As the seasons change, farmers across the country know they must change their focus, whether it be to planting, spraying, or harvesting. No matter the time of year, though, each producer must take various factors into consideration to get the most out of their land.
From crop diseases to equipment maintenance, these individuals cannot let anything fall under the radar if they are to succeed in their farming endeavors. This post will outline tips for farmers as they look to get the most out of their land, including:
Metrics for Determining the Health of Crops
As in any line of business, farmers monitor certain metrics to determine how successful they can truly be, whether they are planning for the planting season or are in the middle of their harvest season. This includes the following.
Crop Appearance
When determining the health of their crops, one of the first things that farmers consider is appearance. While this is not a foolproof method, something like leaf color, for example, can help give a general idea of whether a crop needs a little extra attention.
Crop Growth
How a crop grows can be another important factor in determining whether a crop is healthy or not. If a crop has short branches or doesn’t appear to be growing any new shoots, chances are that there is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Stress Tolerance / Resistance
Just as stress can negatively impact humans, so too can it affect crops in the form of decreased yields. External factors such as high temperatures, lack of water, and not enough natural light, among others, can all damage crops permanently if they are not healthy enough in the first place. If a crop is healthy, however, it can withstand the pressure of these stressors and bounce back without issue.
Susceptibility to Pests & Disease
If farmers notice that more than half of their crop population has been damaged by pests or disease, it is likely that their plot is extremely susceptible to these issues. That said, there are steps that farmers can take to protect their crops and build resistance, including crop rotation.
Ability to Fight Against Weeds
Fields that are overrun by weeds have little to no chance of being able to house healthy crops – this is because weeds thrive off stealing nutrients from crops. If crops are protected, however, they should be able to fight off the weeds that threaten to destroy them entirely.
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