Producers will continue to embrace new farming practices in 2013, according to survey results presented at Ag Connect Expo & Summit (ACES) in Kansas City on Jan. 30. According to the survey, which was sponsored by Case IH, 85 percent of the 1,109 producer respondents are considering new cropping practices and technologies for this year’s growing season. The results were revealed at an ACES presentation by Brian and Darren Hefty, co-hosts of RFD-TV’s weekly Ag PhD program.
“These survey results are not surprising,” says Brian, who operates Hefty Seed Co. and farms approximately 2,500 acres with Darren near Baltic, S.D. “Agriculture is driven by new technologies. Farmers face new challenges with each cropping year. It might be drought, flooding, new diseases or high fertilizer prices – it’s a seemingly endless list. Innovative solutions and technology are how we’re going to be able to create a better growing environment and positively impact the farm’s bottom line.”
“As one would expect, survey respondents are willing to try new technology that has the potential to increase yield or reduce input costs,” adds Darren. “This is especially true for technology that can increase yields since it has the most impact on producer profitability.”
Cover Crops Make A Come Back
Cover crops are the top farming practice that will be tried for the first time in 2013 with 24 percent of respondents planning to plant them. “We’re seeing resurgence in cover crop use for multiple reasons,” says Brian. “They can improve soil tilth, water infiltration, organic matter levels, and soil fertility, as well as reduce erosion and suppress weeds. Clearly, a single cover crop will not accomplish all of these benefits. Producers need to determine their goals as each potential benefit may require a different seeding program.”
Another practice to improve soil health – vertical tillage – ranked as a close No. 2 with 23 percent of respondents planning to use a vertical-tillage tool to maintain conservation benefits of residue while making it more manageable at planting time. \
“Vertical tillage prior to planting is becoming more popular every year,” says Darren. “The need to manage corn stalks in a no-till system is one reason. Other reasons are to incorporate manure, lime or fertilizer into the soil, as well as conditioning the seedbed prior to planting.”
Rounding out the top five new farming practices to be tried for the first time in 2013 were resuming deep tillage (22 percent), no-tillage (18 percent) and strip tillage (15 percent).
Accelerated Adoption Of Precision Farming
New precision farming tools will play a significant role in farming operations in 2013, especially during the planting season. Variable-rate fertilizer application will be used by 27 percent of survey respondents for the first time as a way to reduce production costs and increase yields. “Farmers are seeing additional profits with variable-rate fertilizer applications as they are able to increase grain yields without increasing total nutrient inputs,” says Brian. “This is especially true with today’s grain and fertilizer prices.”
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