As the 2021 growing season comes to a close and the focus turns to 2022, truths about farming remain one of the few constants in life. Good seeds grow good crops. Weeds are going to show up at some point. The weather is an unknown. These are the constants farmers can base all calculations on each season.
Tour Truths
On the recent Pro Farmer Crop Tour, scouts verified that even an ongoing pandemic can’t change these truths. They found great genetic potential, weed pressure or a lack of weed pressure, and weather as a help or hindrance.
At the end of the Tour, Pro Farmer put out its own national yield prediction calling for slightly better results than USDA expected in August:
- 177 bu. per acre on corn
- 51.2 bu. per acre for soybeans
In just a month’s time the crop has seen triple digit heat indexes, windstorms, flooding rains, hurricanes and persistent drought. Given trends, expectations and truths, it sounds like things are right on track.
Despite the best ability, technology and capabilities the world and history has ever known, farming remains a challenge. As farmers prepare to take on another year, diligence remains the operative word. Manage the knowns of your operation: seeds, weeds, inputs and equipment. Make room for the unknowns and expect difficult days to be part of every equation.
