Precision Ag Revolution
Oct. 6 was a historic day for the future of agriculture in South Dakota. That was the day a crowd of supporters gathered on the South Dakota State ...
continue readingNews
Although these are challenging times for farmers, an Iowa State University Extension specialist will deliver a message of hope when he gives a series of crop-marketing presentations in South Dakota beginning Nov. 26.
Steve Johnson, a farm management specialist, will advise farmers how to focus on controllable factors. He’ll discuss cost control and cash flow management, use of risk management tools, growth of farm operations and development of crop marketing plans.
This will be Johnson’s 16th year of making presentations in the GrowingOn program organized by Farm Credit Services of America and South Dakota Corn. There will be presentations in Watertown, Aberdeen, Huron, Mitchell, Yankton and Sioux Falls.
Johnson’s presentation will include five case studies using actual farming operations in South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska.
“The case study farms feature the importance of marketing skills for both old- and new-crop corn and soybeans. For six straight years, using the late-winter and especially the spring months to price old-crop bushels and pre-harvest market new-crop bushels has paid off handsomely,” Johnson says. “For bushels stored unpriced beyond harvest, it is critical that producers understand their local basis trends, futures carry and calculate their own cost of grain ownership.”
Johnson says those real-life examples provide valuable information because they show how farms are achieving success. There’s a heavy focus on cost of production, marketing in the spring with revenue protection and how to determine cash flow needs in the winter.
The case studies are based around the strategies being used by five farmers who raise both corn and soybeans. And although they live in different regions, the farmers are using similar tools and strategies, and doing it successfully.
Johnson will emphasize that pre-harvest marketing has been the right thing to do for the past six years. He says farmers have to be marketing early. When looking at break-evens for farmers, land costs are probably the biggest issue.
His advice to farmers who anticipate they’ll deliver significant amounts of wet or damaged corn or soybeans is to work closely with their merchandiser in advance about the specifics of their dried weight calculations and damage discounts.
Johnson also will discuss the use of crop insurance.
“Farmers should contact their crop insurance agent to determine if they are eligible for a quality adjustment as part of their insurance coverage,” he says. “They also need to keep good records during harvest. These are deemed ‘soft records,’ such as yield monitor data (with calibration), weigh wagon or scales on grain carts, scale tickets and self-measurement of grain bins. These same ‘soft records’ can be used on the new Market Facilitation Program application administered by local USDA FSA offices. If a crop insurance loss occurs, then ‘hard records’ such as grain bin measurements, warehouse receipts or settlement sheets will be required.”
Troy Knecht, president of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, says the GrowingOn presentations always draw big crowds, and Johnson provides a wealth of useful information.
“People come back year after year to hear what Steve has to say,” Knecht says. “Farmers have endured several challenging years, and it’s more important than ever to make sound decisions and take steps to be as efficient as possible.”
Despite a sluggish ag economy, Johnson says there are reasons to be hopeful. The global population is growing, which increases the demand for food. Global incomes also are improving, increasing the demand for feed grains, biofuels, oilseeds and animal protein. Also, the overall U.S. economy is growing.
At the GrowingOn presentations, he’ll share his message of hope.
GrowingOn schedule
Nov. 26 evening – Watertown Event Center
Nov. 27 evening – Aberdeen Dakota Event Center
Nov. 28 evening – Huron Nordby Exhibit Hall
Nov. 29 evening – Mitchell Highlands Conference Center
Nov. 30 afternoon – NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center
Dec. 4 evening – Sioux Falls Convention Center
Times will be announced later.
Subscribe to receive information that impacts South Dakota farmers.
Oct. 6 was a historic day for the future of agriculture in South Dakota. That was the day a crowd of supporters gathered on the South Dakota State ...
continue readingEditor’s note: There’s an outstanding lineup of speakers on tap for the South Dakota Corn Growers Association’s 33rd annual meeting, which will be held ...
continue reading