For most farmers in Wisconsin and northern Illinois, the spring planting season seems like a long distant look into the future, but prepping for that time should start from the seat of the combine. With increases in yield, plant population and stalk quality, residue management has become one of the most important aspects of farming.

While fertilizer is a key input, many farmers are faced with low grain prices and margins. Though many crop advisors belabor the merits of different soil testing approaches, rarely do they consider accurate fertilizer recommendations that fit specific production and economic scenarios.

With harvest underway, the 2016 season will be complete in the coming weeks. This is also the time of the year when fertilizer is being applied and decisions are being made for 2017. As we all know, nitrogen (N) is a critical component to high yields, and much of Iowa’s N is applied before a crop is ever planted. Late fall and spring applied N is a common practice and ensures that a portion of N is applied before planting. 

After a slow start to the 2016 harvest, farmers throughout Ohio are now in full swing. Harvest marks the final stage to our 2016 crop, it is also the first step in preparing for your 2017 crop. Sitting in the combine at harvest is the perfect time to evaluate the various inputs and practices we implemented throughout the past growing season. 

Cover crops offer a variety of benefits from reducing erosion to adding nutrients to your soil. When I start a conversation with a farmer about cover crops, my first question is always, “what are your goals for the cover crop?” Cover crops are used for many different reasons so it’s important to know why you need them before you plant. A pre-determined goal will help you decide which cover crop or cover crop mixture you should plant on your farm. 

1. Variety Selection. Select varieties that are best suited for your operation’s needs, whether that’s based on maturity for harvest timing and soybean double-cropping, straw and/or grain yield, management level, or a combination of these needs. In addition, maturity and harvest timing may be important for timely manure management, summer drainage tile projects, or timely cover-crop seeding. Utilize data from universities, third-party testing services, seed companies, and local performance-based product recommendations from your Beck’s representative to help select the best varieties available. University of Illinois research from 2013 and 2014 shows a 20 percent difference in grain yield just by selecting top-performing wheat varieties.

Some of our most southern areas have already begun harvesting corn and the rest should be starting this month. Something to keep in mind when harvesting is how you will manage the corn residue.

Early fall is mostly pre-harvest time in my area. We can evaluate the past growing season and consider possible changes to our operations. One of the most commonly discussed programs this summer has been
the LibertyLink® system for 2017.

As the growing season comes to an end, it’s always a good idea to review weather records and the various practices that you experimented with on your farms. Once again, weather events created challenges throughout the 2016 growing season that were beyond our control.

As harvest progresses, it’s important to take time to look at what the corn crop has to tell us. Walk your fields and evaluate hybrids for disease, stalk quality, and nutrient deficiencies. Not only will a last minute scouting session help us evaluate the farming and management practices implemented this past year, but it will also help us plan for harvest work. Now is also the time to explore options for residue management and fertilizer decisions.