(Illinois Farmer Today) Ideal fall weather conditions may have helped shorten the memory of
Illinois wheat producers who have endured two years of trouble with the
crop. Many observers expect planted acreage to be down somewhat
this fall. But the dry fields, combined with timely corn and soybean
harvest, coaxed some back to their planters. “Conditions have been really good. October has been dry,” said Craig Ratermann of the cooperative Gateway Farm Service. “Coming off the past couple years, though, with wheat quality issues, that’s going to keep our acreage down.” While
yields were good this year, quality was a problem. Excessive rainfall
in late spring ushered in head scab and other diseases. That resulted in
low test weights, vomitoxin and other problems. Some producers
reported they were lucky to break even when hauling some loads to the
elevator, as prices after dockage barely paid for fuel, seed and inputs. “Test
weights were a little light,” Ratermann said. “We had more problems
with sprout damage this year. There was some vomitoxin, but vomitoxin
was worse the previous year.”
Pioneer agronomist Scott Eversgerd
doesn’t believe acreage will take a big hit. He credits the pleasant
weather conditions along with a growing commitment to wheat among some
growers.
“From an acreage standpoint, we’re probably close to
fine,” he said. “But the number of growers growing wheat is probably
down. Those who grow wheat have planted equal acres or a few more. “There
are also some growers who aren’t planting any. At the end of the day,
acres will be flat or maybe slightly down, but not a huge adjustment
down.” Kyle Brase, who farms near Edwardsville in Madison County,
planted less wheat this year. Quality issues with the 2015 crop,
however, weren’t the reason for that decision. “We are down just a
little bit but mostly just because of rotation,” he said. “We didn’t
have any other decision than that other than that’s how the crop plan
worked out.” Some of his neighbors are foregoing planting wheat this year, but Brase doesn’t see that as part of a long-term trend. “There
are a few of them shying away, but mostly only because of the trouble
we’ve had the past couple of years, he said. “We’ve had quality issues
two years in a row.”
Farmers unhindered by wet fields were able to
get their crop into the ground in a timely manner this fall. But for
some, the pleasant conditions weren’t enough to change their minds. “The
planned acres for guys doing rotation are mostly done,” Ratermann said.
“If it weren’t for the last couple of years with quality issues, we’d
see a lot more wheat going out. But it’s left a bad taste in people’s
mouths. . . . We’ll still have a crop, but it’ll be below-average
acres.” Eversgerd said the dry conditions are good, for the most part. “With
the exception of the west side of Southern Illinois, the other part has
gotten pretty good moisture,” he said. “The wheat has gone in in great
shape. Planting conditions have been very good. So I think who had been
thinking about it worked the ground, it worked great. “Wheat’s getting off to a good start. That all puts a little optimism out there, I guess. “In
St. Clair County and that part of the world, they’re really dry over
there. There are actually a few guys who quit planting because it’s too
dry.”
Six generations of farmers dating back to early 1850s in Central Illinois including Effingham, Shelby, and Fayette counties. Mr. Dan McKay and his four sons continue the family business with a passion for their profession. McKay Farms, headquartered in Beecher City, IL, created this blog to share their experiences and create awareness for hard working farmers! Check out our website www.McKayFarms.com or www.McKayFarms.net.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Monday, November 2, 2015
Happy 90th Birthday Louise!
We would like to Congratulate our grandma and mother on celebrating her 90th birthday. We took her out to a nice dinner at Richards Farm Restaurant in Casey, IL.
(Effingham Daily News) Louise McKay of Beecher City will celebrate her 90th birthday on Friday, Oct. 30, with a card shower. She was born on Oct. 30, 1925, the daughter of Andrew and Catherine Koester. Cards may be sent to her at 2832 East State Hwy 33, Beecher City IL 62414.
(Effingham Daily News) Louise McKay of Beecher City will celebrate her 90th birthday on Friday, Oct. 30, with a card shower. She was born on Oct. 30, 1925, the daughter of Andrew and Catherine Koester. Cards may be sent to her at 2832 East State Hwy 33, Beecher City IL 62414.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
Farming more Efficiently with help of Auto Steer
Check out our new video of using auto steer to disk a bean field just outside of Beecher City. It is amazing how technology is being utilized in farming!
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Cash rent changes for 2016
(Source: University of Illinois) Cash rents on professionally managed farmland likely will decrease
for the 2016 cropping year. Rents on non-professionally managed farmland
likely will decrease as well. However, projected rent decreases are not
large enough to cause farmers to have positive returns in 2016 given
current projections of commodity prices and costs. The lagged
relationship between returns and cash rents still exists.
Each year, the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers conducts a survey of its membership. In this survey, managers are asked the cash rent for the current year and expectations for next year. This survey provides a good indicator of rents on professionally managed farmland. Managers give averages and expectations for four classes of farmland productivity:
Each year, the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers conducts a survey of its membership. In this survey, managers are asked the cash rent for the current year and expectations for next year. This survey provides a good indicator of rents on professionally managed farmland. Managers give averages and expectations for four classes of farmland productivity:
- Excellent - expected corn yields over 190 bushels per acre
- Good - Expected corn yields between 170 and 190 bushels per acre
- Averages - expected corn yields between 150 and 170 bushels per acre
- Fair - expected corn yields less than 150 bushels per acre
- Good quality farmland: a $28 per acre decrease to $267 per acre
- Average quality farmland: a $31 decrease to $219 per acre
- Fair quality farmland: a $23 decrease to $177 per acre
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Land Improvements Season Begins!
Jason McKay adding soil to field |
Dan McKay lifting dead trees over fence line |
Monday, October 19, 2015
Court blocks Obama's water act nationwide
Great news for farmers as Federal court blocked small waterways form being subject to EPA and Army Corps. Local US Representative Rodney Davis issued this statement: "This is great news for the farmers in my district who stand to have the
water in their irrigation ponds and drainage ditches regulated by the
EPA. The WOTUS rule is an egregious overreach by this administration
that must be stopped. #DitchTheRule." Read additional information here.
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