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Challenging the status quo for the 2020 crop year

A commercial agronomist says if farmers want to get the most out of the technology they’re using, they can’t rely solely on the calendar date to plant.

Precision Planting’s Jason Webster says 2019 was a perfect reminder why.  “We mudded corn in,” he says.  “We all did it.  But I’m seeing 57 to 67 bushel per acre yield decreases and those losses were almost $250 to the acre.  We have to make our applications and operations in the field when it’s fit.  Otherwise, all this technology that we have – it’s not going to do us any good.”

He tells Brownfield he’s challenging farmers to think outside the box for 2020 – especially when it comes to fertility programs.  “We call it a reallocation program where we’re backing off the dry fertilizer we’re putting on typically,” he says.  “And then we’re redirecting nutrients on to the planter.”

Webster says adding nitrogen to the planter is one of the highest revenue gainers in trials at the Precision Technology Farm.  “Sixty-dollars per acre,” he says.  “We’re using the same rate of nitrogen, but I’m swinging farm-family income by $60 an acre.  We’re farming 1,000 acres of corn and we’re bringing in another $60 an acre, that’s the difference between making money and losing money in a lot of cases.”

Webster spoke to Brownfield recently at Precision Planting’s Winter Conference Tremont, Illinois.

AUDIO: Jason Webster, commercial agronomist, Precision Planting