Spring Farm Report
Aerial view of the NE 1/4 of Section 22.
Replacing fuel filters on the 656.
It’s been a delayed start to the farming season out here. A long winter with above-average snow including a mid-April blizzard means it’s going to take longer than normal to get into the fields this spring, likely pushing planting well into May. With the additional downtime we’ve been busy getting equipment and machinery ready. The convenience of being close to home has allowed me to set aside some time recently to help my Dad get things ready to go this season.
As you may know corn and soybean prices have been struggling the past few years, resulting in a dramatic decline in farm income. In my Dad’s case farming isn’t a main source of income but the effect of low prices is still affecting many farmers in rural Minnesota. From a product development viewpoint I’ve often wondered why farmers continue to plant these same crops each year despite such terrible prices. Why not target a new market or provide a different solution?
Seeding oats with the 504.
Last Fall I suggested switching things up this year - instead of planting the standard corn and soybeans, why not try some wheat or oats? This Spring I was surprised to find my Dad bought and fixed up an old grain drill (a special planter for small grain) and had decided to plant 10 acres of oats. Despite being a bit late in the season for planting oats we took a half day this week to seed some ground on Section 22. While it remains to be seen whether or not a few acres of oats will generate any discernible difference in profit compared to corn or soybeans there are a few reasons to be excited.
Filling the grain drill with oat seed.
While pricing on oats alone isn’t enough to justify replacing corn or soybeans, raising oats actually produces two products - oats and straw, which can be baled and sold, providing a second revenue stream. On a more subjective and purely aesthetic note, though, a golden field of oats will add a nice contrast to the usual shades of green that permeate the land in late summer. Whatever the result, it will interesting to see how this little oat experiment plays out.
Check back throughout the summer for more updates!