Editors' Notebook

In the DTN newsroom we are itching for spring, as are many of our readers. As we prepped and planned for upcoming reports (USDA Prospective Plantings on March 31) and the start of spring series (View From the Cab written by Special Correspondent Richard Oswald), DTN Crops/Technology Editor Pam Smith suggested I ask a group of readers how they spent their time this winter. Here are their responses.

Those with livestock carry bigger burdens in the winter as animals need to be fed and watered no matter what the polar vortex has planned. Here are a couple of notes from cattle producers.

Karen Johnson, Avoca, Iowa

"I've had enough cold to last me for the rest of the winter for sure. We have three Mirafount cattle waterers frozen and a hydrant close to the house. After checking things out, Bill (Karen's husband) is sure we have water pipes frozen in the ground somewhere. It'll have to thaw more until we can see water bubbling to the surface of the ground so we can see where we'll have to dig. Fun! Fun!"

Bob Birdsell, Stanberry, Missouri

"Just trying to keep the cattle fed. By the time you get that done you don't want to do anything else. We also hated to let all the heat out of the shop to bring in something new unless we just had to. It has warmed up enough to get rid of most of the snow, so we can move some grain to town. The heifers start calving any day now."

Moving old-crop grain, when the weather cooperated, was also a popular winter task.

Scott Wallis, Princeton, Indiana

"Here in southern Indiana we have been delivering grain in between storms and preparing equipment for spring. Our main project has been plumbing our nurse trailers to 3 inches for faster filling time."

Cory Ritter, Blue Mound, Ill.

"We have been trying to move grain. That has been a struggle this year! Cold weather, ice and snow have slowed this process down to a snail's pace. I have also been learning! Like many farmers, marketing has been easy the past few years and I got lazy. Going to events, like the DTN Summit in Chicago, have helped very much. I still have much to learn, and this process will continue all year."

Kevin Ross, Essex, Ontario

"Here in southern Ontario, like most places around, we've had record snow falls and we've been plowing snow in the city way more then I'd like to. Outside of that, I made it down to the Louisville farm show for a few days and we've been shipping corn when the weather cooperates."

In some areas, winter brings time to clear land for more planting, consider crop mix changes or try to add acres to the operation.

Jamie Harris, Florida

"We have been busy this winter cleaning up 120 acres that was in pines and putting a pivot on it. We haven't had the snow and ice because we are in Florida but we have been abnormally wet. This has made our land clearing project go longer than usual. We will actually be putting 40 acres of sweet corn in on Monday for commercial production. However we will not start field corn planting until the 6th. Unfortunately, our southern tractors never get to stop for a waxing. Enjoying 80 degrees today!"

Bud Tate, Greenwood, Mississippi

"We, in the central Mississippi Delta are thawing out and winter grasses are finally showing up. Won't be long before the crop dusters are putting out burndown.

"We had a window of opportunity, during the last of January, to do some field work. There are not many times that I can remember, when so many farmers were working during deer season. Farmers were able to get a lot of land put in rows for the planting season. Most of the farmers are busy in meetings with their crop insurance agents, since we have to be signed up by the end of February. There will be a mad rush for the next couple of weeks to get their crop mix figured out and their banker satisfied. Then we start planting corn around the first week of March and are going full force by the last week.

"I run a country elevator in the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta, where cotton was king for the last 150 years. Well, move over cotton, corn has arrived. We have turned into Iowa -- miles and miles of corn, almost like a forest compared to the shorter crops of cotton or soybeans. We are busy shipping corn to get ready for the next crop, as we have several projects this spring that will require us to shut down operations. While we are not shipping, we will be busy doing repairs in preparation for the next crop."

Will Nicholson, Cherry Valley, Arkansas

"Down in Arkansas, it has been colder than normal. Our duck water was froze up a lot this season. I tried to rent more farm ground, but so far no luck. My crop scout and seed guy are picking most (of what's) available up. Checking crops in bins. Getting them ready to move out. Talking with grain brokers about selling crops. My milo is going 110 south into Mississippi. I guess they wanted it the worse. Medium-grain rice old crop is bringing big money now. Long grain isn't bad. But the upcoming crop year has me worried. This will be my third year and it has the worst-looking start ... lower crop prices, no government check and the insurance does us little good in the south."

In winter, ag bankers thoughts are on cash flows and loan details.

Adam Stonecipher, Danville, Illinois

"Ag banker here. We're in the middle of a busy time of year that bankers call 'renewal season' -- a time where we meet with all of our farm clients on an individual basis to renew operating loans for another year. Besides negotiating loan terms and going over cash flows, we're also using this annual meeting as an opportunity to review risk management and marketing plans for the upcoming crop year, as well as discussing financial progress and going over key benchmark ratios that every operation should be tracking. With prices at/near breakeven levels, our clients are definitely being cautious with capital purchases for 2014 -- which is a complete reversal from a year ago. It seems this may be starting to have a mild impact on land and machinery markets in our area.

"I have a lot of clients with on farm storage that still have corn in the bins, and many are eager for a break in the weather to get their crop hauled to town. Though, now it is starting to thaw out and get muddy and sloppy! I think a lot of clients were using the bad weather as an opportunity to stay inside and catch up on bookwork and cash flows."

Specialty crop growers, like fruit and vegetable producers, have their own set of issues in the winter.

Phil Carter, New Era, Mich.

"As I have earlier, none of the mentioned activities have happened in west central Michigan fruit country. Our winter has been taken up with attending meetings on farm labor, new tax laws, farm safety updates, legislative seminars and getting our income tax reporting out of the way. The remainder of our waking hours have been moving the 120 inches of that blessed lake-effect white stuff the polar vortex blessed us with.

"My tree-trimming crew has been very diligent in trimming apples and it has been my task to keep the roads into the orchard open by using the snowplow and the loader bucket and 7-foot double auger snow blower on two different tractors to accomplish the task. Texas doesn't grow many apples and it's been too cold to wax tractors (haven't had time anyway). Oh well, sometime spring will come and we'll change gears with planting new orchards and beginning the 6-month spraying season. "

And then, there are the farm shows.

Gerald Gauck, Ripley County, Indiana

"We were going to Florida for six weeks, but had to change our plans as we had frozen water lines and snow-covered roads when we planned to leave. We are definitely ready for spring. Some of us are heading to the Commodity Classic next week. That will help our morale."

If you would like to be a part of the conversation, send me an email and I will add you to our email consultation group. Cheri.Zagurski@dtn.com

Stay warm and keep the faith. Winter never lasts forever.

(CZ/BAS)

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