Over the last 25 years, soybean herbicide trait technologies have continued to increase and improve weed control options. However, the resulting chemical programs have relied heavily on the use of two products, glyphosate and glufosinate, as a base for weed control. As a result of the high demand and the challenges experienced over the last year and a half in both production and shipping, these two commonly applied herbicides are in short supply. Not only will getting these products likely be a challenge, but the price of these products has increased several times what they were in previous growing seasons.

If you are like me, you probably believe that the planting pass is the most important pass you will make all season. Jason Gahimer and I presented Everything Planters at Beck’s 2021 Field Shows and Becknology™ Days. The goal of this talk was to express previous research data and showcase new topics to help make that all-important pass the best possible. Below I highlight the topics we discussed at our field shows.

For the introductory decades of Beck’s, the company consisted of Francis, his wife Pauline, their youngest child, Sonny, and a few farm employees. Its simple business plan called for reinvesting most of the profit back into the enterprise. It resembled the same steps followed by many farmers: Grow a little crop. Sell a little crop. Buy another little farm. Repeat.

In a high-cost, limited input supply market, where should farmers invest their money? This year’s Practical Farm Research (PFR)® Insight Meetings are based on the theme of ‘How to Invest Money to Make Money.’ Sessions that will be included under this new theme are focused on helping farmers make the most profitable and impactful decisions on their operations, for each dollar spent. Under each unique management topic, new study harvest data and PFR Proven™ content will be featured. The spotlight on PFR Proven™ products and practices will tell stories of the knowledge PFR has captured from multiple years and locations of testing. Innovation is key to staying relevant with changes and opportunities in the industry – watch out for what new studies entered the PFR program this past growing season and what has earned the PFR Proven label. Here’s a preview of what content will be shared at the in-person and virtual meetings!

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; (I Thessalonians 5:16-18a)

Wow! What an early and long harvest window we have been blessed with this year! September began the start of harvest for the Practical Farm Research (PFR)® team after Field Show season wrapped up. For those who attended Beck’s Field Shows in-person or virtually, sneak peeks of our 2021 studies were highlighted throughout the buggy tours and tent talks. Once harvest data rolls in from the PFR sites, the studies’ information is analyzed and assembled in the annual PFR Book. What’s new for the 2021 PFR Book?

O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psalm 34:8) 

The verse above took on new meaning for Teri and I recently when we became ill with Covid-19 and both lost our sense of taste and smell. All things considered, those were some of the minor side effects. As I write this, I still do not have my taste or smell back, and maybe I will not get them back, but in the grand scheme of life…I WILL live.

Over the past several decades, there has been growing interest by many farmers to adopt different tillage methods for reducing soil erosion, protecting valuable crop residue, conserving soil moisture, and reducing fuel consumption. While there has been successful adoption of no-till cropping systems in many areas to help accomplish several of these goals, some farmers have experienced lower yields and reduced ROI when attempting no-till practices.

Harvest season has quickly approached fields across the Midwest. Accumulating adequate heat units over the summer has allowed for corn and soybean crops to be taken out of the fields now. For corn production fields, the destination after the crop has passed through the combine is back to the processing plants to be processed. Exactly how does the production process work? Jim Herr, Beck’s Processing/ Inventory/Wholesale Manager, along with Jason Morehouse, Production Manager, give us an update on what’s happening in seed corn production this harvest season!

Com.mit.ment: a) an agreement or pledge to do something in the future, b) something pledged, c) the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled.