Dry weather is enabling a smooth, productive harvest in the Midwest, but on the latest episode of Unscripted, Farm Journal agronomy expert Ken Ferrie cautions farmers about safety issues arising from the lack of rain interruptions. “Crews can get into zombie mode,” he tells podcast hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths. “Give yourself and crews time to regenerate so we don’t end up with any accidents here at the end.”
As for the size of the harvest, he remains optimistic, despite drought and “the largest infestation of corn aphids I’ve seen in my career,” he says. USDA and Pro Farmer Crop Tour forecasts predict record-breaking corn and soybean yields in some states, including his home state of Illinois. “There are some big numbers coming out of these farms,” he says. “There are a lot of field records falling for corn and soybeans.”
Ferrie and the hosts agree that this year’s main challenge is not lack of grain but where to store it and how to ship it. Record-breaking yields and too much of last year’s grain held for too long is making available bin space hard to find. Labor shortages, particularly the lack of truck drivers, could create bottlenecks as we go deeper into harvest, Ferrie says.
The Questionable Future of Dicamba
There is also concern among farmers about the potential loss of dicamba as a weed management tool. In 2023, weeds were particularly problematic, and dicamba played a crucial role in controlling tough weed populations. Farmers may need to adopt alternative strategies and herbicides if dicamba becomes unavailable, which could increase costs and require more proactive management.
“Will we survive without it? Yes. Will we have to put more herbicides on and be more proactive in different ways? Yes. But it’s a situation where I hope we don’t lose dicamba. At the same time, these guys will deal with it if it happens,” says Ferrie.
The Secret to Soybean Yields
He touches on a wide range of topics throughout the podcast, including advice on when to plant. Yields prove that planting soybeans before corn can lead to better production. “The biggest thing that moves the needle here is planting beans early,” he says. “Today we have fungicides and insecticides to protect those beans that we didn’t have 10 years ago.” He adds that waiting to plant corn has actually increased yields. “Put corn in based on the soil conditions not on the calendar and it will usually reward you,” he says.
The discussion also hits on advances in agricultural technology, such as the increasing use of drones for precision spraying and monitoring crop health. These innovations, including the potential for plants to signal stress through genetic traits, are revolutionizing crop management. Additionally, the integration of advanced technologies in corn planters has significantly enhanced planting precision, contributing to record yields.
Watch the full episode of Unscripted.
