This latest PFR Report features Clayton Stufflebeam, PFR Location Lead at our Central Illinois PFR discussing how to get your corn planter dialed in for #plant2020. Clayton spends time discussing how to index your planter and the importance of doing so.

For most, the words “super” and “bowl” together bring memories of hot wings, outrageous halftime shows, or funny commercials. But here at Beck’s, these words make us think of one of our favorite small seeds — alfalfa!

For some, the prospect of growing corn following corn is challenging and promising. For others, in contrast to a corn following soybean (SB-C) rotation, the corn following corn (C-C) rotation imparts concern and consternation.

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1-3)

Cycles of precipitation, along with freezing and thawing in the Midwest, made fall field a challenge to say the least. For areas that primarily use anhydrous ammonia, this may be especially true with the increase in annual precipitation that we have experienced in the Corn Belt. Beck’s Practical Farm Research (PFR)^® team has been conducting research on different nitrogen management products and practices to help farmers make decisions and analyze various options to maximize their ROI.

Commodities are either fungible, meaning that they are traded as a class on one market price, or non-fungible, meaning they are traded based on specific quality measures for each unit. Corn is the quintessential fungible commodity – a bushel of corn is a bushel of corn, and corn from Missouri isn’t any different from corn in Ohio, apart from the local cash basis price. Most corn grown in the U.S. is used for fuel or feed; only about 19% of the U.S. crop is used for food. Confused about the difference between food and feed? Well, feed is the food you feed food. Food-grade corn is consumable by humans; it is grown under contract from specific buyers. There are two main types of food-grade corn sold by Beck’s: hard endosperm, and waxy.

Is the only good thing about 2019 that it is over? The road we walked the past year was a hard one. It is tempting to throw our hands up in disgust and call it all a loss. However, we recommend pausing and taking a look back at the 2019 growing season. You often learn the most profound lessons in the midst of struggle.

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (I Peter 1:6-7)

Happy New Year from the PFR team!

As we start selecting new products and practices to test in 2020, we wanted to highlight some of the studies that stood out in 2019 and the lessons that we learned from them.

As we dive into a new decade, I sat down with Craig Hurley, soybean lead for the Beck’s product team. His unique vantage point allows him to evaluate new technologies from across the industry well before they are commercially available.