Weather is changing. The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are getting cooler. Fall is also time to confirm your 2013 seed orders. Mother Nature is in control of each year’s production, but good management can show huge results in both good and bad years.
As we look going into next year, keep in mind the lessons learned in 2012:
- Crop Planning: It made a big difference this year! Make a plan, field by field, soil by soil.
- Diversified Portfolio: Choose products on a field-by-field basis. Spread out maturities. Plant 4-5 different Latham® corn hybrids and 3 different soybeans numbers.
- Genetics and Traits: Genetics gives you the high yields; traits will protect that yield.
- Planting: Conditions, populations and placement are so important!
- Scouting: Weekly observations allow for in-season adjustments to your cropping plan.
- Fungicide and Insecticides: Can give huge results if applied correctly.
- Timely Harvest: Watch as your crop changes, so you put more grain in the bin.
When I sit down to write articles for our blog, I feel like I'm sitting down with my family at the dinner table, ready to talk about 