and think) theory.
the possible causes. Don’t write long
sentences, just bullet points.
When a potential cause is ruled out,
prove what is right, not
what is wrong. Once you
rule out what is correct,
In the medical field, this is referred to as erase it. Keep doing this until what is left then you can clearly
a differential diagnosis. is the only possibility. identify what the problem
In my shop, I keep a whiteboard on the A differential diagnosis list for a stalled is and then determine how
wall. When chasing an elusive problem, I engine, for example, would look like this: to fix it.

Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Jeff Greenberg, Getty Images
 TECHNOLOGY

The Trimble TrueTracker

implement steering system
used by Sirmon Farms allows
the planter to guide itself
independently from the tractor
following the guidance lines
created by the tractor’s autopilot
system. It is an active system,
unlike a passive implement
guidance system, which monitors
and corrects the position of an
implement by moving the tractor.

Passive implement
steering occurs when the
implement position is
controlled by the tractor.
“This is the case with the
Trimble TrueGuide,”

STAYING ON TRACK
Stewart says. “We place a
global navigation satellite
system [GNSS] receiver
on the implement to track
An implement guidance system keeps plants aligned at its position, but it is reliant
planting, resulting in better grades and higher yields at upon the tractor to move the
harvest for these Alabama potato farmers. implement to the desired
position.”

J
By Jodie Wehrspann
oel and James Sirmon, owners of Sirmon
Farms in Baldwin County, Alabama,
needed to find a more accurate way to plant
potatoes.
The brothers plant sweet potatoes and
Irish potatoes on beds using an eight-row
transplanter mounted to the tractor’s
three-point hitch. Even though the tractor,
equipped with auto steer, was driving
straight, the planter would often drift off
the guidance line, causing crooked rows of
plants that were difficult to dig.
“We had a hard time getting the planter
to plant directly over the center of the bed,”
Joel Sirmon says. “The planter would always
fall off to one side or the other of the bed,
and, when we came back to cultivate or
dig, we were often slightly off the row. This
resulted in either potatoes not being dug
completely or being cut as they were dug or
I mplement guidance systems available today
cultivated, resulting in significant crop loss.”
The Sirmons tried tightening the
mechanical connections, adjusting steering
tolerances, and using sway blocks to keep the
implement from shifting. Nothing seemed
to work.
“Even if the tractor was dead-on where it
was supposed to be, the implement would
still be slightly off the line,” Sirmon says.
Deciding they needed help, the Sirmons
went to their local precision ag dealer,
Vantage South in Samson, Alabama,
where they were set up with an implement
guidance system called TrueTracker, made
by Trimble Agriculture. Other companies
offer similar technology: It’s designed to
keep implements on the guidance line
created by the tractor’s automated steering
system using positioning data from a GPS
receiver mounted on the implement.
“Implement guidance seemed like the
logical choice to resolve our issues,” Sirmon
says.
Two Types of Systems
are either active or passive.
Active implement steering includes
components to physically control the
position of the implement, explains Wade
Stewart, market manager at Trimble. “This
is the case with TrueTracker,” he says. “We
use steerable blades or a steerable hitch to
physically control or move the position of the
implement.”
Passive systems are
suited for operations
done before the crop has
emerged, such as planting or
preseason tillage or nutrient
application, when there’s
no risk of crop damage if
the tractor drives off the
guidance line.
Active systems, although
more costly, are warranted
in standing crops when both
the tractor and implement
must adhere to the guidance
line and run between the
rows.
The Sirmons say an active
system fits their operation
best. “Because we plant
potatoes on beds, it makes
it difficult for the tractor
to actually steer without
fighting or climbing the
beds,” Sirmon says. “It
is much easier and more
accurate to let a side-shift
three-point hitch system
automatically get on the

Photography: Courtesy of Trimble November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com Bonus

 TECHNOLOGY Implement
continued Guidance
Systems: What
You Need to
Get Set Up
TrueTracker keeps
the eight-row planter
positioned over the beds,
W ade Stewart, market
manager in the
Trimble ag division, says
which are formed in all implement guidance
preparation for planting systems, whether active or
with an eight-row passive, require a control
bedder that also uses solution or system (e.g., a
TrueTracker. There are
display and software) that
16 workers riding on the
back of the planter. As supports both tractor and
the planter fingers come implement steering. He
around, the workers says other components are
place one slip in the also required.
finger, which conveys it Passive steering
down and plants it. components:
• GNSS receiver on the
line while leaving the tractor disengaged and more common. “Here in the Midwest, a tractor.
allowing it to follow the beds. TrueGuide lot of farmers are using passive guidance • GNSS receiver on the
(passive system) would not have worked for systems to strip-till a field and come back implement.
us for this reason.” and plant, and they want the row units on Active steering
components:
the planter to run down the center of the
• GNSS receiver on the
Interest Increasing strip,” Fulton says. tractor.

I mplement guidance systems are not new.

The technology has been around for almost
as long as tractor guidance systems, which
became available in the 1990s. Unlike
tractor auto steering, one of the most widely
adopted precision farming technologies,
implement guidance has been slower to
catch on.
John Fulton, Ohio State University
Extension specialist in ag technology,
estimates adoption is anywhere between
5% and 15% for U.S. farmers. “We don’t
have good data on implement guidance
adoption,” Fulton says, but usage has
increased in recent years because of greater
availability and lower costs.
“Costs, especially with passive systems,
have come down, and companies like John
Deere, Case IH, and Trimble have made the
technology much more available,” he says.
Passive implement guidance systems,
which require the purchase of a second GPS
receiver, can range from $5,000 to $7,000.
Active systems, which require a dedicated
auto steering system on the implement, can
cost twice as much.
Determining Value
Referring to strip-till planting studies
conducted in corn, Fulton says planting “just
3 to 4 inches off the strip resulted in a yield
• GNSS receiver on the
implement.
• Hardware to physically
reduction.” The reduction could be as much steer the implement such
as a few bushels per acre. as a steerable axle or
Another application showing direct steerable hitch. Some OEM
implements may already
value, Fulton says, is organic farming. On
be set up for steering or
organic farms, where cultivation is used to aftermarket hardware kits
control weeds without chemicals, implement can be attached.
guidance provides the ability to keep the • Hydraulic valve to
cultivator positioned between the rows control the steerable
without damaging the crop. hardware. This may
A new area where he sees interest is require an additional valve
precision fertilizer application. Farmers to be mounted on the
implement or the use of an
are using implement guidance as a means
existing spool valve on the
to precisely place fertilizer next to the seed rear of the tractor.
or the roots of the growing crop, where the • A hydraulic source.
fertilizer can be intercepted, as opposed to This may include either a
the practice of broadcast application. hydraulic spool valve on
He says the interest is being driven by two the rear of the tractor or a
things: water quality and input costs. power-beyond hydraulic
“First, when you think about nitrogen and connection on the tractor. •
phosphorus, you can’t afford to have those
two nutrients leave the farm today, from an placement, be it in “formed-
environmental perspective,” he explains. bed” applications such as
“Second, the margins, although they have potatoes, sugar beets, and
turned up recently, can be tight.” Producers strawberries, or in “inter-
want to be as efficient as possible with row” sowing applications

A s with any technology, growers deciding

whether to use implement guidance have
to determine the value to the operation,
applied fertilizer to contain costs.

Key Market Segments

where seed is planted
between the previous
season’s crop rows, common
Fulton says. Producers see value in several
applications.
One is strip-till, which he says is becoming
S tewart says Trimble customers who
have made the investment in implement
guidance have seen improvements in seed
in no-till soybeans, for
example.
“Customers farming on

Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Courtesy of Trimble

Continue to next page
 TECHNOLOGY Where
continued Implement
Guidance
Makes Sense

left: John Deere’s AutoPath software uses

data collected from the first field pass,
T rimble Market
Manager Wade
Stewart says implement
either in planting or strip-till, to establish steering can provide bene-
guidance lines for all subsequent field fits in any application, but
passes. The software automatically
he sees the fastest return
adjusts the row guidance lines based
on each machine’s size, ensuring even on investment for growers
spacing between the rows without the using the following six
need for guess rows, the company says. practices.
• Controlled traffic.
bottom: Sirmon Farms, owned by Joel Keeps vehicles on the
and James Sirmon, stretches across same traffic lanes.
much of Baldwin County Alabama, • Inter-row sowing.
located in the southwest corner of Maintains planter position
the state. The 3,500-acre farm grows between the previous
cotton, peanuts, sweet potatoes, Irish season’s crop rows.
potatoes, and corn. Hydroponic lettuce • Postemergent
is grown in greenhouses.
tillage and material
application. Positions
to Uhlman, the software implements between the
improves guidance line rows without damaging
management and allows for the crop.
better coordination between • Sidehill operations.
equipment of different sizes, Prevents implements from
such as a 24-row planter and drifting down the side of
a hill, thereby reducing
a 16-row corn head.
skipped or overlapping
rows.
Satisfied Customers • Formed bed

T he Sirmons have used

their implement guidance
system for four years and are
applications such as
potatoes, sugar beets,
and strawberries.
satisfied with the results. Keeps planters positioned
sidehills also have seen a reduction in skips “We saw an immediate improvement over the beds to ensure
accurate placement of
and overlaps caused by implement drift in placement of our transplants when we
seed.
down the side of the hill,” he adds. “With began using Trimble’s TrueTracker system,” • Implements with a
postemergence applications, customers Sirmon says. “We love driving past the steerable rear axle or
experience less crop damage as the freshly planted potato fields and seeing our steerable cutting or
implement follows the exact same path as perfectly straight and on-top-of-the-bed lifting surfaces such
the planted crop.” plants.” as potato planters,
Tracy Uhlman, go-to-market manager He admits there were some hiccups sugar beet toppers, and
for John Deere, says, “Some customers initially related to the response speed of the harvesters. Aligns row
units with the crop •
may not realize the benefits of pass-to-pass side-shift hitches, and also incorrectly spaced
implement accuracy until they see it in or offset units, which Sirmon says was an
their own operations. For these customers, implement problem. They needed to make
a demonstration of the technology can be sure all the tractors and implements were additional training of your
powerful.” She says implement guidance is well calibrated. operator,” Sirmon says.
a great option for operations with hills and “We worked through these issues with the When asked to quantify
curved passes, or when precise implement staff at Vantage South and performance got the return on investment,
placement is needed. better,” he says. “The past two years we have Sirmon cites improvements
Uhlman adds that John Deere is moving had little to no problems with the system in crop quality and yields.
forward on improvements to existing and performance has been all that we could “We see significantly less
guidance systems, having recently released have hoped for.” crop damage resulting in
new software called AutoPath, which Another factor to consider is operator better grades and higher
creates guidance lines based on the location skill level. “While the TrueTracker system yields at harvest,” he says.
of each crop row as documented during the is easy to use, it is a bit more complex than “Has the system paid for
first field operation of the year. According a standard autopilot and does require some itself? Absolutely.”

Photography: Courtesy of John

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 CROPS
AN INNOVATIVE START
Cover crops, no-till,direct marketing, and help from
family give this farmer a good beginning.
A
By Raylene Nickel
former firefighter, Russell Hedrick
got his start in farming by catch-
ing up from the backstretch. As a
first-generation farmer with just six
years of experience in the tractor seat,
the 33-year-old has made up for lost time.
Starting with 30 acres near Hickory, North
Carolina, he now farms 1,000 acres. His di-
verse crops include two varieties of heirloom
corn for direct marketing of food products
processed on the farm. He also grows soy-
beans, cereal rye, triticale, winter oats, and
winter wheat for seed. Diverse cover crops
round out the rotation, and livestock grazing
adds further value to the operation.
The cover crops combined with no-
till management give his soil the leading
edge it needs to produce robust crops with
reduced inputs.
“Over time, growing cover crops has
helped us cut our fertilizer cost by 60%,” says
Hedrick. “We’ve reduced our herbicide cost
by 75%. With yield increases, cover crops
make us $150 to $200 more per acre. Some
years, that’s the difference between making
money and losing money.”
Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
From the get-go, Hedrick knew he want-
ed his farming operation to include cover
crops. His prefarming research had indicat-
ed that cover crops could play a major role in
improving degraded soil.
“We started with dead dirt,” he says. “The
soils of the farms we began renting had ex-
perienced heavy conventional tillage. There
were few nutrients in the soil. Soil aggrega-
tion was poor, and organic matter was low.”
Planning ahead, with the idea of giving
cover crops the advantage of getting as
early a start as possible when planted after
cash crops, Hedrick’s first year of farming
included experiments with early-maturing
varieties of corn and soybeans.
“We found that we could plant an ear-
ly-season corn, harvest it early, and not suffer
yield losses,” he says. “The earlier we can
establish a cover crop, the more time it has to
grow before going dormant in January
or February.”
Growing the early-maturing varieties of
corn and soybeans lets Hedrick plant cover
crops by October 10. His initial blend of cov-
er crops included cereal rye, triticale, winter
oats, and crimson clover.
Former firefighter Russell
Hedrick now spends time in the
cornfield growing two varieties
of heirloom corn.
He began his first year of
farming by planting a cover
crop in fall. He followed that
the next spring with corn,
followed by a fall-planted
cover crop, followed by soy-
beans the next spring, and
then a cover crop.
Catching Neighbors’
Eyes
The benefits of growing a
cover crop were so readily
apparent that the landlord’s
neighbors took note. They
soon began asking Hedrick
to rent their land.
“In the span of just one
year, we grew from 30 acres
to 250 acres,” he says. “We
were able to educate our
landlords on the benefits
of no-till and cover crops.
We had a nice, green cover
crop growing on our field
in March while a neighbor’s
land not under our man-
agement would be tilled,
eroded, and crisscrossed
by gullies. Such neighbors
would ask our landlords
about what was happening
on their farm. We were able
to pick up other farms just
by being a good steward
of land.”
Including cash cereal
crops in the rotation adds
more diversity, of course.
It also gives an opportunity
to diversify the cover crop
plantings. The mid-June to
early July harvesting of the
cereals gives a window of
opportunity to plant a cover
crop made up of warm-sea-
son species.
“Our summer cover crop
blend will typically include
soybeans, sorghum sudan,
Photography: Provided by Russell Hedrick
Continue to next page
 CROPS
continued

Yes, you really are seeing what you think you are There’s no question Hedrick got started Hedrick grows two heirloom
seeing! Russell Hedrick plants cash crops into
standing cover crops several feet high.
farming on the right foot when he began varieties of corn – Bloody
growing a cover crop before even planting his Butcher and Blue Hopi – for
pearl millet, cow peas, sunn hemp, and a first crop. It was a move that jump-started his on-farm processing into grits
summer brassica like Ethiopian cabbage or farming career toward success. For this and and cornmeal. He markets
mustard,” he says. “However, our success other innovative efforts, Hedrick was named the products to individuals
with a summer brassica can be hit or miss, the 2014 North Carolina Innovative Young and restaurants.
depending on the weather.” Farmer of the Year. On-farm blending and
Livestock grazing adds further diversity “I have no regrets about my decision to marketing of cover crop
to the rotation. “In 2013, we bought 20 cow- become a farmer,” he says. “I can count on seed is another value-added
calf pairs, and we started rotational graz- one hand the number of bad days I’ve had enterprise. In addition to
ing,” says Hedrick. He later added feeder in farming. I love waking up in the morning seed grown on his farm,
pigs to the grazing activities. and going out to do my work.” Hedrick’s Southern Seeds
“It takes 45 to 60 days for a cover crop and Feed business acquires
to get big enough to graze,” he says. “The Keys to Success seed from other growers,
grazing stimulates the root zone of plants
along with the soil biology.”
In the time span of just a handful of
H edrick credits his early success in farming
to five critical factors.
1. Knowledgeable mentors. From the
primarily in North Carolina.
He cleans and blends the
seed into a variety of cover
years, Hedrick has seen marked improve- very beginning of his start in farming, crop mixes for other farmers.
ments in soil quality. Haney soil tests show Hedrick actively sought out guidance from 5. Family help. “The biggest
increases in organic matter, heightened car- individuals experienced in soil health, crop contributor to my successes has
bon dioxide respiration rate, and increased rotation, and livestock grazing. been the help and support of
levels of water-extractable organic carbon 2. No-till practices. “No-till cuts out of my family,” says Hedrick. His
in the soil. the farming operation a lot of associated parents, Rick and Robinette
“The infiltration rate on some of our cost,” he says. “No-till reduces the amount of Hedrick, and his grandmother,
land used to be ½ to ¾ of an inch of water equipment I need, and it reduces the amount Betty Hedrick, all help with
per hour,” Hedrick says. “Now, water infil- of time I invest in field operations.” the work.
trates the soil at a rate of 7 to 10 inches per 3. Growing cover crops. “A cover crop “It takes a whole family to
hour. That’s particularly important because is as important to me as a cash crop,” says have a successful family
of the heavy rainfall we often experience.” Hedrick. “Not only does it help reduce farm,” he says.
Soil improvements have led to yield our fertilizer and herbicide costs, but also
increases. “Our soybeans typically yield 5 it improves the soil and the quality of the Learn More
bushels per acre more than when we started subsequent cash crop.” Russell Hedrick
farming,” says Hedrick. “Our corn yields 10 4. Direct marketing. “Direct marketing 828/217-4593
bushels per acre more.” has helped to make us profitable,” he says. jrhgrainfarmsllc@gmail.com

Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021

 For more than 40 years we’ve been manufacturing
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 MACHINERY

Operator Comfort

A ll four models of the

L60LE tractors include
a number of features to
keep down operator fatigue
and boost productivity. A
standard deluxe suspension
seat with a swivel feature,
tilt steering, electric PTO
switch, rubber deck floor
mat, wide step, cup holder,
full open hood, and ground-
level fuel tank fill are
standard equipment.
Cab models have a wide,
deluxe Grand L cab with
heat and air conditioning.

KUBOTA INTRODUCES NEW MODELS

Additional Tools

W hen equipped with

an optional LA55 or

OF COMPACT TRACTORS
LA805 front loader, these
compact tractors have
a loader lift capacity of
1,715 pounds. The front
The L60LE series offers both cab and ROPS tractors. loader lift maxes out at 105
inches.
By Natalina Bausch “This new series really is a steal for The BH77 and BH92
Managing Editor - News
Natalina.Bausch@meredith.com | @Roots_Journey
anyone who wants the best bang for their backhoes can be added to

T
buck in terms of both premium features and these machines for digging
he Kubota L60LE series of compact affordability,” Richardson adds. around the farmyard or
tractors has been expanded to a total of acreage. The backhoes
four models. The two cab and two ROPS Model Choices feature full-flat decks and a
models range from 37 to 42 hp.
“Last year, Kubota launched a single unit,
the L3560HSTC-LE, based on the market-
T he smaller L3560LE is offered in a cab or
ROPS model. The three-point hitch on this
machine has a lift capacity of 2,646 pounds.
quick-attach/detach mount-
ing system.
A mid-PTO option can
driven needs for an affordable, deluxe cab,” The L4060LE has a larger frame and is be used with a number
says Kelcey Richardson, Kubota product also available in a cab or ROPS model. The of front-mounted snow
manager. “Since then, we found that many three-point hitch on these models has a lift removal implements.
of our customers were looking for tractors capacity of 2,760 pounds. Other optional acces-
that would provide the level of quality, sories include an air-ride
comfort, and entry-level affordability the Standard Features seat, ROPS canopies, front
L3560HSTC-LE offered, but they needed
either a little bit more horsepower or
availability in a ROPS version.”
E ach of the four models are equipped
with an all-metal hood and fenders for
durability. They’re powered by Kubota-built
weights, and rear hydraulic
remote valves.

“Kubota has delivered, and I am excited
to introduce the completion of an entire
L60LE series, which adds three more mod-
els in a variety of sizes and power options,”
Richardson says.
This series of tractors was designed with
hobby farmers, acreage owners, and eques-
trian enthusiasts in mind.
diesel engines. Price and Availability
The company’s HST Plus Transmission
is also a standard feature on all models
and is engineered to provide smooth, quiet
A ll of the models are now
available. The starting
price for the L60LE series is
operation. $23,474. Contact your local
The transmission features Stall Guard and Kubota dealer or visit
Auto Throttle Advance to make the tractor kubotausa.com for more
easy to operate, no matter the experience level. information.

Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Manufacturer

Continue to next page
 MACHINERY

• 3-in-1 tool. The Monarch op- with UC Davis researchers

erates as a tractor, plus its extra
storage enables it to act as an
ATV, and it has the ability to
serve as a generator in the field.
• Driver optional. The com-
pany uses the latest autono-
mous hardware and software
technology, so the tractor can
operate with or without a driv-
er. For instance, an operator
can choose preprogrammed
tasks that can be carried out
without a driver. Interactive
working on a specific prob-
lem, they may be able to give
you a contextual solution
that might be applicable,”
Penmetsa says.
• Smart device operation.
Through a smartphone
or personal device, users
receive tractor alerts, updates
on current micro-weather
conditions, and detailed
operation reports for more
efficient planning.

MONARCH
automation features, which include Gesture “One of the really unique
and Shadow modes, let the tractor follow a things on our tractor is the
worker on the job. micro-weather station,”

TRACTOR
Fully electric, driver-optional,
smart machine in a single
platform.
By Laurie Bedord
Executive Editor, News & Technology
Laurie.Bedord@meredith.com | @BedordLaurie
“The Monarch’s autonomous features
take it from just an environmental sustain-
ability idea to a really higher productivity
machine,” says Jim Hoffmann, owner,
Hopville Farms. “There are a lot of must-
dos on the farm that you’d like to not have to
dedicate people to. This tractor can do those
things more efficiently.”  on his preference.”
• Unprecedented safety. Packed with
safety features, including roll and collision
Penmetsa says. “We know
what the temperature is. We
know what the wind speed
is. We know what the hu-
midity is. A farmer can use
that data to automatically
adjust what he’s doing based
• Battery swap cart. The mo-
bile battery swap cart enables

A
s a fourth-generation farmer and
winegrower, Carlo Mondavi has
seen firsthand the hazards farming
poses not just to workers but to the
environment as well. The Monarch
Tractor chief farming officer is part of a Cal-
ifornia-based team combining electrification,
automation, machine learning, and data
analysis to bring a fully electric, driver-op-
tional, smart tractor to the farm in a single
platform.
“Monarch Tractor is moving farming
toward a safer, sustainable future by elimi-
nating harmful emissions, reducing the need
for herbicides, and keeping workers out of
harm’s way with its driver-optional capabili-
ties,” Mondavi says.
Highlights of Key Features
prevention, vision-based power take-off, and
360° cameras, an operation can run smoothly
while keeping employees safe 24/7.
• Actionable intelligence. The Monarch
works with a farmer’s current implements
as well as the next generation of smart im-
plements. Sensors and imaging are processed
to provide critical data points that can be
used for real-time implement adjustments
in addition to long-term yield estimates,
current growth stages, and other plant/crop
health metrics.
Through machine learning, the tractor
digests data and provides long-term analysis
of field health. The longer it runs, the more
accurate it becomes. The data collected are
stored in a secure Monarch cloud.
“The farmer’s data is his data, and we will
not be sharing it without his permission,”
says Praveen Penmetsa, cofounder and
a farmer to single-handedly
change the battery in less
than 10 minutes. The cart is
priced at $15,000.
Repair and maintenance,
Penmetsa says, will also be
seamless.“We want to enable
a farmer to fix his investment.
Through the sensors and data
being collected, we can often
find issues before the farmer
knows something is wrong.
Some of those issues can be
repaired over the air.”
The second option is to
work with the farmer to help
repair the unit, which can be
done through video stream-
ing, among other technol-
ogies. If the repair is more

E quipped with an electric drivetrain that can

provide 40 hp. of continuous power and
short-duration peak power up to 70 hp., the
Monarch includes the following features.
• Emission-free technology. The Monarch is
100% electric and has zero emissions.
CEO, Monarch Tractor. “That being said,
we want to incentivize farmers to collaborate
globally.”
complex, mobile service and
maintenance crews will be
ready to provide a replace-
For example, Monarch has a research ment until the tractor is fixed.
partnership with the University of Cali- The Monarch Tractor has
fornia, Davis. “If you want to share data a base price of $50,000.

Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021

GE T S OC IAL
Stay connected with
Successful Farming news on social media.

FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM

@SuccessfulFarmingUSA @SuccessfulFarm #successfulfarming
 MACHINERY
SHARING IRON THROUGH AN LLC
The limited liability approach streamlines co-ownership.
By Raylene Nickel
W
hen Riceville, Iowa, grower
Eric Hawbaker began thinking
about strip-till planting his corn,
he faced a dilemma. “I didn’t have
enough corn acres to justify buying
my own strip-till applicator,” he says, “and I
didn’t want to pay someone else to strip-till
my fields on a custom basis.”
Teaming up with another farmer to buy
the implement seemed like the best option.
So Hawbaker reached out to a farmer
he trusted and who had similar needs –
Frank Moore of Cresco, Iowa. Moore was
then hiring a custom operator to strip-till
his fields, but the operator’s service was
unreliable, explains Hawbaker. “There
were few other custom strip-tillers in our
communities, and so we saw an opportunity
to do some custom work of our own if we
did buy a new machine,” he adds.
To get an applicator the two teamed
up forming a limited liability company
(LLC). The next year they bought a
fertilizer truck through the LLC, and a few
years later they added a tractor. “Through
the LLC we own all the equipment we need
to run a strip-till operation,” says Hawbaker.
“In the case of the strip-till applicator, we
were able to get exactly the kind of machine
that we wanted, one that would do top-
Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
quality work. This partnership has let us get
a strip-till system working.”
Nine years have passed and the machinery
partnership between Hawbaker, now 49,
and Moore, 67, has worked so well that
Hawbaker has struck up another LLC
partnership with Moore’s nephew, Matt
Miner of Cresco, Iowa. Moore is retiring and
now rents his land to the younger farmer.
Hawbaker and Miner combined resources
to buy Moore’s sprayer. “Neither one of us
could justify owning a sprayer by ourselves,”
says Miner, 42. “Partnering with an older,
more-established farmer to buy equipment
has helped me offset machinery costs. Both
of us save a little bit of money over the long
haul by owning a sprayer rather than paying
a custom operator. And we have more
control over the timing of applications.”
Machinery LLC Details
T
he sprayer LLC mimics the strip-till LLC
formed by Hawbaker and Moore. “I am the
managing partner for the LLC, and I had
my lawyer draw up the framework,” says
Hawbaker. “We took out a loan to buy the
equipment, and we treat the LLC like its
own separate business enterprise.”
In that regard, the LLC pays repair
costs and insurance policy premiums.
To make loan payments and cover other
Matt Miner (left) and Eric
Hawbaker teamed up to co-own
a used self-propelled sprayer
through the use of a limited
liability company.
costs, each partner pays
the LLC a per-acre custom
rate for acres tilled or
sprayed on their land.
The arrangement allows
partners’ contributions to
the LLC to flex with either
expansion or downsizing of
their operations.
In the early years of the
strip-till LLC, both partners
strip-tilled about 1,000 acres
of corn each. “Between
us, we could justify two-
thirds of the cost of the
equipment,” says Hawbaker.
“We added 1,500 acres of
custom work to make up
the total acreage we need
in order to pay for the
machines.
“In recent years, my
acres have paid more of the
costs than Frank’s have,”
says Hawbaker. “In the
beginning, it was the other
way around. And sometimes
the custom work pays most
of the bills.”
Hawbaker and Moore
shared operating labor
equitably when their
respective acreages were
similar. Recently, however,
as Moore has retired,
Hawbaker’s employee also
operates the equipment.
“The LLC covers the labor
costs by subcontracting the
employee from me,” says
Hawbaker.
With the sprayer LLC,
because Miner does most
of the spraying, “we built
into the LLC a payment per
acre to go to the operator of
the machine covering those
acres,” he adds.
Deciding whose acres get
Photography supplied by: Dusty Ruggeberg
Continue to next page
 MACHINERY
continued
use of the machines and when “takes lots of
communication,” he says. “We talk a lot, and
so we know when each of us has a window
of opportunity to do fieldwork.”
In the case of the strip-till equipment,
Hawbaker and Moore have historically
juggled use according to each of their
seasonal schedules. Given the need to
transport equipment the 20-mile distance
between their farms, they try to accomplish
fieldwork on each farm in one fell swoop.
“Sometimes it has worked best for Frank
F arming near Fairfield, Washington, wheat
to do his acres in the fall,” says Hawbaker.
“If I don’t get my ground done in the fall,
I can do it in the spring. Neither one of
us is a control freak. We keep in constant
contact. Our ultimate goal is to cover acres –
regardless of whose they are.”
In the case of the jointly owned sprayer,
Miner says: “In the spring, I follow the
planter around on both my acres and Eric’s.
We also custom spray for two other farmers.
Between all of us, we’re spread out 30 to 35
miles. I just keep following the planters. For
the second spraying, it’s a big juggling act.”
Buyout Provision
B oth LLCs have exit strategies written into
them. “Neither party is forced to sell, but
with mutual agreement one person can
buy the other out over a three-year period,”
Hawbaker explains.
A huge advantage to the sharing LLC:
“It allowed me, as a younger farmer back
Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
then, to justify owning a piece of equipment
that was larger and of higher quality than I
could afford by myself,” Hawbaker says. “If
you’re going to own machinery with another
farmer, do it with someone you trust. It
should fill a need for each of you so it’s
equally beneficial to both partners.”
Informal Sharing Arrangement
growers Marci and Lonnie Green share
some machinery informally with neighbors.
“The equipment we own jointly is fairly
minor equipment – smaller items for which
none of us could really justify the expense,
given the small amount of use it would get
on one farm,” explains Marci Green.
An exception is a large-bale stacker the
Greens own in partnership with David
DeGon. “We own a third of the stacker,
and David owns two-thirds,” says Green.
“Because David is the primary owner,
financing and insurance are in his name. We
reimburse him for a portion of the payments.”
The Greens’ annual use of the machine
comes to about a third of DeGon’s annual
use. The Greens use the stacker in the
harvesting of the 2,000 acres of Kentucky
bluegrass they grow for seed. After
harvesting the seed, they bale the grass straw
and use the stacker to move the bales from
the field as quickly as possible. “Timing is
critical,” says Green.
The partners are able to match the use
Lonnie Green (left) and David
DeGon entered into an informal
machinery sharing plan to get
access to a large bale stacker.
of the stacker to their
individual harvesting needs
because the crops and
differing periods of maturity
offer appropriate harvesting
windows.
“David uses the stacker to
put up alfalfa and timothy
hay, but he harvests the hay
early in the season,” says
Green. “After that, we slip in
the stacking of our bluegrass
straw, which is ready after
his hay. David does have
some bluegrass straw to
stack, but the microclimate
of his farm typically delays
his harvest until after ours.”
The Greens also own a
drill jointly with three other
farmers. “It is not financed,
and we just selected one
grower to put it on their
insurance policy,” says Green.
“We all own other drills as
our ‘primary’ drill, and this
is an extra one we all use in
specific situations. There
haven’t been too many issues
in terms of timing because
each farmer only uses it on a
small portion of their farm.
“Repairs have been taken
care of by the farmer who
was using the drill when the
repair was needed. But this
could vary depending on the
breakdown and the cause,”
she says. “Communication is
key. “What we’ve found
ourselves doing a lot lately is
just helping neighbors out,
either renting equipment
from each other, or trading
equipment and labor with
neighbors who we have a
good relationship with,”
adds Green. “We’ve found
that sharing equipment
works best when it fits
everyone’s schedules.”
Photography supplied by Marci Green
MACHINERY
INSIDER ª

supplies allow.
I’ll admit to trying to
put a good spin on a bad
situation. Tractor supplies,
regardless of age, are tight.
Exacerbating the situation
is a shortage of parts and
metal, which is preventing
manufacturers from meeting
demand for new tractors.
Manufacturers would far
rather be building tractors
for a hungry market than
making customers wait,
says Curt Blades with the
Association of Equipment

LATE-MODEL PLANTER TRACTORS

Manufacturers.
After all, 2013 through
2019 represented lean years
for manufacturers as well as
Supplies of high-horsepower FWD tractors are tight. their dealers.
“I would highly
horsepower market and quickly cleaned out recommend that you work
By Dave Mowitz dealer and auction lots. with your dealer and make a
Executive Editor, Machinery & Technology
Dave.Mowitz@meredith.com There is a silver lining to this dark cloud, retail purchase order now for

T
he title of this story won’t be a surprise
if you have already read my year-end
“Steel Deals” analysis that starts on page
24. Buyers unable to get brand-new
tractors turned to the late-model used
Get Two Free Equipment
Appraisals What’s It Worth?
Be sure to cash
in on your two
free equipment
appraisals by going
to Agriculture.com/
whatsitworth. These
free appraisals are
based on actual dealer sales, auction purchases,
and wholesale transactions on selected equipment
built in the past 20 years. Used by banks, equipment
manufacturers, and equipment dealers all over North
America, the Iron Solutions equipment appraisal data
are now available to you! ¥
however. The 2021 high-horsepower front-
wheel drives (FWD) are coming in on trade
this month. Before harvest, more than 100
tractors only a year old were already on
dealer lots with more expected to come in
on trade as the year winds down. The 2021
supply of new tractors sold out and are now
being traded in for 2022 models — as new
NOVEMBER AUCTIONS
Nov. 5 & 6: Booker Auction (booker.auction)
is holding its Annual Eltopia Auction consign-
ment sale near Eltopia, Washington.
Nov . 8: Cook Auction (cookauctionco.com)
conducts its fall machinery auction in Clinton,
Missouri.
Nov. 13: The Annual Farm Machinery
Consignment Auction is being held by AA
Brown Auction (419/212-0851) in Edon, Ohio.
the machinery you need next
spring,” says Doug
Vahrenberg of Vahrenberg
Implement in Higginsville,
Missouri. “Manufacturers are
putting a priority on retail
sales to get the farmer the
equipment they want.”
Nov . 18 & 19: Ritchie Bros.
(rbauction.com) has set its
huge farm machinery consign-
ment sale to be held in Regina,
Saskatchewan.
Nov . 20: A fall farm auction is
being held by Bonnigson &
Associates (bonnigson.com)
in Fremont, Ohio.

Photography: Dave Mowitz November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 21

s
POCKET GUIDE: Dealer Asking Prices on 330- to 350-hp. 2020 FWD Tractors
MAKE & HOURS AREA* PRICE SPECIFICATIONS**

! Cut along this line

MODEL
Case IH
312 IA $318,000 IVT, susp. front axle, Pro 1200, 380/80R50 and 420/80R50 tires, high-cap. hyd., HD drawbar
Magnum 340
500 LA $291,500 IVT, susp. front axle, deluxe cab, duals, high-cap. hyd., HD drawbar, 420/80R50 and 480/80R50 tires

591 LA $295,500 IVT, susp. front axle, deluxe cab, duals, high-cap. hyd., HD drawbar, 420/80R50 and 480/80R50 tires

500 IA $295,000 IVT, susp. front axle, deluxe cab, 360 lights, 480/80R50 and 420/85R34 tires, tire pres. monitor, high-cap. hyd.

505 ID $307,400 IVT, RowTrac, 24" tracks, susp. front axle, deluxe cab, high-cap. hyd., prem. light

962 IA $307,400 IVT, RowTrac, susp. front axle, deluxe cab, 360 lights, high-cap. hyd., Power Beyond hyd.

Challenger 1042 1,066 MN $267,500 Front axle & cab susp., deluxe cab, Night Breaker LED lights, Trimble GPS receiver, auto steer

Fendt 939 Vario 875 MN $307,500 CVT, front axle & cab susp., Power Beyond hyd., LED lights, 58 gpm hyd., 480/95R50 and 380/95R38 tires

e23 trans., ILS, deluxe cab, 85 gpm hyd., 5 hyd., 20,000-pound 3 pt., HD drawbar, 22 front wgts., trailer brakes,
Deere 8345R 325 IA $334,900
LSW 1100/45R46 and LSW 1000/40R32 tires
e23 trans., ILS, deluxe cab, 5 hyd., 20,000-pound 3 pt., HD drawbar, 480/80R50 and 420/85R34 tires, 60 gpm
375 IN $329,500
hyd., cold weather starting
e23 trans., ILS, deluxe cab, prem. light, 85 gpm hyd., 5 hyd., 20,000-pound 3 pt., HD drawbar, cold weather
375 IA $332,900
start, trailer brake, 1100/45R46 and LSW 1000/40R32 tires
IVT, ILS, deluxe cab, 5 hyd., 85 gpm hyd., Power Beyond hyd., HD drawbar, 480/80R50 and 420/70R34 front
421 ND $358,500
tires, prem. lighting
IVT, ILS, deluxe cab, prem. light, 85 gpm hyd., 6 hyd., aux. hyd. con., HD rear axle, 20,000-pound 3 pt., HD
463 KS $342,000
drawbar, 480/80R50 and 420/85R34 tires
e23 trans., ILS, deluxe cab, 5 hyd., 85 gpm hyd., Power Beyond hyd., aux. hyd. con., 20,000-pound 3 pt.,
490 NE $337,500
HD drawbar, 480/80R50 and 420/85R34 tires, prem. lighting, trailer brakes
IVT, ILS, 5 hyd., .5" aux. hyd., HD drawbar, 118" rear axle, 380/90R54 and 380/90R54 tires,
516 MN $309,900
prem. lighting, cold weather start
e23 trans., front axle susp., 5 hyd., 20,000-pound 3 pt., aux. hyd. con., HD drawbar, cold weather start,
520 IN $324,900
prem. lighting, 480/80R50 and 420/85R34 tires
IVT, susp. front axle, 85 gpm hyd., 6 hyd., aux. hyd. con., 20,000-pound 3 pt., 480/80R50 and 380/80R38
526 NE $323,500
tires, cold weather start, 8,252-pound ballast package
e23 trans., 85 gpm hyd., 5 hyd., aux. hyd. con., 20,000-pound 3 pt., 480/80R50 and 420/85R34 tires, deluxe
547 IN $321,900
cab, cold weather start
e23 trans., 85 gpm hyd., 5 hyd., aux. hyd. con., 20,000-pound 3 pt., prem. lighting, 8,252-pound ballast
576 NE $338,900
package, 480/80R50 and 420/80R50 tires, cold weather start

601 IN $329,000 IVT, ILS, 5 hyd., 20,000-pound 3 pt., HD drawbar, 480/80R50 and 420/85R34 tires

607 KY $325,000 e23 trans., susp. front axle, 480/80R50 and 480/70R34 tires, cold weather start

691 ID $328,573 IVT, deluxe cab, 20,000-pound 3 pt., HD drawbar, 480/80R50 and 420/85R34 tires

IVT, ILS, 85 gpm hyd., 6 hyd., .5" hyd. con., 118" rear axle, 520/85R46 and 480/70R34 tires,
697 ID $328,573
cold weather start

723 IA $328,573 IVT, ILS, 85 gpm hyd., 1/2" hyd. con., 118" rear axle, cold weather start, 520/85R46 and 480/70R34 tires

744 IA $328,573 IVT, ILS, 85 gpm hyd., 1/2" hyd. con., 118" axle, 520/85R46 and 480/70R34 tires

768 IA $339,115 IVT, ILS, 520/85R46 and 480/70R34 tires, deluxe cab, 85 gpm hyd., 6 hyd., 118" rear axle, cold weather start

816 IA $327,074 IVT, ILS, 520/85R46 and 480/70R34 tires, deluxe cab, 85 gpm, 6 hyd., 1/2" hyd con., 118" rear axle
! Cut along this line

850 IL $309,900 IVT, ILS, deluxe cab, 480/80R50 and 380/80R38 tires, prem. lights

905 MO $327,095 IVT, 20,000-pound 3 pt., 1/2" hyd. con., 480/80R50 and 420/85R34 tires, prem. lights

912 OR $319,999 IVT, 85 gpm hyd., 1/2" hyd. con., 20,000-pound 3 pt., prem. lights, deluxe cab, 380/90R54 and 380/80R38 tires

New Holland
369 WI $249,900 Susp. front axle, high flow hyd., 5 hyd., LED lights, 380/80R38 rear tires
T8.410

369 KS $309,000 Susp. front axle, susp. cab, 5 hyd., high-flow hyd., HD drawbar, LSW 1000/40R32 and LSW 1100/45R46 tires

Data derived from machinefinder.com, auctiontime.com, and caseih.com. * State abbreviations ** 3 pt. = three-point hitch, 360 lights = 360 lighting system, aux. hyd. con. = auxiliary hydraulic
connections, gpm hyd. = gallons per minute hydraulic system, HD drawbar = heavy-duty drawbar, high-cap. hyd. = high-capacity hydraulic pump, hyd. = hydraulic outlets, lbs. = pounds,
prem. lights = premium lighting system, susp. front axle = suspended front axle, tire pres. monitor = tire pressure monitor, wgts. = weights
Lose Limits.
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Get the incredibly reliable, versatile machine made to handle your dairy’s needs –
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next thanks to specially designed quick attach points and a fuel-saving PTO. Powered
by the legendary John Deere PowerTech™ engine, 7R Tractors offer rock-solid reliability
and more horsepower while burning less fuel. With versatile ballast built into the frame,
you can put power to the ground as it’s needed. Boost your versatility even more with an
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See what you have to gain : JohnDeere.com/Dairy

 STEEL DEALS

Where Has All The

Machinery Gone?
The last time agriculture experienced such an equipment shortage
was during World War II. By Dave Mowitz, Executive Editor, Machinery & Technology

24 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Dave Mowitz

 STEEL DEALS

“I
t was the perfect storm,” laments Curt
Blades of the Association of Equipment
Manufacturers (AEM) in describing the
conditions that produced the most severe
shortage of machinery in our lives. “A series of
events no one could have anticipated slammed
the entire industry the last 18 months, which left
farmers, dealers, and manufacturers scrambling.”
Will 2022 be any better?

Actually, the current iron famine has debt and wanting to

been years in the making with the short-
age stage already being set in 2013.
Demand for new machinery col-
lapsed then due to falling commodity
prices. In response, manufacturers pared
back machinery production.
At the same time, dealers began to
suffer an abundance of used late-model
machinery that had come in on trade
with brisk sales from the previous five
years. Companies aggressively worked
to rid themselves of this used surplus by
arming dealers with buyer incentive pro-
grams that slashed asking prices, offered
no- or low-interest loans, and extended
warranty coverage through attractive
certified pre-owned programs.
The carrots worked: Buyers con-
sumed the glut of used iron. This
drew buyers’ attention away from new
iron, further eroding already sluggish
sales. The industry settled in and kept
its facilities at a simmer, turning out
new machinery as demand warranted.
This shortfall in new machinery sales
threatened the future supply of used
equipment even further.
Then COVID Shut It All Down
satisfy a justified pent-up
demand for new technol-
ogy, began ordering iron
in droves.
Large tractors and Average dealer prices for 2-year-old
harvesting equipment John Deere 8320R tractors by the year they sold
sales jumped, and
$275,500
demand for anything For a comparison, asking
that worked the soil or $250,000 prices for 2021 Model 8310R
planted grew more tractors today range between
$328,500 and $345,000.
than 25%. $225,000
At the same time, de-
$200,000
mand for a great many
consumer products also $175,000
swelled, readily consum- 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
ing an increasingly scant Year Sold
supply of steel, tires, com-
puter chips, and parts. slow to a crawl. Dealers, who had been
Other black swan events like last win- longing to get back to selling new ma-
ter’s freeze in Texas conspired to further chinery since 2013, had to tell customers
starve supplies. In that case, weather they had to wait, sometimes as long as
shut down petrochemical plants not 12 months, to get a new tractor, field
accustomed to operating in freezing cultivator, or planter.
temperatures. Those plants feed the Farmers immediately turned to
raw supply to make plastic components. late-model machinery to meet their
Exacerbating conditions was the chal- needs, but rapidly it began to disappear.
lenge to find or keep labor for manufac-
turing and shipping supplies and whole What of 2022?

S o it went until COVID-19 hit.

Manufacturing plant output of
goods.

New Iron Output Stalls

not only machinery but also many of the
components needed to build that equip-
ment slowed to nearly a standstill.
Then, as commodity prices shot up
last year, so did demand for new equip-
ment. Farmers, carrying low machinery
T he good news is that new iron sup-
plies will return. “Manufacturers
are using every tool at their disposal
A ll told, these and other events
created one of “the worst supply
chains I’ve seen in my career,” observes
and even creating new tools to meet
demand. They’ve become very creative
at finding supplies,” AEM’s Blades
Scott Wine, the head of CNH (Case says. “We are guardedly optimist the
New Holland) Industrial. industry will be able to meet all demand
Conditions caused new iron output to in the near future.”

Photography: Mitch Kezar November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 25

 STEEL DEALS

USED MACHINERY
What’s in Tight Supply, What’s Available

Late-Model Machinery (1 to 5 years old)

High-hp. FWD tractors 4WD tractors Tracked tractors
Air drills & seeders
Combines Planters
(very short supply)

tight supply
What’s in
Discs Field cultivators Mulch finishers
(very short supply) (nearly nonexistent) (nearly nonexistent)
Manufacturers and dealers, starved of Vertical-till implements Grain carts
Track skid steer loaders
sales since 2013, are hungry to meet de- (very short supply) (nearly nonexistent)
mand. Already an increasing amount of
Utility tractors Self-propelled sprayers Draper platforms
available
new iron is showing up at dealerships. What’s
At press time, sales of combines had Wheeled skid steer
Corn heads Round balers
loaders
grown 14% since the first of the year,
100-plus-hp. tractors 27%, and four-
wheel-drive (4WD) tractors skyrocket- Mid-Age Machinery (6 to 10 years old)
ed at nearly 40%.
“True, our lots are usually full this High-hp. FWD tractors 4WD tractors Combines
time of year,” observes Neil Messick at Grain carts Planters Air drills & seeders
tight supply

Messick’s Equipment in Pennsylvania.

What’s in

“We do have some things in stock like Discs Field cultivators Mulch finishers
large New Holland tractors. But other Tracked skid steer
Vertical-till implements Precision ag electronics
equipment such as small tractors, plant- loaders
ers, loader attachments, and UTVs are Tracked tractors Utility tractors Platforms
available
What’s

still in short supply.”

“Although equipment availability Corn heads Round balers Self-propelled sprayers
will be tight you have a good chance at
meeting new machinery needs by next
spring if you preorder equipment now,” Older Machinery (11 to 15 years old)
advises Gary Vahrenberg of Vahrenberg
High-hp. FWD tractors 4WD tractors Tracked tractors
Implement in Higginsville, Missouri.
“Many manufacturers like AGCO Grain carts Planters Air seeders & drills
[Vahrenberg Implement sells Massey
tight supply
What’s in

Ferguson tractors] are putting a priority Round balers Discs Field cultivators
on purchase orders over dealer stock Precision ag electronics
Mulch finishers Vertical-till implements
[floor plan] orders.” (very tight)
Buyers can claim a 2021 tax deduction Tracked skid steer
loaders
if they prepay for the equipment this
available

Utility tractors Combines Platforms

What’s

year. They may have to pay a surcharge

that covers the increased cost of steel,
plastic parts, or computer chips. Used as
a method to avoid increasing the whole-
sale cost of a machine, such surcharges
will disappear as the supply chain
reduces input costs.
Used Iron Shortage
Corn heads
Group. “What is driving this trend is
the lack of equipment in good condition
with low hours. Then again, such ma-
chinery always goes for a premium.”
The above list, which is based on a
search of on-hand used inventories at
Wheeled skid-steer
Semi trucks
loaders
dealership. “The really nice equip-
ment doesn’t sit on our lots very long,”
observes Jeremy Knuth of Heritage
Tractor, a John Deere dealership net-
work in Kansas and Missouri.
Knuth’s advice is to hit the internet

U sed machinery, particularly

late-model and large equipment,
will continue to be in short supply
and demand high prices during 2022.
“I don’t see this situation changing
much until more machinery comes in
on trade,” says Tim Meyer of Steffes
manufacturer and online auction web-
sites, provides a general guide as to what
machinery is available.
The challenge with late-model,
low-hour machinery is that often this
equipment, which is coming in on trade,
is already sold before it reaches the
and start searching.
“This is a big advantage you have
today — being able to search the
country,” he adds. “Dealers are certainly
willing to help you search as well as
make arrangement to have equipment
shipped in.”

26 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Mitch Kezar

HER HUSBAND
MARRIED A
FARMER.
We’re proud to work with generations
of American farmers in the most complex
and rewarding industry on earth.

Krystal Doolittle
Williams, Iowa

MADE TO GROW TM

™®
Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies.
© 2021 Corteva.
 STEEL DEALS
Auction Iron Conditions
By Andy Campbell, IronComps.com
T
ractor Zoom has seen a frenzied
search volume this year, akin to
a gold rush, driving up values
for hard-to-find equipment. Yet the
same force pushing row crop tractor
values higher is not necessarily the same
leverage behind self-propelled sprayers
prices. Going into the last month of the
year, be wary you do not overextend
your long-term machinery expenses by
treating all purchase decisions the same.
Since it began collecting data in 2017,
Tractor Zoom has helped farmers find
over a quarter million equipment sales
from 500 auctioneers – and now dealer
listings as well. All this data enables a
real-time view of trends. Sale values,
supply, hours, horsepower, size … you
name it. It is with this data that we
have compiled one of our more robust
analyses yet.
Commodity prices, higher demand,
and tight supply chain issues are driving
up equipment prices. These factors do
not weigh equally across all categories of
machines, though.
The graph below compares Tractor
Zoom price and volume data from
January to August of 2020 against that
same time period in 2021.
The blue bar graph for each cate-
gory is the change in average price for
each category. The light blue bar is the
Prices (in dark blue) rise, but availability (in light blue) fluctuates
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
-10%
-20%
-30%
-40%
Compact Utility
tractors tractors
28 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
Equipment
Compact tractors
Utility tractors
Row crop tractors
4WD tractors
300-plus hp. tractors
Planters
Self-propelled sprayers
Combines
percent change in the number of sales
for each category in the Tractor Zoom
database. This analysis only includes
machines that were produced in the past
20 years and sold for over $10,000.
Hottest Iron at Market
L arger tractors, combines, and
planters are experiencing the most
significant used supply issue and resul-
tant price increase. Note how the prices
rise while the volume decreases. If your
farming operation needs this type of
equipment, you should be checking sites
like Tractor Zoom daily. Reasonable
prices for some gems are happening, just
not as frequently as in the past.
On the other hand, sprayers and
compact and utility tractors have seen
significant price increases. Yet they are
in relatively ample supply. Be wary of
overextending yourself on a frenzied
buying spree for these exceptions.
With smaller tractors, manufacturers’
production lines are agile and should
be able to fill this void faster. Don’t be
surprised if manufacturers overproduce
now and create a glut of smaller tractors
that will be seen on auction blocks for
the next decade.
Sprayers will be especially interest-
ing to watch in December. In Tractor
Zoom’s data, pull-behind sprayers over
Row crop 4WD 300-plus-hp.
tractors tractors tractors
2020 values 2021 values Percent
increase
$23,292 $26,154 12%
$46,973 $55,656 18%
$91,743 $116,502 27%
$121,605 $130,596 7%
$133,243 $14,8643 12%
$53,883 $57,015 6%
$67,499 $78,220 16%
$96,181 $105,606 10%
1,000 gallons and with booms over
80 feet were one of the few categories
that saw an average annual price drop
of 15%, while equipment at auction
increased 50%. If self-propelled sprayer
values continue to rise, at what point will
farmers revert to pull-behind?
If you think that a great deal will
eventually show up, keep in mind that
there is one supply issue that has not re-
ceived much news attention. How many
retirements or liquidation auctions have
you seen in your area this past year?
Probably not as many as the year
before. This may also be influencing
supply. Tractor Zoom can filter auctions
by type: The occurrence of retirement
and liquidation auctions, as a percent
of all auctions we are tracking, is down
12% from a year ago.
Equipment supply is no longer a
guarantee. The current grain stocks-to-
use ratios are among the lowest since
the early 1970s, which should support
prolonged healthy commodity prices.
As a result, equipment demand will
likely remain high and continue the
scarcity of tractors and combines.
A toolbox and a right-to-repair
manual may be your best short-term
bet until supply chains respond and
prices stabilize. If your operation needs
larger equipment and you can afford
the long-term payments, I suggest
watching TractorZoom.com so you can
find the diamond in the rough before
it’s gone.
Planters Self-propelled Combines
sprayers
Photography: David Ekstrom
Continue to next page
 In Ag

Photography: Joe Scherschel

Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Courtesy of LIFE Picture Collection, © Meredith Corporation
 1950s Drought

T he 1950s drought in Texas

lasted eight long years over
most regions of the state.
A drought that severe
wasn’t seen again in Texas
until 2011.
Date: May 1957
Photographer: Joe Scherschel

From the Archives

LIFE magazine debuted
November 23, 1936, as the
first dedicated photography
magazine in the United
States. Since then, the
publication has been known
for its stunning photographs
depicting all aspects of life.
These images are from that
collection. For more LIFE
in agriculture photos, go to
LIFE.com.

November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com Bonus

 Q&A
The Successful
Interview
EMILY SCHMITT
Sukup granddaughter is CAO and general counsel.
By Natalina Bausch, Managing Editor - News
E
@Roots_Journey
mily Schmitt has fond memories of
walking to the Sheffield, Iowa, office
after school, snacking on caramel rolls
from the break room, and playing
good-natured pranks on staff members
who felt like family. Now, the third-
generation leader at Sukup Manufacturing
Co. is serving the company as chief
administrative officer and general counsel.
Schmitt is the granddaughter of founder
Eugene Sukup and daughter of the
current president and CEO, Steve
Sukup. She has been with the
family business full-time since
2011. Recently, Schmitt was
promoted to lead legal, human
resources, communications,
strategic planning, and other
administrative functions of the
company.
SF: Tell us about the family
members involved at Sukup
and how you work together.
ES: I work with my husband on
a daily basis.
My brother-in-law, Matt, works here as
senior electrical engineer. My father, Steve, is
president and CEO. My brother, Nick, also
works here.
Charles is my uncle, Grandma Mary, and
Charles’ son, Andrew Sukup, work here as
well.
My two kids are known as the recycling
directors. Before COVID, they would take a
wagon around and fill it up with everybody’s
recycling and collect some candy along the
way. They’ve been missing coming to work.
With my husband, my brother-in-law, my
dad — we work together five days a week.
Before COVID, we would have meetings
every day, sometimes go to dinner on Friday
nights, and church on Sunday morning, all
in the same places. There’s a lot of family
in this family business, but it’s what makes
everything go around.
Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
Hover your smartphone camera
over this link to read the full
interview at Agriculture.com.
family-owned and -operated
company we want to be.
SF: Sukup is experiencing
tremendous growth. What
I think that’s something that resonates does that look like?
with our customer base because so ES: We’ve seen the farm site
many farms are family farms. At Sukup is ever growing. We’ve seen
Manufacturing, we are farmers. Steve has large bins, such as we have
his number of acres. Grandpa farmed. up in Mason City, the larg-
That’s something we’re very proud of. est bin ever — 2.2 million
bushels.
SF: Did you always know you wanted to There’s also the added
come back to the company for your career? technology. In the past,
ES: I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer, growth has been added
even though I didn’t know how that would through product lines, but
fit in. I’m someone who loves to analyze next will be technology, as
everything. Once I decide something, well. We’re seeing all these
I’m all in. ag tech start-ups out there.
Once I got through law school, How do we connect the way
I figured if I was going to be a that will function within
corporate lawyer, I wanted to do Sukup Manufacturing?
it for our company. That’s when We were the first
we decided to move back. It’s company to have the
been a great opportunity to QuadraTouch. You can text
grow, working with HR. I’ve your dryer and it will text
worked a lot with finance and you back.
taxes. I’ve loved every topic Our growth is also
that we’ve been able to tackle. internal. With the added
roles within our office
SF: Tell me about the new things (COO and CFO), we’re
you’ll be tackling as chief admin- trying to add more of a
istrative officer and general counsel. developmental org chart so
ES: There have been a lot of opportunities that, within our company,
for strategic planning, especially with the we can set up success as
different family members transitioning much as we can.
their roles. We can take a lot more strategic
approach to company growth. As others
step into their roles, like Steve with CEO, SF Bio
Name: Emily Schmitt
there is a lot of strategic planning. Parts of
Background: Schmitt grew
his other roles I’ll do now like looking at up in Sheffield, Iowa. She’s
different opportunities, looking at strategic the daughter of president and
alliances that we have out there. CEO Steve Sukup. She and her
Ag tech is something that’s on the horizon: husband, Andy, are raising
There are so many opportunities that you their daughters, Wynn and
need to figure out what you strategically Celia, as the fourth generation
align with. We’ll be looking at that. to be involved in the family
business.
Also, I’ll be working on communications,
Education: Schmitt earned a
both internally and externally. I’ll look at bachelor’s degree in business
how we get everything aligned so we’re management from Iowa State
having consistent messaging. We want to University. She went on to
make sure we’re communicating to both graduate from the University of
our employees and the outside, as the same Iowa Law School.
Illustration: Lauren Crow
 START-UP
SPOTLIGHT
DEVELOPED WITH THE FARMER
FROM THE GROUND UP
Soiltech solves key pain points when it comes to moisture sensors.
By Megan Schilling
Agronomy & Technology Editor
Megan.Schilling@meredith.com | @meganjoys
W
ith a career in telecommunications
and manufacturing and his family
ties to Idaho, Ehsan Soltan found
a way to apply his background
and problem-solving skills to
agriculture. It all began by paying close
attention to farmers’ pain points.
“I attended grower meetings just to listen
and learned that growers and farm manag-
ers would drive hundreds of miles a day to
pick up soil and then determine moisture
levels to plan irrigation,” Soltan recalls.
Soltan realized he could develop a
wireless, stand-alone moisture sensor that
would allow farmers to direct their time
and attention to other responsibilities. He
tested multiple variations with a local potato
farmer who provided invaluable feedback
and helped validated the design.
“The most important participant in this
Photography: Manufacturer
process is the farmer, so frequent collabora-
tion was key in the early stages of develop-
ment,” Soltan says.
After the initial testing, Soltan 3D-printed
50 units for five growers to deploy in their
fields. Over time, their input led to addition-
al features like an accelerometer to detect
bruising, GPS tracking, and a humidity
sensor.
Thus, the Soiltech sensor has evolved into
a multifunctional device with features that
provide value across the whole supply chain.
How It Works
A device is planted in the ground with the
crop at planting – no complex setup or
SIM card registration required. Actionable
data is recorded and communicated via a
phone app and web platform throughout the
growing season.
Even during harvest, the device collects
data to provide insights about when bruising
is most likely to occur. Postharvest, the
November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com
device tracks trucks on the
road from field to seller and
even from seller to processor.
“The data is accessible
in one place in real time,”
Soltan says. “A farmer can
look at trend lines of mois-
ture, compare field perfor-
mance in terms of yield, and
use all of the information
to direct strategies for the
following year.”
Potato fields are where
Soiltech was first used, but
now the company serves
farmers who grow onions,
sugar beets, sweet potatoes,
hay, alfalfa, barley, corn,
beans, watermelon, and
cotton.
The unit, which can be
used over multiple seasons,
costs $350 plus an annual
$60 fee for cellular data and
cloud access.
Luke Radford, agron-
omist for Moss Farms in
south-central Idaho, utilized
a Soiltech prototype in 2019
and a full production unit
in 2020. Moss Farms has
potatoes, seed potatoes, sugar
beets, and some corn acres.
Radford and the team care-
fully monitor water use and
soil nutrition levels to better
control crop quality.
Soiltech piqued his
interest as it was “outside
of the box” compared with
other devices available in
the industry and because of
its up-to-date, easy-to-use
interface.
“I’ve experimented with
several different moisture
monitor systems in the past,
whether through processors
or ag retailers. I never found
one that was a complete
package with solid data and
user-friendly software,”
Radford says.
Bonus
 START-UP
SPOTLIGHT
continued

Connectivity
Is Key

S oiltech sensors
utilize a Cat-M1 LTE
technology that allows
for greater reach in range,
bandwidth, and data
load. The signal from the
device is sent through the
soil and through any crop
canopy by existing cell
towers. This eliminates
the need for a farmer to
install his own gateway or
other devices to aid with
the connection. •

the investment.
“Good technology is
coming to the ag indus-
try slowly,” Radford says.
“Innovation is extremely
At Moss Farms, Radford had planned to up along with the potatoes via their harvest important, especially if you
plant the device along with his potato seed equipment, Radford knows the optimal time want to continue farming
in the spring. Of particular interest was the to get out into the fields. into the future. It helps us
temperature sensor, which he and his team tell our story about how
planned to use to track and predict when Farming for the Future we’re producing a better
the potatoes were about to really take off in
the ground.
Unfortunately, as the effects of
T he ultimate goal Soiltech works toward is
automation, another area that technology
will be integral in achieving.
crop and being good stew-
ards of the land we farm.”
Again, a farmer-first ap-
COVID-19 caused delays in planting, they “We encourage growers to put multiple proach has been the driving
were unable to plant both at the devices on one field,” Soltan force for Soltan since day
same time. The team adapted says. “We’re striving to automate one.
their original strategy and buried pivots and the irrigation process. “You can’t tell growers or
devices in the fields after the The only way to do that is to farm managers how to
potatoes began to emerge. have enough data points on one manage their own land.
Radford says other devices field to trust that you’re making They’re the experts on that.
that require setup and calibra- the right decision.” We can only listen to their
tion typically cannot be imple- While there will be techno- pain points and hope to
mented until halfway through logical challenges to achieving provide a tool that helps,”
the growing season due to the on-farm automation, Soiltech is Soltan says.
time and attention needed. That poised to help farmers take the
is a lost opportunity to collect leap through true partnership. About the Company
data. He is still pleased with the “There are a lot of different Founder: Ehsan Soltan
amount of input captured in 2020 even with reasons to collect data – for conservation, Headquarters: Rupert, Idaho
the delay. crop demand, and just growing a better Website: soiltechwireless.com
“The device is helping us now as we crop,” says Radford. Background: The Soiltech
get ready for harvest. The internal potato He comments that the pressure to wireless moisture sensor is
temperature is really important for risk of produce crops in an environmentally planted in the ground to mea-
bruising,” Radford explains. “If the crop is sustainable way, especially from consumers, sure moisture, temperature,
over 65°F., it’s at an increased risk. If it’s too continues to grow. crop bruising, and location.
cold, it runs the risk of shattering during the But he also says farmers are starving Sensors send signals via exist-
harvest process.” for good technology, and if a device like ing cellular towers and are not
Because the Soiltech devices can be dug Soiltech’s can meet their demands, it’s worth inhibited by the crop canopy.

Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Manufacturer

Continue to next page
 MACHINERY
IMPRESSIVE POWER AND TORQUE
Ford’s all-electric Lightning is a 1/2-ton pickup with 3/4-ton power.
By Dave Mowitz
T
Executive Editor, Machinery & Technology
he difference between the Ford F-150
Lightning, available in 2022, and any
other pickup in that line is apparent
when you open the hood. Instead of an
engine, you are greeted by 14 cubic feet
of cargo space.
Impressive, yes. But where this electric
pickup shines is with its power output.
The Lightning’s power train, consisting of
two inboard motors powering an always-on
four-wheel-drive system, generates 426 hp.
lugging out a massive 775 foot-pounds of
torque!
By comparison, the 7.3-liter gas V-8 in
Ford’s Super Duty pickups turns out 430 hp.
and 475 foot-pounds of torque. What of the
company’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 diesel?
It delivers 475 hp. and a best-in-class 1,050
foot-pounds of torque.
Whoa — a ½-ton truck with ¾-ton power.
This explains why the Lightning has a
targeted 2,000-pound maximum payload
capacity and up to 5,000 pounds of towing
capability. Boost that to 7,700 pounds if you
option up to Lightning’s Max Trailer Tow
package.
Power is instantly available to all four of
Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
the truck’s wheels. And this vehicle books,
accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just over
4 seconds (when the truck is equipped with
an extended range battery)!
Pulling torque and nearly instant high
speeds: What’s not to like?
Running Range and Recharging
W ell, there is that issue of recharging the
truck’s batteries. Its standard battery,
which has an estimated 230-mile range,
takes 14 hours to recharge with a 32-amp
mobile charger (standard equipment).
You can cut that down to 10 hours by
optioning a 48-amp charge station. Plug into
one of Ford’s 150-kilowatt DC fast-charge
stations (more than 63,000 charging plugs
now are available across the United States),
and charging time drops to just 44 minutes.
One of the Lightning’s other differentiat-
ing features is its off-road performance.
The truck rides on a military-grade
aluminum-alloy body and a high-strength
steel frame. Underbody protection keeps the
battery safe, with metal skid plates shielding
both the battery and inboard motors from
tough terrain.
The battery itself is secured inside a wa-
terproof casing surrounded by crash-
absorption protection and has been tested
at temperatures as extreme
as -40°F.
Other Lightning unique
features of note include:
• Independent rear sus-
pension (the first F-Series
pickup with such a feature)
and low center of gravity.
• Power “waterfall” hood
(with bumper-height
opening) that opens to a
lighted space. The hood can
be locked, unlocked, and
opened from the remote
key fob, an exterior button,
or inside the vehicle. You
can wash the compartment,
thanks to a one-way drain.
• Mega Power frunk (frunk
refers to a front trunk)
under the hood is equipped
with four 120-volt AC out-
lets and two USB ports. Two
more outlets exist in the
cabin and two in the bed.
The commercial-oriented
entry model (the Lightning
Pro) starts at a $39,974
suggested retail price before
any federal or state tax
credits. The mid-series XLT
starts at $52,974. Lariat and
Platinum versions of the
Lightning will be more
pricey.
Photography: Manufacturer

It Starts With
The Seed Controlling herbicide-resistant
weeds begins with weed seed bank management.
By Gil Gullickson
J
Executive Editor, Crops Technology
Gil.Gullickson@meredith.com | @GilGullickson
im Schwartz was nervous.
Schwartz, who directs
Beck’s Practical Farm
Research, was meeting with
BASF executives with a mes-
sage he thought ran contrary
to one of BASF’s main businesses.
“I told them we were trying to figure
out how to control weeds without opening
a [herbicide] jug,” he says. “I thought that
would go over as well as a porcupine in a
balloon factory.”
It didn’t.
“They said, ‘You know, that’s interesting
you say that. We think that’s important mov-
Photos: Gil Gullickson
HARD TIMES FOR
HERBICIDES,
PART 2
says Hager.
The research team mea-
sured seed viability from
1997 to 2000 in the top 6 cen-
timeters of soil (2.36 inches)
after waterhemp shed its
seed in 1996. Seed viability
levels in each year were as
follows:
• 1997: 39%
ing forward, too.’ ” • 1998: 28%
Herbicides have been and always will be • 1999: 10%
part of weed management, says Scott Kay, • 2000: .004%
vice president, U.S. crop agricultural solu- “If you limit seed produc-
tions for BASF. Still, they aren’t the only tion, waterhemp numbers
component. Change is needed. will plummet,” says Hager.
“We need to have a different mind-set, “Anything you can do to
a different approach,” says Kay. That’s the reduce seed deposition is a
thinking behind BASF’s Operation Weed win.” •
Eradication, which stresses chemical, cultur-
al, and mechanical means in an integrated
weed management approach, he adds.
The $2.5 Billion Weed
T wo pigweeds — Palmer amaranth
and waterhemp — have prompted
this switch. Waterhemp alone has caused
farmers and industry to burn through $2.5
billion worth of chemistry since 1990,
says Kay.
Continual flushes throughout the grow-
ing season frustrate management of these
pigweeds, says Aaron Hager, University of
Illinois (U of I) Extension weed specialist.
“There’s no residual herbicide that will last
the entire growing season,” he says. “That’s
why all these other things, such as cultural
and mechanical means, come into play.”
Still, chin up. Throw Shade
H
“You can battle out-of-control popula- erbicides pack a
tions by targeting the most sensitive life cycle powerful weed-
stage — the seed,” says Hager. “Their seeds killing punch.
do not remain viable in the soil seed bank Still, none compare to a
indefinitely.” natural weed slayer that
A 1997 to 2000 trial conducted at the doesn’t come in a jug.
U of I by graduate students and USDA-ARS “One of my professors
scientists studied seed viability of a 1996 field at Purdue, Dr. Merrill Ross,
with dense waterhemp populations. would tell us that the best
“The waterhemp was so thick that you herbicide is shade,” says
literally could not see it was a corn crop,” Jim Schwartz, director of
November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 29
 HARD TIMES FOR
HERBICIDES,
PART 2
continued

Beck’s Practical Farm Research.
Two tools farmers can use to induce shade
are cover crops and narrow rows.
“Waterhemp needs sunlight to germinate,
so having large amounts of cereal rye biomass
helps prevent sunlight from reaching it,” says
Mandy Bish, a University of Missouri Extension
weed specialist.
Iowa State University (ISU) weed scientists
found that a cereal rye cover crop suppresses
waterhemp 40% to 45% when terminated at
anthesis (full flower) following “green planting”
soybeans into the standing cover crop. This
generated 3,500 to 4,500 pounds per acre of
cereal rye biomass.
“This is a level where you can get weed
control benefits,” says Prashant Jha, an ISU
Extension weed specialist. Besides waterhemp,
a cereal rye cover crop also suppresses winter
annuals, such as marestail, he adds.
Cover crops can also aid postemergence
herbicide performance.
“The weeds we targeted were smaller and had
less density when we applied Liberty (Group 10),
2,4-D choline (Group 4), and dicamba (Group 4),”
says Jha.
Using a cover crop to control weeds isn’t fool-
proof, though. It works best on cleaner fields.
“If you have a field with extreme waterhemp
densities, you will be disappointed,” says Bish.
Narrow Rows
P lanting in narrow rows further stifles weed
growth through early canopy formation.
Beck’s trials show waterhemp
density declined from 5.9
plants per square foot in
30-inch rows to 4.0 plants per
square foot for 15-inch rows,
says Schwartz.
Narrow rows also make soy-
bean farmers more money. A
multiple-location 10-year Beck’s
trial showed soybeans planted
at 100,000 plants per acre in
15-inch rows generated gross
returns of $694 per acre. This
eclipsed the $650 per acre for
soybeans planted at the same
population in 30-inch rows. •

Shocking spacing and tractor tire width

Death used by the operator. The
self-propelled Weed Zapper

K
evin Bradley
disappoints farmers
who ask what
herbicide they can apply to
waterhemp towering over
mid-summer soybeans.
“Nothing,” says Bradley, a
University of Missouri (MU)
Extension weed specialist. By
then, only roguing water-
hemp will nix its shedding
seed for future infestations.
Enter The Weed Zapper.
It’s akin to rope wick applica-
tor technology that kills weeds
by contact with a herbicide-
soaked canvas. Rather than
chemical, The Weed Zapper
kills weeds by generating a
capacity of 110,000 to 200,000
watts of electricity. Operators
must be careful, but company
officials add the units are
equipped with multiple safety
sensors that stop electrical
output when necessary.
The tractor-mounted
Weed Zapper Annihilator
units range in size with
10-foot- to 40-foot-wide
booms. It will fit any row
Terminator units with 40-
to 60-foot booms are run
on 14-inch tires and can be
hydraulically adjusted to the
desired row width.
The technology aims
at both conventional and
organic farmers, say Ben
Kroeger, a company spokes-
man. MU weed scientists are
testing it for zapping soybean
weed escapes.
MU tests show control
of 90% or more results for
broadleaves that include
waterhemp, giant ragweed,
common ragweed, and
marestail three days after
treatment and at year’s end.
It’s less effective on grass
species. “It may be due to
regrowth or that there is not
as much surface area to con-
tact,” says Haylee Schreier,
an MU weed science gradu-
ate student.
Because grasses contain
less water, additional contact
via slower speed is necessary
for control, say company
officials. “A double pass
application will increase
effectiveness on grasses like
johnsongrass, says Kroeger.
“Foxtail and other grasses are
usually killed in a single pass
with a follow-up pass in two
to three weeks.”
Weed Seed Viability
T he unit also sliced nearly
all seed viability of
common ragweed and giant
ragweed. Performance was
not as good on waterhemp,
but it still reduced 70% of
waterhemp seed viability,
says Bradley. It’s difficult to
curtail all seed shed from
pigweeds such as Palmer
amaranth and waterhemp
because some seeds can
be viable six days after
flowering, he adds.
Prices for the 2021
Annihilator series range
from $42,000 for the smallest
unit to $72,000 for the wid-
est one. Terminator series
prices range from $165,000
to $200,000. The firm has not
announced 2022 prices yet,
but material price spikes and
fluctuating equipment costs
will likely increase prices at
least 10%, says Kroeger.
Increased effectiveness for
conventional farmers would
occur with 60- to 90-foot or
wider units, Bradley believes.
“It’s not a home run, but
the good news for us is it
does a good job of killing
waterhemp,” says Bradley. •

30 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photo: Gil Gullickson

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 HARD TIMES FOR
HERBICIDES,
PART 2
continued

Harvest Weed researchers also found weed seeds escaped Operation

Seed Control
into the grain tank.
Still, the Seed Terminator destroyed on
Weed
Eradication
C
ombines harvest grain well. average 95% of waterhemp seeds that passed

B
Unfortunately, they also can be through it in MU tests. Waterhemp densities ASF’s Operation Weed
decent weed seeders, too. in evaluated fields also decreased in subse- Eradication program
Seeds of late-season emerging weeds such quent years. uses integrated steps to
as waterhemp and Palmer amaranth can “Our results indicate continued use of the nix weeds. These include:
exit the combine, germinate, and fuel future Seed Terminator will result in a decrease Cultural Practices
infestations. of waterhemp seed going back to the soil’s • Tillage and cultivation
Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) weed seed bank,” says Travis Winans, an • Crop rotation
systems aim to change this. HWSC in- MU weed science graduate student. • • Narrow rows and planting
cludes combine-mounted units that grind date
weed seeds exiting the combine. University • Cover crops and crop residue
researchers are testing units that include
the Harrington Seed Destructor, the Seed Chemical Control
Terminator, and the Redekop Seed Control • Multiple herbicide sites of
Unit. action
Not all seed shed at harvest exits the • Layered residual herbicides
combine. In tests of the Seed Terminator, • Label rates to target small
University of Missouri (MU) weed scientists weeds
found 27% of waterhemp seed escapes at Photo: Gil Gullickson
harvest due to combine head shattering. On-Farm Diligence
• Hand weeding
Of the remaining 73% of weed seeds,
• Attention to weeds in or near
one-third exited the straw chopper without
field edges, ponds, and ditches
passing through the Seed Terminator. MU
• Seed destruction
• Clean machinery and
equipment •
Flaming can control up
to 90% of targeted weeds,
Newland says. Compared with
cultivation, no soil or placed What’s
fertilizer is disturbed.
Systems range from using Coming
handheld torches for building-
Up?

Torching technology, more conventional
Weeds farmers are adopting it because
of herbicide-resistant weeds,
O
site spot treatments to tractor-
mounted 16-row units used on ne tool that
large row crop fields, he says. complements
Cost varies depending on herbicides has its
the unit. Propane costs typi- origins in a
cally follow gasoline and diesel central Kansas shop. This
fuel prices. The council has mechanical option, along
awarded incentives to farmers with other advances to apply
wanting to transition to pro- herbicides more efficiently,

P
ropane isn’t just for
heating your home or
shop. It’s also a way to
deter herbicide-resistant weed
seeds from making it to the soil
seed bank.
Although organic farm-
ers have traditionally used
propane-fueled flaming
says Mike Newland, Propane
Education & Research Council
director of agriculture business
development. Hoods on a
tractor-mounted frame shield
row crops, such as corn and
soybeans, from a unit’s burn-
ers. These units kill weeds by
flames that rupture cell walls.
pane for uses like flaming. will be featured in the
“The technology is much December issue of Successful
more scientific than what it Farming magazine.
was 30 years ago,” Newland
says. “There have been
advances in hood designs and
flaming angles that didn’t exist
back then.” •

Photography: bottom, Propane Education

32 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
and Research Council; top, University of Missouri.
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 CARBON
Cover Crop Crusader
JIM STUTE’S GOAL OF IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH AND WATER QUALITY FITS THE EMERGING CARBON ECONOMY.
FARMING

grant did just that.

Working in partnership
with five Wisconsin grain
farmers, Stute collect-
ed data from on-farm,
side-by-side test strips
to determine the impact
of cover crops on crop
Jim Stute
yields and bottom lines.
Jim Stute is Stute used partial budget
currently comparing analysis, factoring in
conventionally all additional costs and
planted soybeans
with those planted returns, to determine the
green into cereal effect of cover crops on
rye to evaluate farm profitability.
suppression of weeds He found that cover
that tolerate or resist
glyphosate. crop use increased average
corn yield by 2.1% and
average soybean yield by
2.3%.
At the input costs and
low commodity prices
at the time of the study,
which ran from to 2016
to 2019, break-even yield

J
increases were 5.5% for
By Raylene Nickel Soil Health Hesitation both crops.

S
tute’s rationale is that improving
im Stute has experimented the health of the soil on that rented
with no-till and cover crops land will go a long way toward
for nearly 30 years. His improving soil and water in the bigger
own 160-acre farm near picture of resource conservation. That’s
East Troy, Wisconsin, has because, out of all the land farmed in
harbored his research, as Wisconsin, 50% of the acres are rented
The economic data shows only a
partial view of the potential benefits
farmers stand to gain by growing cover
crops. Crop resilience in drought years
is an added bonus.
Drought Impact

have tests plots in farmers’
fields and at the nearby
Michael Fields Agricultural
Institute, where Stute served as
research director before becoming an
independent researcher.
The knowledge he’s gained over the
years about the beneficial role of cover
crops in no-till systems has made him
something of a cover crop crusader.
“My overarching goal is to improve
soil health and water quality,” he says.
“To do that, I’m trying to increase cov-
er crop adoption among farmers and
specifically on rented ground.”
Besides boosting soil health, in-
creased cover crop adoption can also
help farmers fit into the emerging
carbon economy.
I
from landowners, Stute explains. He
believes farmers hesitate to commit
to building soil health on these rented
acres.
“Why would farmers invest in long-
term soil health on ground they could
lose in three years, if the landowner de-
cides to rent to someone else?” he asks.
The answer to that question lies in
economics. Demonstrate the cost-effec-
tiveness of soil health practices, he be-
lieves, and farmers will embrace them.
To that end, Stute has worked to show
the economic benefits of implementing
no-till in combination with growing
cover crops.
An on-farm analysis with the sup-
port of a North Central Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education
n the drought year of 2012, Stute
looked at the effect of a previous
cover crop on corn yield. He analyzed
the effects on corn of a red clover cover
crop in a field of winter wheat on his
farm. He frost-seeded the clover in the
wheat in March 2011 and terminated it
in November.
The following spring Stute no-tilled
corn into the mat of unharvested wheat
straw and clover residue. “With row
cleaners, the planter leaves 70% to 80%
of the residue undisturbed, to conserve
soil moisture later in the season,” he
says.
July rainfall at this location was 4.76
inches. “The residue increased infiltra-
tion and reduced evaporation, which
helped lessen the yield impact of the

34 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Provided by Jim Stute, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
Continue to next page
drought,” he says.
The corn grown in the previous
year’s clover cover crop yielded 135
bushels per acre (bpa), which was 79%
of the farm’s three-year mean yield of
170 bpa.
By comparison, the county-wide av-
erage corn yield for that drought year
was 102 bpa, or 62% of the three-year
county average corn yield of 164 bpa.
Reducing the loss of soil and its at-
tendant nutrients is yet another benefit
farmers realize from adopting no-till
and the planting of cover crops. The
economic losses from soil erosion may
be hard to quantify, but losses in crop
productivity and an increasing need
for purchased fertilizers come hand in
hand with erosion.
“Long-term soil degradation is real,
and it should be a concern for farmers,”
says Stute.
Data he has compiled for groups
working to clean up watersheds,
including the Watershed Protection
Committee of Racine County of
which he’s a member, shows how the
adoption of conservation practices
can dramatically reduce the amount
of sediment and nutrients potentially
leaving farmers’ fields and draining
into watersheds.
Estimates from SnapPlus, the
University of Wisconsin’s nutrient
management planning software, indi-
cate that sediment loss from conven-
tionally managed cropland in southeast
Wisconsin frequently exceeds “tolera-
ble” levels.
Yet when farmers adopt the use of
several conservation practices used in
combination with each other, they can
significantly reduce the soil loss. “On
ground where farmers have adopted
no-till, planted buffer strips, grown
cover crops, and planted cash crops into
green covers, sediment loss from both
corn and soybean fields is cut by nearly
75%, with accompanying reductions in
phosphorus loss, depending on soil test
levels,” he says.
Paradigm Shifts
S
tute’s decades of experience on his
farm have brought paradigm shifts
over time. He started farming in
1994, adopting cover crops from the
get-go. He grew corn, soybeans, and
winter wheat, planting a cover crop
38
behind the wheat. But he held to the
practice of tilling some of his fields,
no-tilling soybeans and wheat, but
using conventional tillage in corn.
“My primary motive then in growing
a cover crop was to have green manure
to work into the soil,” he says. “It was
my understanding then that tillage was
necessary in order to get the benefits of
the nitrogen supplied by the cover crop.
But I later learned that wasn’t the case.
We don’t need tillage in order to get the
N credit from cover crops.”
Eventually he stopped growing
winter wheat because he found it hard
to get the soybeans custom harvested in
a time frame permitting timely wheat
planting. He then planted a cover crop
after soybeans — a necessary practice,
he reasoned, considering soybeans’
reduced surface residue after harvest.
“But I was dubious about planting
rye after corn,” he says, “because corn
itself leaves a lot of surface residue after
harvest. But my work with farmers
changed my mind. Rye’s best effect is
in the spring. It gives a tremendous
opportunity to produce biomass that
benefits the soil. It also helps to sup-
Stute’s research
also includes a
corn nitrogen and
cover crop response
trial for which he
takes in-season soil
samples.
press weeds and scavenges residual N
that the corn crop didn’t take up. It’s
important to keep N in the soil system
in order to prevent off-farm movement
of the nutrient. Planting a cash crop
into a green cover, thus delaying ter-
mination, helps extend the time frame
that we have to realize benefits from
the cover crop.”
Carbon Market Fit
A
s carbon markets and ecosystem
markets advance, offering eco-
nomic incentives for farmers to
adopt practices that conserve soil and
sequester carbon, Stute envisions the
evolution of farming systems embrac-
ing multiple conservation practices.
“It’s a many-little-hammers ap-
proach where practices will work
together in a cropping system to
improve soil health, improve water
quality, and reduce input costs for
farmers,” he says.
Learn More
Jim Stute
608/449-6863
jkstute@gmail.com
Photography: Gil Gullickson
 Focus on Whole-
CARBON
Farm Soil Health
FARMING THIS FARM’S USE OF NO-TILL AND COVER CROPS SPANS DECADES.

Patrick run a cow herd

of 80 to 100 head. They
feed the calves to finish
weights in an on-farm
feedlot using primarily
farm-raised feeds. They
direct market the finished
cattle through a local
meat market they own in
partnership with another
family.
The Shuters apply the
cattle and hog manure to
fields.
Cover crops jump-
started the soil
health on the farm Cover Crop
operated by (from Expansion

T
left) Brian, Mike, and he family’s use of cover
Patrick Shuter. crops has expanded
over the years to en-

W
By Raylene Nickel
hile carbon markets,
private groups, and
government agen-
cies race to incen-
tivize farmers’ and
ranchers’ adoption
of soil health prac-
tices, Mike Shuter,
a corn and soybean
grower from Frankton, Indiana,
quietly goes about his day – business
as usual. Focusing on soil health is
nothing new to Shuter. He switched to
no-till 38 years ago, when the untested
practice drew criticism from neighbors.
He began strip-tilling in front of corn
15 years ago and adopted cover crops
10 years back.
Today, his 3,000-acre Shuter Sunset
Farms, which he operates in partner-
ship with sons Brian and Patrick and
their families, is a study in the benefits
gained from a long-term commitment
to soil health.
While Shuter practiced no-till for
years before beginning to grow cover
crops, it was the addition of the cover
crops that really jump-started the soil
health benefits.
“We’ve seen a dramatic improve-
ment in water infiltration,” he says.
“Because of that, we’ve been able to
affect drainage in fields that may have
needed ditching. When cover crops get
rooted down deeply enough, they help
areas of fields dry better in the spring
or after heavy rainfalls. We’ve also seen
an improvement in the tilth of the soil.”
Hand in hand with better water
infiltration has come reduced or
eliminated water runoff, eliminating or
reducing nutrient runoff.
Soil organic matter has increased
over time from 2.5% to 3% and 4%,
and fertilizer inputs have decreased by
a third to a half.
About 80% of the Shuters’ operation
comprises nearly two-thirds corn, a
third soybeans, and some winter wheat.
On the remaining 20% of the farm they
grow organic corn, soybeans, and some
specialty crops.
The Shuters also contract-finish up
to 9,000 hogs a year, and Brian and
compass the entire farm.
“Every acre we planted this spring had
cover crops seeded on it last fall,” says
Shuter.
For instance, when they plant cover
crops into soybeans for the subsequent
corn crop, they use a high-wheeled
broadcaster to seed a mix of annual
ryegrass and rape into the beans after
the leaves turn yellow and just before
they start to drop. The fallen leaves
then trap moisture at the soil surface
and thus help to promote germination
of the cover crop seed. They harvest the
soybeans in September.
While corn follows soybeans on most
soybean acres, the Shuters do plant
winter wheat on some harvested soy-
bean fields. After combining the winter
wheat the next summer, they no-till
drill into the wheat stubble a cover crop
cocktail mix of eight to 15 species.
When planting a cover crop into a
field of corn that is going to go back to
corn, they seed a mix of annual ryegrass
and rape. When a cornfield is going
back to soybeans, they plant cereal rye
as a cover crop.
They use the high-wheeled seeder

Photography: Provided by Shuter family November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 39

 No Carbon Rewards?
to broadcast the cover seed into the Purpose on Earth M ike Shuter’s on-farm experience, public
speaking, and organizational involvement

S
corn. “We seed the cover crop when huter’s decades-long focus on give him a broad-based view of the flurry of
the corn is still a little green,” says building soil health and the activity and interest surrounding carbon mar-
kets and their incentivization of the soil health
Shuter. “After we harvest the corn in success of his regenerative
practices that sequester carbon in the soil.
September and October, the cover crop system have led him to public
This is what he’s done for decades.
is able to get started before we get a lot speaking engagements in places It frustrates him that the current marketplace
of freezing temperatures.” near and far from home, includ- seemingly offers no rewards for farmers such as
In spring, they terminate cover ing Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and him who have likely been sequestering carbon
crops by either spraying or by using a Quebec. for years, through a matrix of whole-farm soil
roller-crimper. His 48 seasons of farming health practices new to many farmers but old
“We typically plant soybeans into also include leadership roles hat to Shuter.
green cereal rye that’s in the boot in the Indiana Corn Growers “It appears we have to do something new — or
stage,” says Shuter. “After planting the Association, the Indiana Corn different — in order to be paid for sequestering
beans, we’ll terminate the rye with a Marketing Council, and the carbon,” he says.
roller-crimper, and the beans just take Indiana Farm Bureau. He’s also That said, he encourages farmers considering
off.” been named to the National carbon market contracts to read the contracts
They also use the crimper to termi- Association of Conservation carefully for conditions that may be overly rigid.
“I looked at one carbon contract that seemed
nate the cocktail cover planted after Districts’ Soil Health Champions
to nullify its terms if the farmer so much as tilled
winter wheat. They find the crimper Network.
to help the laying of a pipeline,” he says. “As
particularly effective at terminating In the meantime, Shuter and much as I hate to admit it, there may be some
species that survive the winter, such as his sons will keep on doing what federal oversight needed to coordinate and
vetch, peas, or clover. they’re doing — building and regulate the emerging carbon marketplace.” •
Crimping has reduced chemical promoting soil health.
inputs. “Crimping eliminates the need “In 2014 I had quadruple Learn More
for a burndown chemical at planting bypass heart surgery,” he says. “I Mike Shuter
time,” says Shuter. “In the case of believe God left me here on 765/208-2422
soybeans then, we only spray once, Earth to do something positive mike@shutersunsetfarms.com
later in the growing season. That cuts — like the work we’re doing shutersunsetfarms.com
our chemical use on soybeans by half, with soil health.”
saving us $20 to $25 an acre.”
Fertilizer inputs have been reduced
as well by the Shuters’ whole-farm soil The Shuters use
health practices. “We’ve been able to their strip-till unit to
cut back on our fertilizer expenses by a apply fertilizer in this
field that includes a
third to a half, depending on the field,” cocktail cover crop
says Shuter. “If it’s a field on rented mixture.
ground that’s been under tillage recent-
ly, we can’t cut back as quickly as we
can in fields that have a longer history
of no-till and cover crops.”
Of course, cover crops account for
building fertility in the soil, as do nutri-
ents available in the increasing levels of
soil organic matter. Livestock manure
adds fertility as well.
Buckwheat is particularly helpful in
reducing their need to apply phospho-
rous. The Shuters sometimes include
buckwheat in a cover crop mix or
sometimes plant it as a field crop when
weather or late-season planting condi-
tions favor it.
“Buckwheat helps to loosen the soil,
and it helps to release phosphorus that’s
been stored in the soil, making it more
available to the plants,” says Shuter.
“Growing buckwheat periodically has
helped us cut back on the amount of
phosphorous we apply.”

40 Photography: Provided by Shuter family

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herbicide, features three effective modes of action for long-lasting residual

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 Perennials Help
Cropping Systems
CARBON INCLUDING GRASSES AND LEGUMES IN A CROP ROTATION BUILDS SOIL
FARMING AND CUTS NITROGEN INPUTS FOR POTENTIAL CARBON MARKETS.
USDA-ARS researchers started
harvesting alfalfa at the tenth-
bloom stage. They were able to
harvest two crops annually.
I
By Raylene Nickel
t’s no surprise that including
perennials in an annual cropping
system helps soil health. However,
North Dakota research also reveals
that perennial mixes including
alfalfa may eliminate the need for
nitrogen fertilizer in subsequent
wheat crops for at least four years.
“Including perennials in a
cropping system is a management
practice that can potentially save
producers money on inputs, while also
improving the soil,” says Mark Liebig,
research soil scientist at the USDA-
ARS Northern Great Plains Research
Laboratory (NGPRL) at Mandan,
North Dakota.
In a five-year study, Liebig and other
researchers compared the effects of
various perennial species and mixes on
soil and on the performance of spring
wheat crops following the perennials.
42 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
A plot of fertilized continuous spring
wheat served as the control.
“Relative to continuous spring
wheat, perennial forages reduced soil
acidification and soil bulk density,” says
Liebig. “The perennials also increased
aggregate stability and a labile pool of
soil organic matter.”
The cost savings resulting from the
perennials’ displacement of nitrogen
fertilizer in subsequent wheat crops
began as early as two years after the
start of the perennial phase.
“Unfertilized spring wheat following
two years of alfalfa or three years of
alfalfa-perennial grass produced wheat
yields similar to spring wheat fertil-
ized with 60 pounds of N per acre per
year,” says John Hendrickson, NGPRL
research rangeland management
specialist. “Four years of alfalfa or five
years of alfalfa-perennial grass resulted
in subsequent spring wheat yields
comparable to yields of fertilized spring
wheat for the next four
cropping seasons.”
Researchers studied
five perennial treat-
ments: alfalfa only,
alfalfa and intermediate
wheatgrass, alfalfa and
switchgrass, intermedi-
ate wheatgrass only, and
switchgrass only.
After the establish-
ment year, one-quarter
of each experimental
plot of perennials was
converted to unfertil-
ized continuous spring
wheat. The yields of the
unfertilized wheat were
compared with yields in
the control plot of fertil-
ized wheat.
While yields of the
unfertilized wheat fol-
lowing perennials were
measured as running neck and neck
with yields of fertilized wheat, crude
protein in the wheat following some
perennials was higher than the protein
in fertilized wheat. “We found the
crude protein to be highest in wheat
following alfalfa and alfalfa-grass mix-
es,” says Hendrickson.
For the study evaluating wheat
yield following perennials, researchers
established the legumes and grasses by
no-till. “At seeding we fertilized the
grass-only plantings with 40 pounds
per acre of nitrogen,” he says, “but we
didn’t fertilize the alfalfa and alfalfa-
grass mixes.”
Weed pressure during the establish-
ment year “wasn’t bad,” he says.
The following year they harvested
the perennials for hay. “We started
harvesting the alfalfa at the tenth-
bloom stage, and we were able to
harvest it a couple of times a year,” says
Hendrickson. “We cut the intermedi-
Photography: USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory
ate wheatgrass at the end of June and
the switchgrass in August.
“Initially, straight intermediate
wheatgrass had the highest yield
at around 2 tons per acre,” he says.
“However, it tended to decrease over
time while the forage yield of straight
switchgrass increased to about 3 tons
per acre. Adding alfalfa to the interme-
diate wheatgrass tended to maintain
productivity over time at about 2 tons
per acre. A mix of switchgrass and
alfalfa yielded the least, about half
of the yield of straight intermediate
density and increased labile organic
matter compared with alfalfa,” says
Liebig, “but such differences took four
to five years to be detected.
“Relative to spring wheat, the peren-
nials increased soil aggregate stability,”
he says. “That’s important because
stable aggregates can retain the shape
and size suitable for water intake; they
provide ample pore space for water to
infiltrate the soil.”
Perennials Fit
Carbon Markets
ers. Including the perennials in a crop
rotation lets us reduce those associated
emissions. The inclusion of perennials
in the rotation may also be lowering
emissions of nitrous oxide, a powerful
greenhouse gas.”
Emissions reduction aside, the re-
search suggests perennials have a place
in a cropping system simply for the
practicality of their benefits.
“Adding perennials to the rotation
can save producers money on inputs
while improving soil at the same time,”
says Liebig. “There’s also some aligned

I
wheatgrass.” ncluding perennials in the crop rota-
tion gives producers another option
Previous Crop to consider when positioning their
Yield Impact farming systems to fit the emerging
research we’ve published that suggests
perennial forages are stable over time,
handling both wet and dry conditions.
They just keep plugging along,

I
n a separate study, the researchers carbon economy. providing production stability despite
found that the previous crop affected “Perennials provide producers with wide swings in weather.”
the yield of the subsequent perennial benefits to their cropping systems while
crop. also offering options for the carbon Learn More
“We found that a mix of alfalfa and marketplace,” says Hendrickson. John Hendrickson
intermediate wheatgrass, a cool-season “Including the perennials helps them 701/667-3015
perennial, yielded a higher biomass reduce N inputs, and that can reduce john.hendrickson@usda.gov
when seeded into canola stubble rather greenhouse gases.”
than wheat stubble,” says Hendrickson. Liebig adds: “We know that there Mark Liebig
“Yields of switchgrass, a warm-season are greenhouse gas emissions associated 701/667-3079
perennial, were highest in soybean with producing and applying fertiliz- mark.liebig@usda.gov
stubble and lowest in corn stubble.
Yields of switchgrass planted in
soybean stubble were also higher than
yields of switchgrass planted in canola
stubble.
“The takeaway is,” he says, “plant
cool-season perennials in a canola
stubble rather than corn or wheat.
And warm-season perennials do better
planted in soybean stubble rather than
after canola.”
Besides intermediate wheatgrass and
switchgrass, multiple perennial grass
species can be included in the peren-
nial phase of a rotation. “Intermediate
wheatgrass often fits well,” says
Hendrickson, “because it is short
lived, and its productivity is declining
when the transition to annuals may be
occurring.”
To convert the fields back to annual
crops, the researchers terminated the
forages with herbicide and no-tilled the
new crop into the residue.
While all perennials improved soil
health, intermediate wheatgrass and
alfalfa combined were particularly
Perennials such as alfalfa
effective when compared with alfalfa may nix the need for nitrogen
alone. “Intermediate wheatgrass alone fertilizer in several subsequent
or mixed with alfalfa reduced soil bulk wheat crops.
 CROPS
DICAMBA’S
DILEMMA
Great weed control results, but
volatility still plagues
this controversial herbicide.
By Gil Gullickson
Executive Editor, Crops Technology
Gil.Gullickson@meredith.com | @GilGullickson
A
dam Martens of Inman, Kansas, has
a predicament.
He’s happy with the soybean
weed control he gleans by applying
a preemergence residual herbicide
mix followed by a postemergence combina-
tion of glufosinate (Group 10), glyphosate
(Group 9), and 2,4-D choline (Group 4) on
Enlist E3 soybeans.
He’s unhappy, though, with an uninvited
herbicide that he says damages his soybeans.
“We just can’t keep the [off-target] dicam-
ba off our beans,” he says.
Off-target movement, particularly in later
soybean reproductive phases, can clip yields.
University of Missouri (MU) research shows
1/200 of a labeled rate for dicamba caused
14% yield loss after an R2 (full flower) appli-
cation, says Kevin Bradley, MU Extension
weed specialist.
Harry Stine empathizes with Martens.
“In the fall of 2017, we’d already had a
lot of damage [from off-target dicamba] in
our research plots,” says the founder of Stine
Seed Co. The firm’s genetics make up a sub-
stantial portion of U.S. soybean varieties.
Dicamba injury from off-target move-
ment has increasingly occurred since then in
Stine soybean plots, he says.
44 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
“These are new varieties that will come
out over the next few years,” he says. “That’s
tremendous damage to the industry.”
Volatility
D icamba has had a split personality since the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
registered the Group 4 herbicides Xtendi-
Max (Bayer) and Engenia (BASF) for use
on dicamba-tolerant soybeans in 2017. The
EPA later approved Syngenta’s Tavium that
teams dicamba with S-metolachlor (Group
15) in 2019. The current 2021 to 2025 federal
label places a June 30 application cutoff
date for all three. However, Tavium has an
earlier application window, as it cannot be
applied after the early vegetative V4 stage.
“Dicamba is a great tool for managing
troublesome herbicide-resistant weeds such
as waterhemp and Palmer amaranth,” says
Prashant Jha, an Iowa State University (ISU)
Extension weed specialist. That’s conditional
upon using it in combination with other
tools, such as residual preemergence herbi-
cides, he adds.
Volatility, though, is dicamba’s weakness,
as even these formulations pegged as lower
in volatility can volatize into a gas and move
to nontarget vegetation, says Aaron Hag-
er, University of Illinois Extension weed
specialist.
“Volatility doesn’t follow the label re-
strictions,” he says “Volatility is driven by
the herbicide molecule itself. You just never
know at the beginning of the year what the
scope and magnitude of it will be.”
Off-target damage is higher in areas of
extensive dicamba use, such as the Bootheel
in southeastern Missouri, says Bradley.
“This is the highest area for rate of adop-
tion anywhere in the U.S. If U.S. agriculture
moves the needle toward going all the way
[with dicamba use], I believe we have an
example in southeastern Missouri, north-
eastern Arkansas, and western Tennessee
as to what it will look like,” says Bradley,
referencing other areas with high dicamba
injury.
Statewide, Missouri complaints to the
Missouri Department of Agriculture have
declined from 120 in 2020 to 53 in 2021.
In other states, off-target dicamba com-
plaints stayed steady to even slightly down.
The Minnesota Department
of Agriculture investigated
127 dicamba damage com-
plaints in 2021, up slightly
from 2020’s 116 cases.
Still, off-target dicamba
injury and symptomatology
is likely higher, say universi-
ty specialists.
“Cupping of several trifo-
liates was common on about
40% of the soybean acres in
mid-July, creating lots of
discussion and concern,” says
Joel DeJong, an ISU field
agronomist based in north-
western Iowa. Symptom-
atology occurred in organic,
conventional, and non-toler-
ant dicamba soybean fields,
he adds.
Nor do official complaints
always turn into action.
Bradley believes the amount
of Missouri dicamba injury
is higher than that reflected
in official complaints.
“Farmers don’t like to
turn in other farmers,” he
says. Meanwhile, no signifi-
cant changes have occurred
due to turning complaints
into the Missouri Depart-
ment of Agriculture in the
past.
 That’s been Martens’ ex-
perience in Kansas. “There
are no repercussions for not
following the rules,” he says.
Still, declining numbers
in some states coincide with
the trend BASF sees with
Engenia, says Nick Fassler,
BASF technical marketing
manager.
“We consistently year in
and year out get less and less
complaints,” he says.
Off-target issues exist, says
Bill Gordon, a Worthing-
ton, Minnesota, farmer and
chairman of the American
Soybean Association. For
Photography: Gil Gullickson
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 CROPS Weather Influences
Symptoms
continued

W eather helped
determine whether
herbicide injury symp-
tomatology occurred in
test plots have also suffered off-target dicam- 2021, says Scott Kay, BASF
ba damage, he says. vice president of U.S. crop
The specter of any negative impact on protection. Excellent weed
control and minimal if
future soybean varieties from off-target
any dicamba damage
dicamba concerns Stine. “If you get equal occurred in areas with
dicamba damage across plots, in theory, adequate rainfall. It was a
we’re probably still able to separate the good different story in drought-
and bad lines,” he says. stressed areas.
Concerns are higher with greater blocks “There was the
of land and thousands of soybean lines, most dramatic show of
where damage could be unequal and mask symptomatology from
everything [all herbicides
varietal differences.
applied] this year in those
“Bayer and Monsanto have done a lot of highly stressed areas,”
good for agriculture and a lot of good for says Kay.
us,” Stine says. “We signed a major collab- Rainfall doesn’t
orative agreement with Monsanto in 1997, necessarily make the
and we’ve been producing products with our symptoms of dicamba
germplasm for their system ever since.” injury, such as cupped
However, he says a number of other leaves, vanish. However,
it does allow plants to
high-yielding herbicide-tolerant options,
continue to grow, says
such as Enlist E3 (tolerance to glufosinate, Aaron Hager, University of
Off-target dicamba has damaged numerous Stine glyphosate, and 2,4-D choline) and Lib- Illinois Extension weeds
Seed test plots, says Harry Stine. ertyLink GT27 (tolerance to glyphosate, glu- specialist.
fosinate, and Alite 27, a Group 27 herbicide) “A lot of times, you won’t
the most part, though, dicamba-tolerant and other herbicide-tolerant stacks control see symptomatology on
technology is working as advertised on his weeds well without the baggage of dicamba. the next set of leaves,” he
farm, he says. “There’s absolutely no need for dicamba,” says. •
“This year, I planted the [seed] technol- he says. “We don’t like to derive revenue
ogy, but the timing was not right to meet from something that’s harmful to agriculture reports and is taking steps to
the label [cutoff date],” he says. “I used a and society.” better understand the nature
different [herbicide] technology. I have used Herrmann counters that EPA’s five-year and severity of these inci-
it [dicamba] in the past and had no issues.” reregistration granted in October 2020 dents in order to assess the
“There is that perception out there that assured that dicamba-tolerant crops and ac- sufficiency of the mitigations
dicamba is all over the place,” says Jeff companying dicamba herbicides are durable in the 2020 [reregistration]
Herrmann, Bayer crop protection engage- and sustainable. decision and, as necessary,
ment manager. Still, most 2021 off-target “Cases that we have investigated are take appropriate regulatory
dicamba complaints Bayer investigated things we can fix, such as spraying when action.”
involved incidents where dicamba moved there is a susceptible crop downwind like The EPA has asked mak-
downwind through physical drift, he says. Enlist [E3] soybeans,” he says. ers of dicamba formulations
BASF stresses continued education, such applied to dicamba-tolerant
What Now? as proper tank mixing and tank hygiene, soybeans to submit unrea-

A ctors in romantic comedies often lament

this line: “Women (or Men). Can’t live
with them, can’t live without them.” That’s
akin to the current dicamba situation.
“We believe that our customers will
need all available technologies available to
combat herbicide-resistant weeds,” says Carl
Peterson, president of Peterson Farms Seed,
Harwood, North Dakota. “Resistance is go-
ing to get worse. Having said that, off-target
dicamba movement is the real thing.” Like
Stine Seed, Peterson Farms Seed soybean
U ltimately, dicamba’s fate lies with the EPA,
and other label guidelines are crucial in
ensuring that optimal on-target applications
occur, says Fassler.
“It is absolutely critical to follow the label
for Tavium and any product,” adds Pete
Eure, Syngenta technical product lead for
herbicides.
What EPA Says
which issued this statement at press time:
“EPA is extremely concerned about these
sonable adverse impacts of
the pesticide to EPA, accord-
ing to an EPA spokesperson.
EPA also held dicamba lis-
tening sessions with several
parties this fall.
“It’s not like we hate
Bayer,” says Martens, “but
either figure out how to get
it not to float around, which
everyone knows it does, or
get rid of it.”

46 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Gil Gullickson

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 CONSERVATION

Gary and Amy Cammack, at left,

have been improving their South
Dakota ranch for their family.

BUILDING A BETTER RANCH

How the Cammack family added plant and wildlife diversity to their operation.

W
By Mitch Kezar
hen Gary and Amy Cammack
looked out over the open prairie
near Union Center, South Dakota,
several decades ago, they thought
how nice it would be to have a big
woods to create a break in the open and end-
less prairie landscape. That forest seemed a
bit of a stretch, but they started planting. It’s
30 years later, and they have planted more
than 30,000 trees.  where we are right now,” Gary says. “Their
“Years from now, the only evidence of
Amy and I having ever been here will be
our kids, these trees, and the wildlife,” says
Gary, as he ponders the landscape. Wildlife
on the ranch include deer, bobcats, coyotes,
foxes, skunks, raccoons, mule deer, whitetail,
antelope, and hundreds of species of birds.   It was a family affair. “Amy did a lion’s
Gary and Amy both grew up on ranches,
got married right out of high school, and
worked at various businesses. When the
Union Center ranch came up for sale in
1984, they purchased it.
Plant diversity on the rangeland was
almost nonexistent. The sandy soil meant
erosion. “The thing I remember the most
was the needlegrass, or needle and thread,”
says Gary. The viability as a ranch was going
to be tough. Things had to change. The
NRCS in Sturgis, South Dakota, helped
them put together a plan for a water system,
cross fencing, and planting trees.
“Without advice and help from the
NRCS, we’d only be a fourth of the way of
expertise and cost-sharing programs made
all the difference in the world.”
They focused on attracting wildlife and
getting diversity back into the ranch, along
with improving the carrying capacity for
cattle.  thing. I’m so thankful for
share of the work when it came to feeding
the livestock,” says Gary. By then they had
four sons preparing the seedbeds, planting
trees, and helping with cross fencing.
“The place we now call the forest I
planted when I was in eighth grade,” says
son Reed. “Now I get to walk through these
30-foot towering pine trees.
It’s been fun to see the transi-
tion, the benefit for the wild-
life, and something green in
the dead of winter when its
white and the wind’s blow-
ing across the prairie.”
Walking out to open a
wire gate, Reed says his
father taught him about
bird migration habits, plant
species, and which plants
were invasive. “That was
before it became fashionable
to understand that sort of
my parents and my grand-
parents, who have always
been there to give us that
knowledge and ability to
observe.” 
Cammack Ranch
was named the Leopold
Conservation Award

Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Joe Dickie/Kezar Media
Continue to next page
 CONSERVATION
continued
Winner for South Dakota in 2017. Cody
Grewing, formerly a private lands habitat
specialist with South Dakota Game, Fish
and Parks, says the way Gary and Reed
observe and evaluate their range means they
have the long-term interest in their pastures
at the forefront.
“A lot of times we tend to focus on big
game species: Mule deer, elk, turkeys, and
whitetails,” says Grewing. “The suite of
habitats this ranch provides for migratory
songbirds and insects and butterflies is just
tremendous. It’s not every day you get to
see marbled godwits flying around you,
or upland sandpipers, bobolink, or prairie
larkspurs. Cammack Ranch is an oasis for
grassland songbirds.”
The ranch was taken over by cactus and
prairie dogs before the improvements, says
Matt Stoltenberg of the Belle Fourche River
Watershed Partnership. A new grazing sys-
tem, with 13 pastures, doubled the carrying
capacity of the property. “Not only do I see
the water-quality improvement, there are
Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
some riparian area improvements in there,
too,” says Stoltenberg. “The wildlife on this
ranch is just incredible.”
The Belle Fourche River Watershed
Partnership helped with livestock water de-
velopment, cross fencing, rangeland inven-
tories, and grazing plans. A goal is to reduce
sediments that wind up in the Belle Fourche
River. The projects improve prairie riparian
systems that serve as a filter before the water
enters the river, says Stoltenberg.
Water development, specifically through
the use of shallow wells, pumping systems,
pipelines, and water tanks, is an integral part
of the ranch. There are 80 watering facilities
on rangeland for livestock grazing.  Leaning into his wife of 46
In a vast pasture, two of Reed’s young
sons have their little hands busily digging
in the soil just to see what is in there. Tanse
Hermann, a district conservationist
for NRCS in Sturgis, is showing them
emerging plants, beetles, and bugs. The
Cammacks host third graders from Rapid
City at the ranch every year.
Besides cattle, the ranch is home
to a wide diversity of plant life,
as well as wildlife, including deer,
elk, and fox. All are welcome. The
family is especially proud of the
habitat provided for migratory
songbirds and butterflies.
Gary serves in the South
Dakota Senate and chairs
the agricultural committee.
Having a good under-
standing of agriculture and
conservation benefits the
citizens of South Dakota,
he says.
years, Gary gets a bit choked
up. “If I was to sum up the
philosophy of what this
ranch means to me and my
family it would be this: Life’s
been good and the best is yet
to come! We have a good,
sound conservation ethic.”
Photography: Mitch Kezar/Kezar Media
 COOL
TOOLS

METALWORKING TOOLS
By Dave Mowitz, Executive Editor, Machinery

S ometimes called the welding

finger, the Strong Hand
Grasshopper
Welding
Magnetic Grasshopper stabilizes
small parts, holding steel stock
steady in a vertical position for
V ictor’s Edge medium-ca-
pacity single-stage cylinder
regulators now come with a life-
Clamps tack welding. The spring-loaded time warranty. Features include Regulator
fully adjustable clamp arm a large-diameter delivery gauge Gauge
provides self-adjusting holding and color-coded gauge face,
pressure of either 18 which can be read at a distance.
or 35 pounds, depend- A sloping gauge guard provides
ing on the model. more clearance for wrenches be-
The tool’s adjustable, tween the cylinder nut valve and
magnetic V-pad base regulator body. Gauges are available for all common
securely holds onto gases including acetylene, LP, oxygen, air, hydrogen,
round, square, flat, or carbon dioxide, and inert gases. Online prices range
angled surfaces at any from $199 to $282. Go to esabna.com.
point. No clamp edge
is required. Retail
prices range from $15
to $28. Go to
stronghandtools.com.
Professional
Grade Vises

E xclusive use of needle roller thrust bearings in Wilton’s

Mechanics Pro vises provides maximum clamping
force with less operator effort. An operator’s engage-
ment is minimized when clamping force is released.
These vises are virtually indestructible due to a
60,000-psi ductile iron movable jaw and base.
Other features of the vise line include enclosed
spindles, precision-machined slide bars, and 360º
swivel bases. The line is available in five jaw sizes ranging
from 4½ to 10 inches. Retail prices range from $239.99 to
$828.99. The Wilton vises are backed by a lifetime
warranty. Go to wiltontools.com.

E SAB’s Rebel EMP 205ic is a true

all-process, portable, inverter-based
welding system. This innovation enables you
True
All-Purpose to TIG weld with AC and DC outputs, MIG
Welder weld with solid wires (steel, stainless, or
aluminum), flux-core weld with gas-shielded
and self-shielded wires, and stick weld with
one welder. Features include 120- to 230-volt
primary power flexibility, portability (the unit
weighs 49 pounds), sMIG (smart MIG) technol-
ogy, dual gas solenoid valves for connecting two different
gases simultaneously, and a rugged steel housing. The unit
has a maximum output of 235 amps and 26 volts for MIG
or flux-core welding. Go to esab.com.

Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Manufacturers

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 AGELESS IRON
PORSCHE: THE PEOPLE’S TRACTOR
The sports car innovator actually started out building tractors.
By Dave Mowitz, Executive Editor
Machinery & Technology | dave.mowitz@meredith.com
F
erdinand Porsche may be better known
in auto circles for the sleek sports cars
that still bear his name. But before
the Porsche car mystique evolved, its
namesake was deep into tractors.
The People’s Tractor
P orsche was prototyping a tractor in 1934.
The effort was accelerated in 1937 when
the German government asked him to create
vehicles “for the people (Volks) of his land.”
Porsche responded with acclaim. His orig-
inal automotive design was nothing like the
Porsche sports cars of today. Yet, its design
roots can be seen in the far more affordable
Volkswagen Beetle.
The workhorse counterpart of the
Volkswagen, the Volk-Schlepper (people’s
tractor), was as simple as the car, featuring
a rugged diesel engine that was mounted at
the rear of the machine.
His early use of a diesel marks Porsche as
a pioneer in tractor development since, at this
time, only two American manufacturers of-
fered a diesel engine on their tractors. In fact,
it was only in use on two tractor models.
Four Diesel Tractors in All
P
orsche went a step further (actually, two
steps further) than his American diesel
Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
(38 hp.), and four-cylinder
Master (50 hp.).
Porsche wouldn’t live to
see his tractor enjoy wide-
spread success, however. The
inventor died in 1951.
Gained Worldwide
Success
B etween 1956 and 1963,
over 125,000 Porsche trac-
tors were sold worldwide.
It was during this time that
Porsche exported its tractor
line for sale to American
farmers.
In 1964 the French
car and tractor manufac-
turer Renault took over
Mannesmann interests
and phased out its manufac-
turing.
counterparts. First, all of his diesel engines With that act, the Porsche
were air-cooled, which simplified their use. name disappeared from the
Second, his diesels came in four configu- world of tractors.
rations with one-, two-, three-, and four-cyl- You can find a registry for
inder platforms. Typical of a no-nonsense Porsche tractors at
German approach to engineering, Porsche porsche-diesel.com.
based his tractor line on just four models.
They ranged from the smallest tractor run-
ning with a one-cylinder engine up to the
four-cylinder flagship model.
A small number of Volk-Schleppers
were built — until World War II brought
Promotional
Tractors
March/April 2021
Black, white, and gold
tractors? Unconventional
color schemes designed
their manufacture to a halt. After the war, to spur sales.
Porsche tractors were built again in limited
numbers, but this time the engine was posi-
tioned at the front of the tractor. Rustoration 101
Diesel pumps and steel wheels
In 1946, the Porsche tractor design was My Steel, My Story
Rainbow of horsepower
What’s It Worth?
Enduring values of John Deere’s 30 Series
adopted by German tractor maker Allgaier
GmbH. The Allgaier version, which was
painted green, enjoyed moderate success. Subscribe to
This attracted the attention of Mannesmann Ageless Iron
AG, another German firm. Almanac
In 1956, Mannesmann purchased Allgaier Tap into similar tractor
and moved production into a state-of-the-art histories plus restoration
manufacturing facility (which had orig- tips, collector stories,
inally served as a zeppelin factory). That antique tractor values,
same year, Mannesmann launched the red and more in every issue
Porsche-Diesel Motorenbau line. of Ageless Iron Almanac.
A one-year subscription
Porsche’s original plan encompassed
is just $20. To order, call
four basic models. The line consisted of the
855/218-8153 or visit
one-cylinder Junior (14 hp.), two-cylinder agelessiron.com/order.
Standard (25 hp.), three-cylinder Super
Photography: Dave Mowitz
 4O
SEASONS
NEXT-GEN RANCHING
Collaboration leads the Waugh family to a sustainable future.
By Megan Schilling, Agronomy & Technology Editor
Megan.Schilling@meredith.com | @meganjoys
B
ruce and LeeAnn Waugh are family
farm descendants who branched out
on their own to become first-gener-
ation ranchers. They began building
their legacy decades ago on 80 acres
of land near Goodhue, Minnesota. Now,
Cannon Valley Ranch (CVR) boasts more
than 300 acres, a herd of about 100 registered
Angus, and their son Taylor as co-owner.
Bruce, LeeAnn, and Taylor run the
business and also work off the farm. Bruce
works for WinField United, LeeAnn is a
beef nutritionist for their local cooperative,
and Taylor is a trained agronomist and meat
cutter. The primary income for the ranch
comes from their beef cattle operation.
Over the years, they made decisions to
grow and adapt their cattle business to create
a sustainable future for their family. Their
latest venture — direct-to-consumer sales of
premium beef including wagyu — is aimed
at diversification.
Photography: LeeAnn Waugh
“We have to play the cards we’re dealt,”
Bruce says. “We live in a fairly densely
populated area of Minnesota, 45 minutes
from downtown St. Paul and 30 from
Rochester. There are a lot of hungry mouths
to feed, and in this past year with the
pandemic, it made sense for us to branch out
and start a meat business to supply to our
community.”
The Waughs’ son Aaron works in the
restaurant industry in Rochester and, as the
marketing arm of the ranch, has opened
doors for CVR beef to be sold in restaurants
locally.
With this new cash flow and Bruce
and LeeAnn’s support, Taylor was able to
purchase a neighbor’s 100 acres that border
their own and help scale the ranch.
“It’s my land and I have my own cows,
but we use those acres to feed and pasture
cattle, managing them all together under the
umbrella of CVR, and we split the income,”
Taylor explains.
Taylor also leads the genetics program
November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com
The Waugh family comprises (left
to right) Taylor, Aaron, Bruce, and
LeeAnn Waugh; Lindsay and Shane
Maddock and their newborn son,
along with daughters Emery (front
left) and Aubrey Maddock.
on the ranch. After being
approached by a lab manager
of an affiliate to ABS Global,
the Waughs seized the
opportunity to accelerate the
genetic progress of their herd
and breed high-quality cattle
with balanced traits through
ABS in vitro fertilization.
This is how they could
add the purebred Akaushi
(wagyu) to their ranch
and do so more quickly
than a traditional breeding
program. They are now a
satellite collection facility for
ABS Global.
The Waughs have
47
 4O
SEASONS
continued

The Waughs have more Family First

than 100 registered

A
Angus cattle. true family opera-
tion, Cannon Valley
Ranch reaches beyond
home base in Minnesota.
Bruce and LeeAnn’s
daughter, Lindsay, and her
husband operate a ranch
in North Dakota. They
have used CVR breeding
stock for their herd and
have sent cattle back for
the meat business.
Bruce and LeeAnn’s
son Aaron helped CVR to
supply premium Angus
beef to Forager Brewery
in Rochester, Minnesota,
and The Bleu Dog Cafe in
Welch, Minnesota. •

hosted beef breeders at their farm for
IVF collection. They’ve also worked with
multiple dairy breeders who have won
supreme champion at the World Dairy
Expo.
By collecting a fee for their IVF services
on a per-head basis, the Waughs are building
the bottom line.
Through LeeAnn’s work as a beef
nutritionist, she helps local farmers feed
their cattle, some of which are the offspring
of CVR bulls. There is also potential for the
cattle to return to the ranch for direct beef
sales.
“It’s the combination of all the little
things that help cash flow and sustain our
ranch,” Taylor says. “A huge problem with
the beef industry is that ranchers may only
get paid once a year. For us, we’ve had fall
female sales and a spring bull sale, but the
opportunities in between are the hat tricks
that keep us working.”
Taking Risks Together
farm going. Taylor’s ultimate goal is to ranch
full-time and keep providing value to their
customers.
“If we can keep growing and become
more sustainable, that will help us get on
the farm full-time,” Taylor says. “We could
work toward buying our customers’ calves,
or through our customers, retain ownership
and market the cattle through a branded
beef program. This approach would help
them get more money for their cattle so that
they can be sustainable as well.”
Working together as a family has taught
the Waughs many lessons.
“One thing we’ve gotten a lot better at
is communicating,” Bruce says. “I jokingly
say we have our board of directors — well,
that’s me, my wife, and Taylor — and often
we need a board of directors meeting to keep
the communication going.”
In a family operation, learning how
to communicate and doing it well is a
journey, not a destination, Bruce adds.
They’ve learned there is always room for
this didn’t go well.’ It was
nothing personal, only an
opportunity to figure out
how to make it better next
time. It’s never about blame
or quitting.”
Family is their priority
and also the foundation on
which they can support each
other, says Bruce. Sometimes
you have to know when to
give each other a break or
when to shut off the mom
or dad switch to instead be a
coworker or a boss.
For Taylor, the biggest
lesson he’s learned from his
dad is patience.
“It truly is a grind of
doing the little things right
day in and day out,” Taylor
says. “We have to sit back
and kind of analyze the
business as a whole and be

B ruce says they aren’t afraid to take risks on

the ranch, but it is calculated when they do.
“Not everything we try works out, but we
don’t risk the financial viability of the farm,”
he says. “And if there’s one industry that
requires resilience, it’s agriculture.”
Continuing to work off the farm is one of
the strategies they’ve employed to keep the
improvement and the work they put into it
strengthens their own relationships.
“We were weaning calves this year and
because of our grass situation we had calves
in early, but we weren’t set up well. Calves
weren’t cooperating, and it seemed like
nothing went right,” Bruce says. “After
we finished we said, ‘Let’s talk about why
able to adapt quickly when
needed. That’s one
advantage to being a smaller
ranch — we’ve been able to
pivot a lot faster than others
to take advantage of
opportunities, and truly be
adaptable.”

48 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: LeeAnn Waugh

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 SEED
MASTERS
MISSING IN ACTION
Herbicide shortages that surfaced in 2021 may not be resolved in
2022. Here’s why and how to manage weeds in this environment.
By Gil Gullickson
Executive Editor, Crops Technology
Gil.Gullickson@meredith.com | @GilGullickson
P
lanting a herbicide-tolerant trait
without being able to apply a match-
ing postemergence herbicide is akin to
throwing a party and not inviting the
guest of honor. Yet, that’s what some
farmers faced in 2021 when they couldn’t
access the herbicide they wanted.
“In general, there were shortages of
products, such as glyphosate (Group 9) and
glufosinate (Group 10),” says Phil Krieg,
Syngenta agronomy service representative.
“There were times when you could not pick
them up [chemicals] from the retailer the
way you used to.”
Herbicide shortages likely won’t get
any better in 2022. “This
is probably not going to
correct itself until the 2023
crop year,” says Mike King,
executive vice president of
operations for Atticus. It’s
prompted Atticus to book
Mike King most of its anticipated 2022
50 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
dient] supplies and increased
Getting soybeans off to prices to some degree.”
a healthy start requires
recommended herbicides. In
2021, they were sometimes Tariff Impact
difficult to find.
T ariffs placed by the United
States in 2018 on Chinese-
sourced goods also helped
spike current tight supplies.
This spurred higher demand
for new federal registration
requests from Chinese and
Indian herbicide component
manufacturers, says King.
Previous government
shutdowns had already
stressed the Environmental
Protection Agency. “All
these companies trying to
register new products just
further compounded the
issue,” King says.
Tariffs also drove a trade
imbalance that helped create
a shortage of shipping con-
tainers.
Shipping costs for a
container that houses about
product inventory several months earlier 40,000 pounds of chemical
than it normally does. components normally hover
Accordingly, King advises farmers to also around $8,000. Now, it is
book 2022 product early. heading toward $30,000.
“I would encourage early engagement and This particularly hits generic
early commitment if they want a reliable herbicides hard, since they
chemical supply,” he says. do not have as high of mar-
gins to absorb the increased
Why Short Supplies? cost as do other compounds,
Like many other products, COVID-19
disrupted the agricultural chemical supply
chain, says King. Still, it’s not the sole reason.
King says.
Trucking issues — driven
by an industry-wide labor
“It has been a series of dominoes that has shortage — have also aggra-
gotten us to where we are,” says King. vated supply shortages that
Tight chemical supplies are initially COVID-19 further com-
rooted in 2017 developments in China and pounded. Higher labor costs
India, where chemical companies source coupled with increased fuel
many active ingredients and raw materials, costs before COVID-19
according to King.
“Both China and India imposed new envi-
ronmental regulations that resulted in many About this series:
audits and plant shutdowns,” he says. “A “Seed Masters” highlights
information for farmers
number of plants didn’t survive. Some that eager to optimize their
did survive combined with other companies. soybean seed selection
The closures and consolidations ultimately and related inputs..
tightened up [herbicide and herbicide ingre-
Photography: Gil Gullickson
 TE ENE ICS
DELI R RE LTS
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 SEED
MASTERS
continued

80/20
“Ultimately, that’s what pays the bills,” he
Waterhemp is one of
the challenging weeds
says. Although chemical shortages compli-
cate matters, multiple herbicide-tolerant
E ver heard of the 80/20
rule?
It pops up in various
farmers encounter.
trait stacks give farmers several postemer- contexts, such as 80% of
gence herbicide options, he adds. church donations made
On the herbicide side, Krieg advises visit- by 20% of congregants.
ing with retailers to verify if product will be Or, teachers spend 80%
available and forming a plan for anticipated of their time with 20% of
their students.
chemical shortages. The rule applies to
He also advises farmers to review 2021 farming, too.
weed issues and ways to prevent them from “If you think about
occurring in 2022. the product placement
“One of the most important things a farm- tools that we have today,
er can do after harvest is to evaluate what most people would just
the field looked like from the combine,” he manage for the 80% of
says. “Were there any problem weeds and if their farm that has really
good soils,” says Justin
so, do [herbicide-tolerant] technologies need Welch, Syngenta digital ag
to be switched? Do preemergence residual strategy, U.S. Seeds. “The
programs need to be more robust, with more other 20% faces different
herbicide sites of action? challenges.”
“It’s important to be honest,” Krieg Still, those acres count.
continues. “If there are some weeds slipping “It’s important for
through, weed control the following year growers to pick the right
have also spurred higher product costs, only becomes more difficult.” genetics and populations,
even on tougher ground
he says. These weeds likely include the twin like high-clay or sandy
pigweed terrors of waterhemp and Palmer soils,” Welch says. “There
Stress Fractures amaranth. may be vastly different

A n extreme frost event in Texas in February

also hampered raw material supplies for
agricultural chemicals, says Scott Kay, BASF
“We’re also seeing an uptick of some of
those large-seeded broadleaves, such as cock-
lebur and morning glory that are sneaking
recommendations for
growers than what they
do on the other 80%.
vice president of U.S. crop protection. through residual products aimed at Palmer “One thing we’ve seen
“It was like a perfect storm for some of amaranth and waterhemp,” he adds. “We is that if a grower follows
these recommendations,
our products,” he says. “What it did was put are having to revise the programs, with more they can see a big uplift
us into supplier two and supplier three for [herbicide] sites of action.” on what yield potential
some raw materials.” He notes that BASF Glyphosate-resistant grasses such as will be, even on those
has taken immediate steps to bolster its johnsongrass have surfaced in Tennessee. low-end yielding fields,”
North American supply chain through a So far, they haven’t infested Midwest fields. he says. “The tools we use
three-year $260 million investment. Still, it’s a concern, Krieg adds. today are built around
“All these stress fractures have led to the “Johnsongrass is kind of an old player, maximizing all of those
current state,” says King. “This also includes but it’s not being controlled in roadsides,” acres, and not just that
top 80%.” •
higher chemical prices paid by farmers. Krieg says. “Its kissing cousin, shattercane,
They need to create a demand plan with also is slipping through and is a very prolific
a reliable chemical supplier, rather than seed producer. Fall panicum is another grass what’s in them. Sometimes
make opportunistic product decisions based that, if not managed, can quickly overcome you assume you’re getting a
on price. Meanwhile, suppliers should be a crop.” lethal dose in a premix that
held accountable and not exploit a situation Farmers who are prompted to use another may not control targeted
of already high emotions with premium product if a familiar one is not available weeds.
pricing.” should review the label to ensure optimal “I encourage customers to
weed control, says Leon Hunter, a Syngenta know what they are buying
What to Do? agronomy services manager. and understand the rate

P lace genetics first when selecting soybean

varieties for 2022, says Randy Niver, a
DeKalb/Asgrow agronomist.
“There are quite a few new products on
the market today that really aren’t new,”
he says. “They have just changed ratios of
structure of the active
ingredients to make sure
weed control occurs.”

52 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Gil Gullickson

 FFA NEW
HORIZONS

54 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Dan Videtich

 URBAN AG OASIS
A hands-on approach to learning gives city students from
Des Moines, Iowa, career insights, employable skills, and
leadership opportunities through FFA.

November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 55

 FFA NEW
HORIZONS
continued
I n the Des Moines FFA Chapter (a fe-
A
By Beth Eslinger
leader in grain production and
home to innovators such as John
Deere, Corteva Agriscience, Kemin
Industries, the World Food Prize,
FarmHer, and more, Iowa is
deep-seated in agriculture and rural expe-
riences. While FFA in Iowa has commonly
focused on rural communities, the trend
today is urban. With new chapters in some
of the state’s largest cities and a significant
growth in the Des Moines FFA (within the
state’s largest population center at 645,000),
the FFA tenets of leadership and career de-
velopment are resonating with urban youth.
Within the past year and into the coming
year, seven chapters have started or will
start in some of the largest schools in the
state, including Sioux City and Ames. “Ag
education interest in Iowa in our population
centers is encouraging,” says Iowa FFA As-
sociation Executive Director Scott Johnson.
In the past decade, FFA membership has
grown 30% in the state, says Johnson, with
current participation at 16,000.  currently working on a visual look book
What draws urban students to take agri-
culture classes and become FFA members?
The reasons are as varied as the students,
but, in most cases, the opportunity to learn
56 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
The school’s greenhouse brims with plants
and pops of color.
about land and livestock inside the city limits
is too interesting and accessible to pass up.
Diverse Ag Experiences
male-majority group that is one-third ethnic
minorities), the focus is preparing the next
generation of geneticists, veterinarians,
scientists, and more through hands-on learn-
ing. The chapter, which began in 1975, has
seen consistent growth since 2017.
“Because our members don’t come from
farm backgrounds,” says FFA advisor and an-
imal science teacher Kevin Anderson, “we’re
not heavy into traditional production agricul-
ture.” Those lessons are taught, though.
Ag education students come from seven
area high schools to study current issues in
the state and beyond. “We participate in non-
traditional events,” says Anderson, who is an
FFA alumnus from central Iowa.
Recent science fair projects at the city and
state levels had members researching cogni-
tive abilities in bonobos (the renowned Ape
Cognition and Conservation Initiative is
located nearby and studies bonobos), track-
ing consumer greenhouse trends, making a
wind turbine to check energy output, and
analyzing egg nutritional values. For a win-
ter 2020 competition, members explored the
complexities of the cattle industry through
role-playing as a grower, environmentalist,
fast-food franchise owner, and low-income
mother. Meetups with state legislators and
Iowa’s governor, Kim Reynolds, provide
opportunities for chapter members to discuss
current issues and develop communication
skills. Horse-judging competitions offer
additional growth opportunities.
During their monthly meetings, FFA
members talk about activities, competitions,
legislative symposiums, swine and egg judg-
ing, and more. “We come together to grow
relationships; we all have to be informed,”
says chapter reporter Emma Ashton.
Passionate about photography, Ashton is
for her chapter to inspire city youth about
agriculture. She’s also researching the ways
fire affects the safety of animals at zoos and
conservation centers through a World Food
Prize junior competition.
Members looking for tra-
ditional farming experiences
can find those through the
program, too. In 2020, 45%
of FFA members here raised
animals, including sheep,
goats, chickens, and rabbits.
“We do from birth to finish,”
Anderson says. “Kids get to
see every step of the animal.”
Last year, member and
current high school senior
James Hughes won the
Grand Champion Laying
Bird, a barred rock breed.
This year, Ashton raised a
meat goat kid for the fair. It
was her second year showing
animals.
Members also have an
opportunity for community
outreach with their animals
and through volunteerism
through the Des Moines
FFA Chapter.
At a local grocery store
last fall, several FFA mem-
bers promoted pork grown
by area youth by handing
out samples, cookbooks, and
meat thermometers from the
Iowa Pork Producers. The
students who raised the pigs
donated one to a local food
bank; the remaining 11 pigs
were sold at a local grocery.
Members have also
packaged dry food for
Meals from the Heartland,
which serves lower-income
residents throughout the
nation and across the globe,
and they have made fleece
blankets for the city’s Ronald
McDonald House.
“Through the FFA
program, students saw what
they liked and were able
to create more experiences
for themselves,” says senior
and first-year member Eva
Button.
Photography: Dan Videtich
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EE
WIN

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 FFA NEW
HORIZONS
continued

Ag in Action

B oth the horticulture

and animal science
departments through the
Des Moines Public Schools’
(DMPS) Environmental
& Agricultural Sciences
Academy give students
real-life opportunities to
run businesses.
Each spring, the FFA
plant sale raises about
$75,000. All the proceeds
stay in the ag education
department and provide
student enrichment. In
2019, second-year students
were awarded a free trip to
Thailand.
As part of their
curriculum, students
learn the science behind
the plants they grow and
Paige Baney (above) is a Des Moines FFA member. greenhouse, testing soil samples, and identi- identification basics. Most
Emma Ashton and Jocelynn Holman (far right) work fying trees in the nearby woods.
at the school’s 11-acre ag facility. years, they work the sales
Internships with local businesses, such as floor, helping customers
Buzzing With Life turf management at a golf course adjacent with their selections. This

T he Des Moines FFA Chapter is available

through the Des Moines Public Schools’ En-
vironmental & Agricultural Sciences Acad-
emy. Students from five Des Moines schools
and two suburban schools bus each day to an
11-acre farm on the city’s south side to attend
horticulture and animal science classes.
The ag facility buzzes with life. Free-
range chickens greet visitors with their in-
quisitive looks; ewes poke heads
through the fence while lambs
trail behind; bees hover among
FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
to the ag facility, give students additional
hands-on opportunities. Additionally, stu-
dents working and volunteering in ag- and
year, due to the COVID-19
pandemic, horticulture
and environmental
science teacher Craig
food-related jobs, such as grocery stores and
Nelson worked with adult
the zoo, can gain college credit for their ef- volunteers on a drive-up
forts. Many Des Moines FFA members pur- and virtual sale.
sue agricultural jobs due to their experience. Later in the year, a
“I’ve always had a passion for horses. I small on-site, student-run
wanted to be an equine vet,” says Ashton, grocery store will sell pork,
noting it’s difficult to find lamb, chickens, honey,
large-animal specialists in the
Fall 2020
and more produced
at the urban farm. The
city. “I decided to broaden the

students are responsible

Sp

fruit trees as they pollinate; and spectrum,” she adds, to work

Lo

ec
ok
ia
lS
Bo

ho

for setting up the store,

ok
pF
FA
In
si

greenhouses brim with toma- with more than horses. “The

de

including hours, pricing,

to and pepper seedlings and classes helped me solidify that and staffing. The store will
Inclusion,
annuals blooming in the hottest Des Moines
FFA Buzzes
I want to go into the ag career
Diversity &
Equity
also feature goods made
Members Share
With Life
colors. A new animal science Urban
path.” Their Stories

PLUS: by students of other DMPS

8
building houses aquaculture
tanks for raising tilapia. A
Ag For Button, it was her passion
Ways You
Can Be

for plants that piqued her

greenhouse gives students ex-
periences with hydroponics and
allows them to harvest greens
and cucumbers for salad days
prepared during class. Students
spend time handling animals
(including mucking out stalls),
transplanting seedlings in the
Inclusive
career-training programs,
including T-shirts created
by graphic design students
interest in the academy and
This article originally and signs fabricated by
appeared in the FFA. Based on her work potting the welding class. A local
Fall 2020 issue of poinsettias, cloning plants, business, Fareway Meat
FFA New Horizons making cuttings and maintain- & Grocery, contributed
magazine, which ing the hydroponic system, she $30,000 for the store and
is published by
Meredith Agrimedia. is planning a career in plant is serving as a model for
For more information, genetics and attending Iowa the store setup. ¥
visit FFA.org. State University.

58 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Dan Videtich

DynaGroSeed.com

© 2021 Loveland Products, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Dyna-Gro is a registered trademark of Loveland
Products, Inc. All other trademarks are the property
of their respective owners.
 DAIRY
INSIDER
THE LITTLE THINGS ADD UP
Profitable dairy management comes down to paying
attention to the many details of the herd.
I
By Mark Moore
f you are managing your dairy herd solely
from the farm’s financial statements, you
may be missing opportunities to maximize
profitability.
“Dairy farm finances come as a result
of managing the biology of the dairy cow
well,” explains Mike Lormore, head of U.S.
cattle technical services for Zoetis. “That
doesn’t mean you don’t need to have a
good financial plan. In today’s market, you
absolutely need to understand how to use
risk management tools. Ultimately, your
financial outcome is going to be the result of
the performance of your herd.”
Lormore says today’s producers don’t
need to be 20% better than their competitors.
“To have a profitability improvement,
sometimes you need to only be 1% to 3%
better in several different key areas. Because
that percentage is all at the margin in terms
of your production, those are the most
profitable outputs,” he says.
Kevin Bernhardt, farm management
60 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
To improve profitability,
sometimes you only need to be 1%
to 3% better in several key areas.
looking at all the data, it
was clear that the producers
who were doing the best
job at lowering their cost of
production were doing so
across the board, indicating
meticulous attention to
detail,” he says.
Profitability Drivers
T o understand how dairy
production measures
correlate with the financial
health of a dairy, Zoetis and
Compeer Financial launched
an ambitious study in 2014
that collected financial and
production data from as far
back as 2006 to determine
exactly which metrics have
the highest correlation to
profitability. The ongoing
study has collected 702 farm-
year records from clients
in the Upper Midwest,
specialist at the Center for Dairy Profitability representing 118 farms, 90
at the University of Wisconsin, points to total production variables,
data collected from 2015 to 2018 throughout and an average of nearly six
the state showing the significance of cost of year-end records per farm.
production on a dairy farm’s bottom line. The average number of
The information reveals a wide range lactating cows per farm in
between the costs of production for the top the study is 1,217.
and the bottom third of profitable dairies. Initially, Lormore was a
For a herd size above 338 milking cows, bit skeptical about exactly
the average cost of production in the top what the data would show.
third of producers was $14.84/cwt. The “We all know the factors
average for the bottom third was $18.96/cwt, that make money on dairies:
a whopping $4.12/cwt difference. In herd get a lot of milk out of
sizes from 73 to 129 cows, the average cost of your cows, keep your cows
production was $6.68 lower for the top third healthy, get your cows bred,
of producers compared to the bottom third. and get your heifers bred,”
“The difference is tremendous,” he says. “What the study
Bernhardt says. “This means the top third really has called out is the
of producers are putting a substantial interrelationships between
additional amount of money in their production variables and
pocket.” how they ultimately roll up
So why do the returns differ so to financial success or lack of
significantly? Bernhardt says the data do financial success.
not provide the answer. “However, when “Milk production is
Photography: Alvis Upitis, Getty Images
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 DAIRY
INSIDER
continued

Paying close attention to heifer

management impacts the farm in
both the short and long term.

isn’t just the difference

between replacement heifer
costs and the value of a
cull cow. “You also have to
consider the productivity
potential of the cow being
removed,” he says. “First-
lactation cows produce
15% less milk than second-
lactation cows and 25%
less than third-lactation
cows. That means replacing
an older cow with a first-
lactation animal just because
you have extra heifers
represents a significant loss
in productivity. It can be a
huge drain on profits.”
Having an active, engaged,
and qualified workforce
is imperative. “All data
more than just what happens today in the declines 5.7 pounds per cow per day on all point to net farm income
milking parlor and at the feed bunk. It is cows in the herd, according to the research. being positively influenced
the culmination of genetics management Herds with elevated bulk tank SCC had by a qualified, invested
and breeding, excellent calf and heifer lower milk production, reduced pregnancy workforce capable of
rearing, great health management, a focus rates, and greater death loss. maintaining healthy lactating
on husbandry, and how to repeat those and replacement animals,
processes successfully over and over, every Impact of Heifer Management maintaining efficient
day of the cow’s life,” Lormore says.
Take heifer survival rate, for example. “If
your heifer survival rate on one farm is 94%
H ealthy cows are more profitable cows, and
the longer they stay in the herd, the more
milk they produce. “The last pound of milk
reproduction, and limiting
involuntary culling and
death loss,” Lormore says.
and on another farm it’s 93%, that difference is always the most profitable,” Lormore says. The bottom line: Taking
is not that big of a deal on a single-year basis. “High ECM (energy-corrected milk) herds care of your most valuable
But if that performance level is maintained also had an improved 21-day pregnancy rate, asset – the cow – is critical
over a 10-year period, the dairy with the lower feed cost per cwt of milk, fewer days in determining farm
higher survival rate would have 11% more open, lower death losses, and reduced bulk profitability.
animals to deal with, and that means more tank SCC.” “There probably isn’t a lot
total production power and more selection The study also indicates that both the of information here that
options,” Lormore says. top and bottom one-third of herds had hasn’t been shared before,”
The most recent data analysis has impressive heifer survival rates. Lormore Lormore says. “What really
identified the drivers that directly impact net says paying close attention to heifer jumps out in our study is
farm income. “What I need to stress is that management impacts the farm in both the that each of these factors can
all these factors are closely interrelated, so short and long term. have an impact on the
there’s not one single action that’s going to Pregnancy rate is a key performance others. Paying close attention
boost the bottom line,” he says. indicator for the reproductive performance to each aspect of the cow’s
Aggressively managing bulk tank somatic in dairy herds. Herds with better milk production cycle can have a
cell counts (SCC) was a major factor in net quality had improved pregnancy rates and significant impact on a
farm profitability. For every 100,000 cells/ fewer days open, according to the study. farm’s long-term
ml increase in bulk tank SCC, milk yield Lormore says the cost of cow turnover profitability.”

62 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Alvis Upitis, Getty Images
 CONSERVATION
Without leases on the Buffalo Gap
National Grassland, it would be hard
for the Rittberger ranch to survive.
GOVERNMENT GROUND
How to make grazing work on national grasslands.
R
By Mitch Kezar
ancher Bob Rittberger leans his thin
frame against a weathered fence
corner post and looks over a valley
of rolling hills, pine trees, and prairie
grass. A coyote yips in the distance.
Rittberger talks about what this place must
have been like hundreds of years ago.
“When buffalo traveled here, it was kind
of like rotational grazing at its best,” he
says. “Buffalo gradually moved all around.
There were no fences for them. Now, with
cattle and fences, we have to make sure the
livestock never stay at one spot too long.
We need to keep them constantly moving
around, too, for the betterment of the grass.
That’s replicating what it was like back
when buffalo were here.”
The grasses stay healthy because of the
rotations.
Bob and his brother, John, run a cow-
calf operation on their homeplace, where
their grandfather once ran a small dairy.
Their grandparents homesteaded this
land in 1909. Those milk cows kept food
Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
on the table during that era, and after the
Rittbergers took over the ranch, they were
able to buy more land, and moved fully into
raising beef.
Their operation is unique in that their
ranch depends on a mixture of their own
private land, checkerboarded with tracts of
U.S. Forest Service land. About two-thirds
of their operation is on the Buffalo Gap
National Grassland. “Without our leases on
the grasslands, it would be pretty tough to
make it,” he notes.
The ranch pays the Forest Service
with animal unit monthly (AUM) fees, so
much per animal per month. “We’re one
of the few people that use federal land
who actually pay,” says Bob. “It’s a way of
keeping the grass in check and so that it
doesn’t get too long and tall.”
Their grazing management reduces the
chances of prairie fires and improves the
grass health. The family works within the
Forest Service guidelines for land use.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
and U.S. Forest Service work closely with
the ranching communities in
16 Western states to ensure
that public rangelands
remain healthy, productive
working landscapes: 50%
of collected grazing fees
that get deposited to the
U.S. Treasury get returned
to the Range Betterment
Fund for on-the-ground
range improvement projects.
Some collected fees are also
returned to the states for use
in counties where fees were
generated.
An AUM or HM –
treated as equivalent
measures for fee purposes
– is the use of public lands
by one cow and her calf, one
horse, or five sheep or goats
for a month. The grazing
fee was determined by a
congressional formula and
took effect March 1, 2018.
The fee applies to nearly
18,000 grazing permits
and leases administered by
the BLM and nearly 6,500
permits administered by the
Forest Service nationwide.
The BLM manages
more than 245 million
acres of public land located
primarily in 12 Western
states, including Alaska.
The BLM also administers
700 million acres of sub-
surface mineral estate
throughout the nation. The
agency’s mission is to sustain
the health, diversity, and
productivity of America’s
public lands for the use and
enjoyment of present and
future generations.
The Rittbergers strive
to see more Western
wheat grass become more
established, as well as green
needle grass on their acres.
“We want to leave it better
than when we took over,
Photography: Mitch Kezar/Kezar Media
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 CONSERVATION
continued
and we want to see that the grass is thicker
and more vigorous, replacing a lot of that
buffalo grass. We hope to get a better grass
cover all around,” says Bob Rittberger.
Kicking a boot in the dry earth, he goes
on. “Droughts are pretty much inevitable
around here. We just have to expect it.”
From 2000 to 2007, the ranch experienced
drought. “That taught us a lesson,” says
Bob. “Since then, we try to leave half the
standing grass. That practice has given
us the best sustainability to get through a
drought.”
They did have to sell part of their herd in
2006-2007. Looking into the softly blowing
wind, John Rittberger says, “Drought is
always on our mind. That never seems to go
away. There are far more dry years in my
mind than there are wet years. Drought is
the biggest factor that we manage for.”  could split the pastures up if we can get
Getting water to the cattle on an
operation of this size, through hills, draws,
and rough, drought-prone ground is a
major challenge. They put in 20 miles of
pipeline and bought their own trencher,
because it was getting so expensive to hire
people to do it. The pipelines give them
security from drought. They now have
Bonus Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
water tanks in every pasture, so the cows
don’t have to travel a mile or two to get
to water. Fortunately, when they started
adding water lines, the fences were in place,
so it was a matter of moving the cows from
one pasture to another.
An added benefit to the pipelines for
water was that it allowed the Rittbergers
to fence off the riparian areas along the
Cheyenne River. Keeping the cattle out
of those areas led to streamside vegetation
improvement.
“The biggest change I’ve seen is the
introduction of willows along the stream
banks,” says John. “Even the cottonwoods
have moved back in. Our stream banks are
much more secure now.”
Looking over the vast landscape, Bob
says, “We still have more fencing to do. We
approval from the Forest Service. Studies
have shown that hoof impact improves the
grass, so if we didn’t graze it and got into a
big lightning storm, this could all go up in
smoke. We hope we can do our part to help
prevent the fires that will eventually come.
Taking some of that grass off to benefit our
cattle is where we all win.”
Bob (blue hat) and John Rittberger
rotate cattle on hills, draws, and
rough land prone to drought. They
make it work.
A change over the years
in the landscape on their
ranch at the edge of South
Dakota’s Black Hills is the
obvious proliferation of pine
trees. “According to my
father, when he was a child,
there were no pine trees out
here,” John says. “There
were a sparse few some
miles east of here but, pine
tree encroachment on prairie
ground has come on.”
The cost to control the
growth has come primarily
in labor. John’s oldest son
used a chainsaw to thin out
trees. “The long-term plan
for the forest area is to keep
trimming and thinning,”
says John. “Years down the
line it does open it up for
more growth. Our goal for
grazing is to always leave
grass. We love grass.” John
grins. 
“I like looking out on a
pasture that looks good even
after we take cattle off.”
Shale is a concern in
some areas. “We don’t
dare overgraze on that
type of ground,” says John.
They rotate graze through
summer and the winter. A
lot of the ground is woody,
so it is only grazed in fall,
winter, and early spring.
“We rotate around. Cattle
are moving throughout the
year.”
John chuckles. “Living out
here on this ranch, I can
honestly say I’ve never been
bored. I might be angry,
disappointed, and disgusted,
but I’ve never been bored. If
I didn’t have to make money
at it, it’d be fun!”
Photography: Mitch Kezar, Joe Dickie/Kezar Media
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 START-UP
SPOTLIGHT
WHERE REAL ESTATE AND
FARMING MEET
AcreTrader helps farmers grow their business.
By Megan Schilling
Agronomy & Technology Editor
Megan.Schilling@meredith.com | @meganjoys
F
“ armland is all we do every day, all
day,” says Carter Malloy, CEO of
AcreTrader.
Malloy founded the company in
2018 after he and a neighbor realized
there was no easy way to invest in farmland
online. AcreTrader fills the gap between
investment capital looking for a home and
farm businesses looking to grow.
How It Works
W ith a few clicks on the AcreTrader
website, investors can create an account
and begin buying shares electronically to
diversify their portfolios in farmland.
AcreTrader creates a seamless process for
investors by reviewing available land and
working with farmers or farm owners on
operation management, administration, and
investor relations.
“It’s always very important for us to be in
a true partnership with the farmer and to re-
spect their way of operating their business,”
Malloy says.
AcreTrader has farmland experts on
staff who work with local management
companies to help fulfill each farmer’s
64 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
goals in any situation. About 40% of U.S.
farmland has absentee owners and is rented
out. AcreTrader strives to be a low-friction
absentee owner, one who is the best partner
for the farmer.
They’ve helped farmers secure new land
in their area to expand their farming oper-
ation and have also raised additional funds
for time-sensitive projects.
“Often, we will raise additional capital up
front for a farm,” Malloy says. “If there is a
necessary improvement that requires quick
access to capital, we can easily help, rather
than a renter having to repeatedly call an
absentee owner over a period of months to
secure improvements like new irrigation or
drainage.”
Partnering With Farmers
Shawn Peebles, an organic farmer in
Arkansas, began working with AcreTrader
in 2019 to secure new land to grow his
high-production organic vegetable farm.
“What’s unique about working with
AcreTrader is I’m the one who found the
ground,” Peebles says. “I knew what I
needed for sweet potatoes, for green beans,
and for edamame. But in my business, I’m
concerned about building infrastructure. I
don’t have the finances available to do that
and buy land, too.”
Peebles had looked at
the parcel of land several
times, which was very near
his farmland, but couldn’t
commit on his own. With
AcreTrader as a partner, he
could make it work.
While partnering with
AcreTrader has allowed
Peebles to find new land
to farm, the platform also
offers him the opportunity
to become an investor. “Not
only can I increase my acres,
but I can also invest a little
money in land because the
platform accommodates all
kinds of investors,” he says.
AcreTrader charges a
flat, annual administration
fee of 0.75% to 1.0% of the
overall farm value, which is
deducted from the income
of the farm.
In addition to serving as a
conduit between investors
and farmland, the
AcreTrader team can help
manage farm transitions
with complex family
dynamics and ownership
structures and also offer
guidance to farmers on new
agriculture technology
solutions.
About the Company
Founder: Carter Malloy
Headquarters: Fayetteville,
Arkansas
Website: acretrader.com
Background: This online
marketplace allows users to
invest in farmland, provides
landowners access to capital,
and lends management sup-
port to the farm operators.
Funding: Recently closed
a seed round funding of
over $5 million led by RZC
Investments.
Photography: AcreTrader/Kelly Pebbles
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 FAMILY
HEARING LOSS FROM NOISE IS
PERMANENT BUT PREVENTABLE
Once your hearing is gone due to overexposure to noise,
it’s too late. Use the proper equipment to protect yourself.
By Lisa Foust Prater
Family & Farmstead Editor
Y
our child or grandchild’s first words.
The meadowlark’s song. Your spouse
saying, “I love you.” The thought
of missing out on these sounds is
heartbreaking. If the sound you’re
not hearing is a cry for help, a honking
horn, or a smoke detector, the results could
be dangerous or even deadly.
Farming is a noisy business. According
to the Great Plains Center for Agricultural
Health (GPCAH), hearing loss from noise
exposure is common among agricultural
workers. It usually occurs gradually over
the span of several years and may not be
noticed until it’s a serious problem.
Grain dryers, tractors, combines, live-
stock, chain saws and other saws, and
66 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021
firearms are the top culprits when it comes
to hazardous noise on the farm.
How Loud Is Too Loud?
The short answer is if you have to raise your
voice to be heard by someone 3 feet away,
the environment is too loud. If a noise
causes ringing in your ears or a temporary
reduction in hearing, it’s too loud.
The specific answer is that any sound
level over 85 decibels or prolonged exposure
to sounds over 80 decibels can cause hearing
loss, according to GPCAH.
The average level for a push mower or
ATV is 90 decibels; enclosed tractor cab or
grain auger, 92; air compressor, 95; shop
vacuum, 97; pigs squealing, 100; pressure
washer, 102; tractor with no cab, 105; metal
grinder, 110; and chain saw, 115.
The best way to be sure of
a sound level is to measure
it. While sound meters are
expensive, several free deci-
bel meter apps are available
for smartphones.
Protect Yourself
F ortunately, there are ways
to protect your hearing
even when you have to be
in noisy environments.
Your first line of defense
is to reduce the noise around
you whenever possible. Ask
about sound levels when
buying new equipment,
keep machinery in good
working order so it runs
quieter, and use tractors
with enclosed cabs whenever
possible. It’s also good prac-
tice to limit the amount of
time spent in noisier situa-
tions, because the longer the
exposure, the more damage
that occurs.
There’s no way to com-
pletely eliminate damaging
noise levels. Choosing the
correct personal protective
equipment (PPE) can help
reduce exposure and save
your hearing.
When shopping for PPE,
check the noise reduction
rating (NRR) and choose
the option with the highest
number, generally between
0 and 35. The overall deci-
bels are reduced by the NRR
when PPE is worn correctly.
Mental Health Matters
This is a stressful time for farmers,
ranchers, and families. Visit our
resource page for information on
how to help yourself or a loved one
struggling with mental health.
Agriculture.com/MentalHealth
Photography: Getty, Array
WELCOME BACK BE THERE WHEN WE RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS
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 FAMILY
continued

GPCAH says earmuff-style ear coverings offer the best

protection and are easiest to use. Expandable ear plugs that
roll up and go into the ear canal are the next best option, but
they must be inserted correctly to be effective.
Other PPE include premolded or custom-molded
earplugs and canal caps, which are earplugs on a band that
can hang around the neck when not in use. In extremely
loud environments, both earplugs and earmuff-style PPE
can be worn for dual protection. Keep in mind that when Put Your Thanks on Paper
wearing both, the true NRR is not the sum of the two NRR
numbers. Rather, according to the CDC, doubling up adds Gratitude journals help us remember the
5 decibels to the higher NRR. good things, especially on hard days.
One reason farmer workers may not want to wear PPE is
that they need to be able to communicate and hear warn-
ing signals or machinery noises. To avoid overprotection,
measure the noise level and avoid PPE that would reduce J ournaling has been an on-
again, off-again endeavor
for most of my life. I’ve kept
journal comes in. What if,
instead of logging what you
eat, which shows you watch
it to less than 70 decibels. For this reason, it’s a good idea to
paper diaries and online blogs, on television, or who you play
have multiple PPE options with different NRR. and social media serves as its with at recess, you name three
Remember that the most effective type of hearing protec- own kind of journaling. things for which you are grate-
tion is the one you have with you when it’s needed, and one It’s fun looking back at my ful each day? How would your
you’ll consistently use. Consider purchasing multiple sets of childhood diary. It mostly outlook change?
PPE and keeping them in the places where they’re needed consisted of who I played There may be days when
most often. with at recess and whether we it’s hard to come up with three
jumped rope or practiced flips things. Just write one. There
Keep Kids Safe on the monkey bars that day. may be days when you can’t

B ecause hearing loss from excessive noise is cumulative over

time, it’s important to protect children and teenagers and
help them form good habits when it comes to noise.
As an adult, there
are lots of things I
could — and probably
Children learn by example, so if they see their parents should — be writing
about. I may not jour-
wearing PPE in noisy situations, they will be more likely to
nal every challenge
follow suit. Of course, it’s best for them not to be in those
or joy, but I do tend to
environments if possible. post about them on
Young children with hearing loss can suffer setbacks in Lisa Foust Prater
social media, and that
communication and language development and social skills. means I’ll see them
Teenagers are at additional risk from listening to loud again in my “on this day” notifi-
music for prolonged periods. Make sure they don’t have the cations in the future.
volume too high and Online journaling is great,
encourage them to but there’s just something
take frequent breaks. about putting pen to paper
If you suspect your that seems more real to me.
child has any amount I have no idea how social
of hearing loss, see media will evolve, or what will
a doctor immedi- happen to everyone’s posts.
There’s a real possibility, how-
ately. Again, provide
ever, that my future grandchil-
a good example and
dren or great-grandchildren
seek medical attention might come across my paper
yourself if you suspect journals.
hearing loss. What do I want them to
Learn more about read? What do I want to say?
noise-induced hearing The question of what to write
loss in children and is enough to turn off many
adults at cdc.gov/nceh/ people to the idea of journal-
hearing_loss/. ing. This is where a gratitude
name even one. Those
are the days when your
gratitude journal is the
most important. If you
can’t find gratitude, flip
through the pages of
your journal to remem-
ber the beautiful things
in life.
January 14: Snow
that glistens like diamonds, hot
coffee with lots of creamer, and
a cozy home. March 11: The first
calves of the year were born, the
sun is shining, and it feels like
spring. June 16: The cancer is
in remission. September 3: Our
children are healthy and happy.
They have never gone hungry.
December 11: The boys are home
from college for Christmas.
I challenge you to write a
gratitude journal. Thanksgiving
is the perfect time to start. Use
a blank leather-bound volume,
a spiral notebook, or note cards
and a recipe box. If you prefer
digital journaling, use your
phone. The medium doesn’t
matter; the gratitude does.

68 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Meredith Corporation


What Makes
Local Food
Local?
Eating local is
great — if we never
want bananas or
pineapples.
L
ocal food is all the rage,
but what exactly makes
food local? Ask 10 people
and you’ll probably get 10
different answers.
There is no stan-
dard definition so lo-
cal can be whatever
we want it to be. That
sounds great until
you start thinking
about where food is
Heather Barnes
actually grown.
I live in eastern
North Carolina, which grows
more sweet potatoes than
any other state. If I define lo-
cal as within 50 miles, I can
have a local sweet potato ev-
ery day of the year. If I want
a local apple, I won’t find
one. It’s too hot and humid
to grow apples here.
That’s one of the limiting
factors of the term local.
Some crops just simply
won’t grow everywhere.
Sweet potatoes like sandy
soil and warm, humid cli-
mates. Most U.S. sweet
potatoes are grown in
North Carolina, followed by
Photography: Heather Barnes; Meredith Corporation
FAMILY
continued
Mississippi, Louisiana, and
California.
Apple and other fruit trees
need a certain number of
chill hours, when tempera-
tures are cooler than 45°F.,
to break dormancy and
grow each spring. That’s why
Washington, New York, and
Michigan lead the country in
apple farming. It’s also why
the North Carolina moun-
tains are perfect for apple
orchards.
Weather also
impacts the timing
of when local food
becomes available.
Strawberry farmers
in the southeastern
part of my state typi-
cally start picking two
weeks before those in
the Piedmont, which
is about a four-hour drive
west of us.
We are fortunate that local
food is available at farms,
roadside stands, farmers
markets, and retailers. It’s
great to support locally
grown food, but in doing so,
we must realize that there
are limitations.
Our definition of exactly
what constitutes local food
may need to change depend-
ing on the season or the crop.
Otherwise, we won’t ever
have bananas or pineapples,
two of my kids’ favorites.
– By Heather Barnes
TEST KITCHEN
Turkey Tetrazzini
One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is
using the leftovers in recipes like this.
8 ounces dried spaghetti or linguine, broken in half
12 ounces fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
8 ounces small whole fresh mushrooms
3 medium red or yellow peppers, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1∕8
teaspoon black pepper
1 14-ounce can chicken broth
3/4 cup milk
3 cups chopped cooked turkey
1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel
2 slices sourdough bread, cut into cubes (about 11/2 cups)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
1
Preheat oven to 350°F. In Dutch oven cook spaghetti accord-
ing to package directions. Add asparagus the last 1 minute of
cooking. Drain. Return to pan.
2 Meanwhile, in large skillet cook mushrooms and sweet
peppers in hot butter over medium heat for 8 to 10 min-
utes or until mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir
in flour and black pepper until well combined. Add broth and
milk all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.
3 Add mushroom mixture, turkey, Swiss cheese, and half
the lemon peel to pasta mixture in Dutch oven. Toss
gently to coat. Spoon pasta mixture into 3-quart rectangular
baking dish.
4 In a medium bowl toss together bread cubes, olive oil,
and remaining lemon peel. Spread bread cube mixture
on pasta mixture. Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until
heated through. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Sprinkle with parsley. Makes 10 servings.
Nutritional information per serving: 282 calories, 10 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 48 mg
cholesterol, 28 g carbohydrates, 258 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 20 g protein.
For recipe questions, email Lisa.FoustPrater@meredith.com.
November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 69

Trait and Stewardship
Responsibilities Notice
to Farmers
Bayer is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship®
(ETS). Bayer products are commercialized in accordance
with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in
compliance with Bayer’s Policy for Commercialization
of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity
Crops. Commercialized products have been approved
for import into key export markets with functioning
regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced
from this product can only be exported to, or used,
processed or sold in countries where all necessary
regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation
of national and international law to move material
containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations
where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to
their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their
buying position for this product. Excellence Through
Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence
Through Stewardship.
B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states.
Check with your seed brand representative for the
registration status in your state.
IMPORTANT IRM INFORMATION: RIB Complete® corn
blend products do not require the planting of a structured
refuge except in the Cotton-Growing Area where corn
earworm is a significant pest. See the IRM/Grower
Guide for additional information. Always read and
follow IRM requirements.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW IRM, WHERE APPLICABLE,
GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP
PRACTICES AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS.
Roundup Ready® 2 Technology contains genes that
confer tolerance to glyphosate. Glyphosate will kill
crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Herculex®
is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC.
LibertyLink ® and the Water Droplet Design ® is a
trademark of BASF Corporation. Respect the Refuge
and Corn Design® and Respect the Refuge® are registered
trademarks of National Corn Growers Association.
Bayer, Bayer Cross, RIB Complete®, Roundup Ready
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SmartStax® are trademarks of Bayer Group. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
©2021 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.
Products Use Notice for “The
System of Choice” advertisement for
Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System
Bayer is a member of Excellence Through
Stewardship® (ETS). Bayer products are
commercialized in accordance with ETS
Product Launch Stewardship Guidance,
and in compliance with Bayer’s Policy
for Commercialization of Biotechnology-
Derived Plant Products in Commodity
Crops. Commercialized products have been
approved for import into key export markets
with functioning regulatory systems. Any
crop or material produced from this product
can only be exported to, or used, processed
or sold in countries where all necessary
regulatory approvals have been granted. It
is a violation of national and international
law to move material containing biotech
traits across boundaries into nations where
import is not permitted. Growers should talk
to their grain handler or product purchaser to
confirm their buying position for this product.
Excellence Through Stewardship® is a
registered trademark of Excellence Through
Stewardship.
XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip®
Technology is part of the Roundup Ready®
Xtend Crop System, is a restricted use
pesticide and must be used with VaporGrip®
Xtra Agent (or an equivalent volatility
reduction adjuvant). For approved tank-mix
products (including VRAs and DRAs), nozzles
and other important label information visit
XtendiMaxApplicationRequirements.com.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE
LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of
federal and state law to use any pesticide
product other than in accordance with its
labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba,
glyphosate or glufosinate are approved for
in-crop use with products with XtendFlex®
Technology. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS
THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR
SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH
USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION.
Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide
regulatory agency with any questions about
the approval status of dicamba herbicide
products for in-crop use with Roundup
Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans or products with
XtendFlex® Technology.
Products with XtendFlex® Technology
contains genes that confer tolerance to
glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba.
Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant
to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that
are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will
kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate.
Contact your seed brand dealer or refer
to the Bayer Technology Use Guide for
recommended weed control programs.
XtendiMax® is a restricted use pesticide.
Not all products are registered in all states
and may be subject to use restrictions. The
distribution, sale, or use of an unregistered
pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state
law and is strictly prohibited. Check with your
local dealer or representative for the product
registration status in your state. Bayer,
Bayer Cross, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend®,
Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Roundup Ready®,
VaporGrip®, XtendFlex® and XtendiMax®
are registered trademarks of Bayer Group.
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is a trademark of BASF Corporation. All
other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. For additional product
information call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-
866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.
BayerCropScience.us. Bayer CropScience
LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis,
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reserved.
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1. Publication Title: Successful Farming 2. Publication Number: 000524660 3. Filing
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 Microbial Packages Proven to Work on American Farms
SumaGroulx The Original Biological Water Infiltration Formula
Why Are Microbial Products Important In American Agriculture?
The basics of what you need to know. The strengthening of microbial populations increases availability
of mineral fertilizers and improves the efficiency of chelated fertilizers that the majority of farmers use
every season. Mineral fertilizers like lime, dolomite, rock phosphates and gypsum NEED microbes to be
available to crops and improve the soil profile itself. Chelated fertilizers such as DAP, MAP, 10-34-0 and
many others respond strongly to microbial interactions. Phosphates “tie up” or become “Unavailable” in
a short period of time. Microbes keep the phosphates available all season long for the cash crops benefit.
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 ALL AROUND
THE FARM

Mouse Barriers Inspired by Docks

Mice used to get into my leftover barley, oat, and wheat
seed. Poison and traps helped, but I’d still lose several
bags to mice when the seed was on pallets on the
floor. Then I had an idea when I saw the ropes that
tie ships to docks: They have a smooth metal cone
or disc around the rope to keep rats and mice
from boarding. Mice can climb almost anything
with texture, but they can’t climb upside down
on smooth metal. They also can jump vertically
15 in.
about 13 inches, so I put an old disc opener from
a grain drill about 15 inches above the ground on
each leg of the elevated platform I built. In two years, I
haven’t seen a single seed on the ground.
Jake Kyle | Lancaster, California
kyleandkyleranches@gmail.com

Make Inexpensive Trays for Disinfectant

In a pig herd, proper disinfection is very important, especially if
weld there’s an outbreak of PRRS, PED, or other disease. These measures
include cleaning the soles of work boots. The bottom cut from a
plastic 50-gallon drum leaves a bowl-like plate that will hold any kind
of disinfectant and water. A container 5 to 6 inches high has sides
that are deep enough to hold the liquid, yet low enough to step into
comfortably.
Jordan Waldner | Winfred, South Dakota
jordanwaldner314@gmail.com

Repair Rather Than Replace Headliner

When the headliner in my tractor started to droop down on my head, I drilled
5∕16-inch holes through the fabric and just through the cardboard backing in

all four corners plus the center on both sides. Then I pushed black plastic
push pin clips (available at automotive stores) in each hole.
Henry Potter | Illinois City, Illinois | hbp30@frontier.com

Add a Handle — It’s Easier to Move

Poly mineral feeders’ shape keeps cattle from turning them
over, but it also makes them hard to move, so I added a
handle to the top. Remove the bolt holding the rubber top
in place. Weld a short piece of 1×2-inch steel tubing onto the
head, and weld a 4-inch U-bolt to the tubing. To reinstall the
bolt, add a large washer on the underside to keep plastic
from cracking around the bolt hole when feeder is lifted.
Mark Wilsdorf | Madison, Missouri

Send Us Your Ideas

Successful Farming magazine invites you to share ideas with our readers.
Submissions should be precise. Include a sketch or photograph when
needed. If your idea is used in print, we pay $400 for the Idea of the
Month, $200 for ideas that appear with drawings, and $100 for
unillustrated ideas. All material submitted becomes the property of
Meredith Corporation. If your idea is used, you give Meredith the right to
use it in any manner. Enter idea(s), a daytime phone number, email
address, and complete mailing address at Agriculture.com/ideaentry or
mail to Successful Farming Magazine, All Around The Farm, 1716
Locust Street/LS257, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023.

Illustrations: Lant Elrod November 2021 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 77

ALL AROUND
THE FARM ¨
Solid yet Yielding
Utility poles wrapped
in steel cable anchor

NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Successful Farming, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508. In Canada: Mailed under Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069223; Canadian BN 12348 2887 RT. Your bank may provide updates to the card information we
right to refuse nonqualified subscriptions. Subscription orders must show farm or ranch connections as owner, operator, or related occupation to subscribe at basic price: $15.95 per year in the U.S.; $27.95 (U.S. dollars) in Canada; $27.95 (U.S. dollars) overseas. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2);
Successful Farming (ISSN-0039-4432); November 2021, Volume 119, No. 11, is published monthly except for two issues in November by Meredith Corporation, 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023. Periodicals postage paid at Des Moines, Iowa, and at additional mailing offices. Successful Farming reserves the
gates that swing to let
floodwater through
while keeping cattle in.

FLOOD-PROOF CATTLE GATES

have on file. You may opt out of this service at any time. © Meredith Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
Idea of the Month: A gate that gives when the floodwater comes
won’t get destroyed or need to be replaced later.

B
By Paula Barbour, Content Editor
efore he reinforced his
creek fence, Harry Pugliese
had repaired it several times
after flooding damaged his
property.
“I may have overbuilt this time,
but I did not want to do it again!”
he says.
The resourceful Georgian from
Kingston set utility poles 5 feet
into the ground with concrete
poured around the base. Then he
wrapped them with steel cable
More ideas from readers on page 77.
secured with U-clamps. Pugliese
also used extra-long fencing
staples with chiseled ends.
Hard steel wire forms loops
large enough to let the gates swing
from the bottom cable. Those
gates are a repurposed footboard
and headboard from an old bed.
“They are the perfect size to fit
the width of the creek banks,” he
says.
“The water has been up and
nearly over the fence posts, so it is
working,” he says. “We’ve had a
lot of rain this last couple of
years, and the cattle do not go
near it.”
Harry Pugliese
Farm: Along with 119 acres of hay and an
Angus cow-calf operation, Pugliese has 17
acres of hybrid loblolly pine, which he’s clear-
cut and replanted three times.
Hay contest winner: His Bermuda hay won
him a Vermeer mower the year he improved
his soil by drilling Bulldog alfalfa into a
dormant (winter) field.
Family nearby: Pugliese and his wife, Ellen,
have three grown children
who all live nearby.
Former teacher: The Berry
College graduate taught
health and PE for 30 years.
Email: harrypugliese2586@
gmail.com

78 Successful Farming at Agriculture.com November 2021 Photography: Ellen Currier Pugliese

YOU COULD LOSE
$100/ACRE EVEN IF *

ALL SEEDS EMERGE.

3 Reasons Why These Seeds May Have Emerged Late.

Seed-to-Soil Contact Inconsistent Moisture Residue in the Furrow

Seeds aren’t firmed into the Not having the proper amount If residue is not removed from
bottom of the furrow allowing of downforce combined with in- in front of the row unit it can
air pockets around them. The accurate depth settings across end up in the seed trench
closing system doesn’t adjust the planter will result in not all wicking moisture away from
for soil density allowing air into seeds having the same access the seed and causing delayed
the soil stalling emergence. to moisture. emergence.

Ask about the Emergence System from Precision Planting.

Your most consistent plant emergence starts at
precisionplanting.com/emergence

*$100/acre loss is based on a 3-year study at the PTI Farm where we saw a 15% loss when only 80% of corn plants emerged on day 1. Using $5.39 corn price and a 200 bu/ac fi eld
average. Precision Planting® is a registered trademark of Precision Planting LLC. ©2021 Precision Planting LLC.
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