Grain Profitability

FINIDNG A NEW

HORSE FOR A NEW

RACE

Doanes’ Says…

19811991

20012006

3-D Column 1

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

TO

NN

ES

YEAR

TONES PER HECTARE

19811991

20012006

MILLION TONNES

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

WORLD GRAIN STOCKS

HOW DOES IT LOOK

WORLD YIELD VS CARRYOVER

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1981 1991 2001 2006

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

CARRYOVER

YIELD

GIVEN THE TRENDS THE WORLD WILL BE 63 MILLION TONNES SHORT OF GRAIN OR 20 MILLION HECTARES OF NEW GROUND

How does planting date affect

yield?

• The date itself does

not really make the

difference.

• It seems to be the

pollination time

relative to weather

that makes a

difference

BETTER USE OF FERTILIZER

• HOW MUCH IS TOO

MUCH?

• HOW MUCH IS TOO

LITTLE ?

• HOW MUCH TO

MAKE THE MOST

MONEY?

How did ESN perform?

ESN DRY STARTER ONLY

NITROGEN SULFUR UP FRONT

ESN TRIAL-CORN NO ESN & SIDE DRESS

ESN TRIAL—CORN W/ESN & SIDE DRESS

ANHYDROUS ALL UP FRONT

ANHYDROUS SIDE DRESS

SURPRISE, SURPRISE!

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

%N

0

50

100

150

200

250

PO

UN

DS

N

% N IN PLANT

POUNDS N

COST OF NH3

• COST AT THE PIPE AT THE PLANT

• NO DISTRIBUTOR COSTS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS

• NO RETAILER MARK UPS

GAS TO NH3 COSTS

$-

$2.00

$4.00

$6.00

$8.00

$10.00

$12.00

$14.00

$16.00

$233 $267 $300 $333 $367 $400 $433 $467 $500

WHAT CAN WE TAKE AWAY?

• Samples were taken when corn was about the third collar—good timing of application to N usage

• Cover crop does help tie up soil & nitrogen

• We did see that 70 lb. nitrogen will get a crop safely and had the second highest tissue reading…this was on sandy, light soil.

• Nitrogen timing…not quantity makes the biggest difference

• Good overall nutrient balance is the most efficient use of nitrogen

• Follow your soil sample results for proper balance

Current nitrogen study shows…

• Yield goal based nitrogen guides provide

too little N to 20% of the field

• Provide right amount to 20% of the field

And…

• PROVIDE TOO MUCH NITROGEN TO

60% OF THE FIELD

ESN ON WHEAT

• We had some great results!

• Product releases on a continual basis and

does not promote rapid growth

• Cell walls of the shoot appear to be kept

strong and resist lodging

• Nitrogen released in the boot stages did

help improve protein content

ESN does allow you to shift from

ammonium sulfate and regulate

the amount of sulfur you apply to

the field, and helps maintain pH.

Consider switching sulfur needs

to K-Mag.

Soil Sampling

• This one sample

represents up to 50

acres of your farm

• It needs to be treated

with care and

consistency

• It is a tremendous

opportunity…

While we are there we can…

• Review soil tilth

• Review weed control

• Notice any wet holes,

dry knolls

• Be able to notice

areas of compaction

• Be able to make a

better rec’s.

What are some things we notice?

• What about those pH’s?— why are they

low?

• Lime is the best way to correct pH!!

• Damp Lime or Dry Lime?

– Key is to lime when needed. Once we get

below 5.8 pH we consistently see yield loss

due to low magnesium uptake.

– Weed control begins to diminish at 5.5 pH

O. K. we have a low pH

• Not all is at loss, a moderate investment

will return you substantial yield gains

• Plan on a lime program for 2-4 yr. cycle

• Supplement a foliar feeding of magnesium

– 2 to 4 lbs of magnesium sulfate per acre

– This applies to corn, beans and small grain

– This is a great opportunity to supplement a

little nitrogen or potassium at the same time

Copper is King

• Copper is a micro nutrient-use it in

moderation

• Copper helps with wheat test weight

• Copper has natural fungicidal properties

• Great opportunity to foliar apply some

magnesium at the same time!

WEATHER

AND

CORN

DEVELOPMENT

Worton Precipitation Comparison

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

3/30 4/

64/

134/

204/

27 5/4

5/11

5/18

5/25 6/

16/

86/

156/

226/

29 7/6

7/13

7/20

7/27 8/

38/

108/

178/

248/

31 9/7

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

AVG

2006

FIVE YEAR AVERAGES

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

35003/3

0

4/6

4/1

3

4/2

0

4/2

7

5/4

5/1

1

5/1

8

5/2

5

6/1

6/8

6/1

5

6/2

2

6/2

9

7/6

7/1

3

7/2

0

7/2

7

8/3

8/1

0

8/1

7

8/2

4

8/3

1

9/7

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

GDD

Rainfall

FIVE YEAR AVERAGES

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

3/3

0

4/6

4/1

3

4/2

0

4/2

7

5/4

5/1

1

5/1

8

5/2

5

6/1

6/8

6/1

5

6/2

2

6/2

9

7/6

7/1

3

7/2

0

7/2

7

8/3

8/1

0

8/1

7

8/2

4

8/3

1

9/7

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

GDD

Rainfall

Vegetative Stages

Worton Growing Degree Days Comparison

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

3/30 4/

64/

134/

204/

27 5/4

5/11

5/18

5/25 6/

16/

86/

156/

226/

29 7/6

7/13

7/20

7/27 8/

38/

108/

178/

248/

31 9/7

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

AVG