Posts Tagged ‘AdFarm ND shareholders’
By North Dakota Farm Boss, May 11, 2011
The N.D. AdFarm acres are back to soybeans this season. At a meeting last week, Cooperating Farmer Fred Lukens shared the 2011 farm plan. We’ll grow Pioneer 90Y42 seed soybeans, selected for these traits:
- O.4 maturity, which is medium/long for our area
- Roundup Ready®
- Seed production contract, which is extra work but offers good payback with seed grade
- Good yield potential: Average of 36 bu/acre last year on the Luken’s farm
Why seed soybeans?
We selected these seed soybeans as part of our crop rotation and herbicide plan. As a warm season broadleaf, these soybeans fit our rotation history of corn, pinto beans, winter wheat, barley. The chemical carryover of 20 oz. Atrazine applied in 2010 also fits our management plan. And, of course, we see potential for profits from soybeans this season.
A peek back
This is the 11th year of our N.D. AdFarm educational opportunity. We grow our crops on 70 acres in North Dakota’s Griggs County, SW Section 5 in Lenora Township. We last grew soybeans in 2006 and achieved a profit:
Why we farm
Our goals remain the same:
- Learn about the decision making involved in farming
- Understand the financial challenges
- Intensify our knowledge about regional crops
- See our clients’ products in action (seed, fertilizer, other inputs, plus weather, marketing and other advisors)
- Differentiate our agency
Will we profit this year?
As always, we promise shareholders will receive a one-of-a-kind education through their investment. Other factors for successful farm year depend on:
- Yield
- Length of growing season
- Planting our beans by May 28
- Heat units
- August rain
- Timely harvest
- Seed quality factors
- Marketing
Stay tuned…
Farmers, what’s your 2011 plan? What factors affected your selections? We’d like to hear about it.
Posted in Aneta, ND, Farm Insights, Farm Updates | No Comments »
Tags: AdFarm ND crop, AdFarm ND shareholders, AdFarm ND soybeans, AdFarm North Dakota shareholders, ND farm, ND seed soybean markets, ND seed soybean yield, ND seed soybeans, ND soybeans, North Dakota Soybeans, Pioneer 90Y42 seed soybeans, seed soybean markets, seed soybeans
By North Dakota Farm Boss, May 5, 2011
Learning pays. Sometimes learning pays big.
The 2010 growing season was fantastic for AdFarm North Dakota shareholders in terms of first-hand, vested experience in crop development, management and marketing. Shareholders and 2011 prospective shareholders learned the results of last year and this year’s plan during a meeting in Fargo last week. Highlights include:
Shareholders tune in to the 2010 farm report.
- Corn was the right crop in the right year:
• Excellent growing season
• Right genetics for our land
- Dramatic changes
• In July, China lifted their former policy banning corn imports. In October, the USDA lowered their estimated U.S. corn yield.
• As a result of these two factors and continued strong demand for corn, the corn market continued to move up, and we sold our final corn in February at $6.00/bushel
- Our corn yield was 9,105 bushels
• Yield: 130 bushels/acre
• Avg. selling price: $4.83/bushel
• Breakeven price
– 120 bushel/acre
– $3.15/bushel
- Our yield compared favorably:
| 2010 corn yield |
bu/acre |
| U.S. average |
152.8 |
| N.D. average |
132 |
| Griggs County(including irrigation) |
135.8 |
| Nelson County(no irrigation) |
112.2 |
| N.D. AdFarm |
130.1 |
This was the highest profit ever and the 10th year of the AdFarm N.D. experience
Loyal shareholders like AdFarm Fargo’s Jeff Reed were rewarded nicely, with the largest profit ever.
Check, please
Yes, that translates to a profit of $38/share. Plus the $25/share investment last spring, shareholders received checks for:
1 share at $25 + $38 = $63
2 shares at $50 + $76 = $126
3 shares at $75 + $114 = $189
Loyal shareholders were rewarded nicely. Those who took advantage of the buy 4, get 1 free offer received checks for $290.01. (And one penny!). An investment of $100 + $152 + $38 bonus share= $290.01
In the words of AdFarm Fargo’s Jeff Reed, “Last year was amazing for a few reasons. Everything went the way we always would hope it does from the weather to China opening up and importing corn. As a farmer you know that this just doesn’t happen every year, but when it does, it sure feels good. Kudos to Robbie Lukens for using his psychic powers and hard work getting all the corn in a day before we got 4 inches of rain. Now I can’t wait to see 2011 unfold.”
During the meeting, someone asked, “Why did we sell at $3.30 and $3.40 bu/acre?” Cooperating Farmer Fred Lukens answers: Our projected breakeven at a projected yield of 120 bu/acre was $3.20. The Marketing Committee agreed that both $3.30 and $3.40 were above our breakeven and were good selling prices for corn compared to the previous year’s corn selling prices.
Last year’s marketing committee was guided by Cooperating Farmer Fred Lukens and relied on Weatherplanner for help in crop selection, and Grain Marketing Advisor Mike Krueger of The Money Farm for in-season crop marketing information.
Next up: Our 2011 plan. Hint: Back to soybeans.
Farmers, how was your 2010 crop? What factors affected your yields and marketing strategies? What’s your 2011 plan? We’d like to hear about it.
Posted in Ag Events, Aneta, ND, Farm Insights, Farm Updates, Farm Updates, Farmer Interview, Food Production, Marketing, Perspectives | No Comments »
Tags: AdFarm ND corn, AdFarm ND corn crop, AdFarm ND shareholders, AdFarm North Dakota shareholders, china corn import, corn markets, ND corn, ND corn markets, ND corn yield, ND farm, North Dakota Corn, Pioneer 39D97 corn, Pioneer corn
By North Dakota Farm Boss, December 8, 2010
‘Tis the season for…patience
Corn prices have gone down in the last few weeks, from $5.15 locally to $4.35. No reason to worry for AdFarm North Dakota shareholders, however.
Since August, corn (and soybean) prices had been soaring on news that U.S. grain yields were down and supplies around the world were tighter than anticipated. Yet during a few weeks in November, corn prices dropped dramatically. Why?
This year’s marketing committee takes guidance from Grain Marketing Advisor Mike Krueger of The Money Farm. He, and other proven grain marketers, believe that this drop in corn prices is a result of:
- Increases in the price of the dollar
- Funds
- Computer trading
- Rumors that China had less corn than expected due to early frosts in its main grain-growing region and was threatening to raise domestic interest rates or implement price controls
Most believe market will come back
The marketing committee met on November 23. With input from Cooperating Farmer Fred Lukens, the group continues its patience guidance, which includes:
- Predicted stocks-to-use ratio is about half what it was three years ago when corn hit $6.50 locally
- We sold 4,000 bu of our corn at average price of $3.35
- We have the balance of our corn scheduled for January delivery with a locked in basis of 75¢
- December is not a market-moving month
- Our breakeven at the 145 bu yield level is around $2.90/bu
- We’ll make our final sale decisions in January
Still in the bin
This year’s crop of about 10,100 bushels of AdFarm corn, Pioneer 39D97, remains in the bin. Fred says: “The grain is in good shape. With the cold weather, we’ll shut off the fans soon.”
Patience = profits
Meanwhile, remain patient, AdFarm shareholders. And have a lovely holiday season!
Farmers, how is your grain marketing going? What’s your take on the markets? We’d like to hear about your grain marketing moves.
Posted in Ag Events, Agronomics, Aneta, ND, Culture, Farm Insights, Farm Updates, Farm Updates, Farmer Interview, Food Production, Marketing, Perspectives | No Comments »
Tags: AdFarm ND corn, AdFarm ND corn crop, AdFarm ND shareholders, AdFarm North Dakota shareholders, china corn rumors, corn futures, corn markets, ND corn, ND corn markets, ND corn yield, ND farm, North Dakota Corn, Pioneer 39D97 corn, Pioneer corn, when to sell corn
By North Dakota Farm Boss, October 19, 2010
Shareholders, rejoice.
Harvest is done on our AdFarm N.D. acres and about 10,100 bushels of AdFarm corn, Pioneer 39D97, is in the air bin. The moisture sample was 19.3%, which is low enough for air bins.
“The yield was good, although it’s a guess with wet corn,” explains Cooperating Farmer Fred Lukens. “Shrink is about 6% for 19.5% corn dried down to 14.5%, according to North Dakota State University (NDSU). My 10,100 bu estimate is ‘after shrink.’ This would put us in the 144 bu/acre range.”
Of course we won’t know the exact bushels until we deliver it to the elevator. With good weather, the corn in the air bins will be dry by the end of November.
Profit is no problem
This year’s marketing committee has taken these steps to achieve profits for shareholders:
- Sold 4,000 bu of our corn at an average price of $3.35
- The rest is yet to sell. Right now, January delivery basis locked in at 75¢
Our price today for Jan. delivery would be $5.00/bu, yet corn prices are still going up, so the committee will look at the November USDA report, watch the markets and set the final price as the corn finishes drying
Shareholders, don’t spend your profits yet, but smile at your smart investment.
Check out our beautifully barren, freshly harvested field at Fred’s own blog post.
Farmers, how is your harvest going? Do you know a farmer with corn in? How’s it looking? We’d like to hear about corn harvest around North America.
Posted in Ag Events, Agronomics, Aneta, ND, Culture, Events, Farm Insights, Farm Updates, Farmer Interview, Food Production, Marketing, Perspectives | 1 Comment »
Tags: AdFarm ND corn, AdFarm ND corn crop, AdFarm ND shareholders, AdFarm North Dakota shareholders, farm ND corn markets, ND corn, ND corn air bin, ND corn yield, North Dakota Corn, Pioneer 39D97 corn, Pioneer corn
By North Dakota Farm Boss, October 14, 2010
Combine in AdFarm corn now
That whirring sound you hear? Should make AdFarm North Dakota shareholders want to cheer.
Today, the combine is in the AdFarm North Dakota corn field, harvesting our 2010 crop, which is Pioneer 39D97.
Cooperating Farmer Fred Lukens explains: “We finished combining soybeans on our farm yesterday. We’ve heard reports of neighbors combining their early corn in the 18% moisture range. Neighbors report early corn yields in the 140 bu/acre range.”
Room in the air bin
“Busch allowed us to haul in nearly 30,000 bushels of malting barley, so we have room for our seed soybeans and about 20,000 bushels of air bins with big fans suitable for corn. If the AdFarm corn is under 22%, which is a safe bet, we’ll put the AdFarm corn directly into these air bins for final drydown. It should be dry by the end of November, although there are many variables,” Fred says.
Shareholders, we’ll keep you posted. You can also read Fred’s own blog post on the AdFarm N.D. corn
Farmers, how is your harvest? Do you know a farmer harvesting corn? Friend or a family member? We want to hear about corn harvest around North America.
Posted in Ag Events, Agronomics, Aneta, ND, Culture, Farm Insights, Farm Updates, Farm Updates, Farmer Interview, Food Production, Marketing, Perspectives | No Comments »
Tags: AdFarm ND corn, AdFarm ND corn crop, AdFarm ND shareholders, AdFarm North Dakota shareholders, farm ND corn markets, Fred Lukens, Griggs Dakota, ND corn, ND corn harvest, ND corn marketing, ND corn yield, North Dakota Corn, Pioneer 39D97
