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.