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FARM SHOW INPUT: Farm Progress editors Jennifer Kiel and Kristy Seachrist asked Ohio Farm Science Review attendees about their opinions on several ag issues.
What brought you here today?
Brock Shaner, Athens, Ohio, dairy farmer: “I came to see some new equipment. We are looking at getting some new field tillage tools and was curious about buying them.”
Harvest is still a bit out, but do you think your yields will be better or worse than last year?
Larry Oda, Arcanum, Ohio, corn and soybean producer: Oda said his acreage was in a dry area in southern Ohio, so the crops aren’t looking as good as in 2021. “I’m not expecting yields as good as last year. They should be decent, but nothing like last year.”
How do the crops look so far this year?
Travis Slaughter, Paulding, Ohio, dairy producer: Slaughter says the crops are looking good. “We are done with corn silage for our operation, and we were very pleased.” The crops in his immediate area are looking really good, and he expects good yields. The soybeans and corn he has left look really good, and he’s hopeful for the rest of the harvest season.
If you could change one thing you did during this year’s crop season, what would it be?
Jay Hoffman, Holgate, Ohio, 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans: “Earlier planting, that’s the one thing I would say I would do differently.” Hoffman started out on time, but the weather had a different plan. As the rain moved in, they got behind. “Everything around us got in early; we started but got rained out. We’ll be OK in the end.”
How are you preparing for inputs next year?
Allen Kemmner, Pemberville, Ohio, 800 acres corn and soybeans: “We hope they go down!” He said he’s working to lower costs and just hoping for good yields. “That’s about all you or any of us can do.”
Are you optimistic or pessimistic about 2023 season and why?
Rick Farnsworth of Wadsworth, Ohio, farms 300 acres corn and soybeans with son, Ryan: “Pessimistic, because of the government. We don’t know where things are going, or what’s going to happen. Something has to give.”
What advice do you have for young farmers just starting out?
Brad Bowers, Amanda, Ohio, cattle, 500 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and alfalfa: “Work hard, listen and gain all the knowledge you can. Talk to other farmers.”
What was your biggest headache this year?
Casey Longshore, Sunbury, Ohio, 1,000-plus acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and hay: "Cost of inputs, including fuel. Everything went really high in a short amount of time, so we looked at how to maximize our efforts. We changed some of our management practices by spreading our fertility over the stretch of the season. We also did some juggling with chemicals and looked at what we could do without. We’re expecting about the same next year in terms of inputs, maybe a little worse. Once we get the combine out, we’ll assess how we fared with some of the areas we experimented on.”
How do you feel about climate-change practices, and are you going to be doing anything different next year?
Larry Short, Wauseon, Ohio, 600 acres corns and soybeans: “Climate change is real. It’s the knowledge of science; it’s not a belief. Yes, it has impacted us somewhat, not so much in our area right now. But it’s one of the reasons I call myself a conservationist, because I’m a no-till farmer.”
Are you changing management practices based on the current environment in agriculture?
Mark Morgan, Ostrander, Ohio, employed by a neighbor farming 2,200 corn, soybeans and wheat: “Seed, fertilizer and chemicals are being affected, and there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to get what we want. You have to change your thinking sometimes because you’re not able to get those products. I see supply chain issues continuing into 2023, so we will have to maybe forgo a certain hybrid. And on the mechanical side, we were unable to get chain lube last year.”
Are you changing management practices based on the current environment in agriculture?
Mark Morgan, Ostrander, Ohio, employed by a neighbor farming 2,200 corn, soybeans and wheat: “Seed, fertilizer and chemicals are being affected, and there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to get what we want. You have to change your thinking sometimes because you’re not able to get those products. I see supply chain issues continuing into 2023, so we will have to maybe forgo a certain hybrid. And on the mechanical side, we were unable to get chain lube last year.”
As the farm show season wears down, Farm Progress editors Jennifer Kiel and Kristy Seachrist pounded the pavement — and the dirt — at Ohio Farm Science Review, approaching growers to gain a little insight into several topics of interest within the ag community.
Click through the slideshow to see what growers had to say.
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