View From the Cab

By Pam Smith
DTN Progressive Farmer Crops Technology Editor

DECATUR, Ill. (DTN) -- The proverb "make hay while the sun shines" may have originated with English farmers in medieval times, but it still rings true today.

Ohioan Genny Haun and Kansas-based Kyle Krier were feeling the urgency to finish various farm operations as rain predictions loomed for the coming week. DTN is following these farmers through the 2018 growing season with weekly reports.

Both Haun and Krier and their farm crews celebrated the hot and steamy Memorial Day in the field. Soybean planting was finishing up at the Ohio-based Layman Farms. Krier had all hands on deck putting up hay.

Plant and wait isn't in the vocabulary for these two young farmers. They are both tapping into specialty crop markets that require additional attention to detail.

"Non-GMO crops are one of the ways we are carving out opportunity for additional profits," said Haun. "It takes extra planning and execution, and that's why those premiums are there for us. On the other hand, there are more steps and details to consider too."

With multiple generations living and working on the farm, there's a need to diversify profit centers -- which means there is rarely a dull moment. You might say that being willing to tackle these kinds of opportunities is just another way to make hay while the sun shines.

Here's what is happening in their parts of the world:

GENNY HAUN: KENTON, OHIO

The corn crop is up and growing at Layman Farms. Emergence is good and sidedressing with 28% began last Friday.

Pennies count and Genny Haun explained that the farm has found economic efficiencies in hauling its own product off the Ohio River -- the local co-op has a terminal there. "We haul in 32% and tank blend 8-0-0-9S to cut it back to 28%S," she said.

All pre-emergence herbicide sprays have gone out. The corn herbicide program is meant to be a one-pass program, but they add a spot sprayer on the sidedress applicator to catch small weed breaks.

If they can dodge raindrops, the soybeans should be planted by midweek. "Both air seeders ran well after dark last night. One more good day and we should finish up," Haun said.

Follow-up weed control in soybeans is next up on the must-do list. They have two contracts to supply non-GMO soybeans this year. Premiums for food grade soybeans can tack on as much as $2.00 per bushel over Chicago.

Getting clean and staying clean without breaking the bank is key to making those premiums pay, Haun said. Weed control starts with intensive residual burndown on all soybean acres. They typically use a mixture of herbicides that results in the use of two modes of action to control existing vegetation and two additional soil residual products.

"One weed we struggle to keep in check is pokeweed," Haun said. "Even with intense management, you're liable to see us scouting fields on the Kubota with a hand sprayer at the ready."

The post-emergence soybean herbicide program differs slightly from field to field depending on broadleaf weed issues. Fortunately, they still find PPO and ALS-inhibitors effective. Post weed control costs run about a $1.00 per acre higher than on acres that contain herbicide traits.

"Some think that growing non-GMO throws your chemistry costs sky high," Haun noted. "For us, the seed is a little less expensive and the chemistry is a little higher, so that is about a wash.

"The premium we get at market is enticing. But to be honest, some of the non-GMO seed has older genetics that struggle to hang with the new powerhouse genetics. Sometimes yields can take a hit," she said.

Switching to generic herbicides where possible is one way the farm combats the higher input costs. "Unbundling the programs offered by companies isn't always easy," Haun observed. "However, we've found we can often tailor the program better to our needs and save 20% to 25% without sacrificing performance."

Once soybean planting is complete, there will be a tractor freed up to tackle some custom tiling jobs. The first one of those tiling projects is to clean up damage done during wind turbine installation.

There's also grain hauling to be done during the next month. That will close out the 2017 crop and bins can be cleaned and prepped for the 2018 harvest.

KYLE KRIER: CLAFLIN, KANSAS

Kyle Krier, was racing to get the first cutting of alfalfa put up and covered with tarps before a predicted, and greatly needed, rain started to fall.

"We've got a swather, baler and two rakes running today," said Krier on Memorial Day. Holiday celebrations go on hold when you've got hay down and a forecast of showers for the week ahead.

In fact, he was headed to grab a tractor to hook on to the square bale stacker when he called in his weekly report on Monday.

"I've only got one other guy that can 'sort of' run the stacker," he said. "'Sort of' doesn't work too well if the stack falls over." He had finished large round bales and was putting the majority of the first cutting up in the large 3 x 4 x 8 square bales.

"The first cutting is decent, especially on younger stands -- 1.5 ton per acre or better," he reported. A lot of his time this past week was been spent answering calls from hay-hungry customers.

"We're on low stocks of all hay inventory -- not just alfalfa," Krier said. "There are a lot of strong bids coming in right now, particularly from dairies."

While the plant stems associated with the first cutting can be a bit tougher than dairies prefer, the shortage of hay across the country is driving demand. He had that in mind when making the decision to cut a bit earlier than he might have otherwise on this first crop of the season --aiming for the quality needed to keep those dairies happy.

By Wednesday, Krier's mown fields had received 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain. It was welcome relief to an area that desperately needed a drink, but about half of his acres were still left to bale.

"It was a trade-off because we were in desperate need of a good rain to get yields rolling for second cutting," he noted.

Managing newly cut fields is mostly a matter of controlling weeds. The Roundup Ready alfalfa gets a shot of glyphosate to control unwanted grasses.

The majority -- 75% -- of Krier's alfalfa acres are non-GMO. "Many of the dairies simply will not take anything but non-GMO," he noted. "If we even have a partial bale of Roundup Ready in the chamber when moving to a non-GMO field, we will cull that bale out and segregate it as Roundup Ready."

Krier estimated that hay that is not genetically modified commands a premium of an additional 10%. "Cost of production and yield isn't that much different. Seed cost of Roundup Ready alfalfa is nearly double that of non-GMO," he said.

The life of a hay maker doesn't afford much sleep at times. "I've been averaging about four to five hours a night this past week," he confessed. "I'm not going to lie -- that rain offered a much needed rest."

However, a good friend and neighbor struggling with severe health issues can make even the need for sleep seem trivial. "We've been helping with their kids when we can and that's given all of us a reality check about what is really important," he said.

Pamela Smith can be reached at Pamela.smith@dtn.com

Follow her on Twitter @PamSmithDTN

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