Yields were good to excellent for both corn and soybeans, but the relatively low prices at the elevator kept overall profit lower than the last few years. What can Indiana farmers do to even out those profit margins from year to year? Many things are outside your control, but many things remain in your control. 

According to a quote from Gabe Brown, a long-term no-till, cover crop, rotational grazing and regenerative agriculture advocate from North Dakota, “I would rather sign the back of the check than the front of the check!”

In other words, he would rather have income than expenses. How can you make this happen in your day-to-day operation? 

Taking control

Yields are fun to talk about at the coffee shop, but just like fishing stories, they tend to get stretched. Does anybody talk about profit per acre while sipping coffee? Yield is important. But in the end, it’s still about profit and how much per acre you are making. Profit involves not only yield, but also input costs. So, although there are some aspects of farming outside your control, there are some inputs that you can control. 

Fewer trips across the field means less fuel is consumed. If all you are doing is planting, spraying and harvesting, fuel consumption will drop drastically. What are some other less obvious ways that can help you reduce input costs? 

Related:Consider adding these boots to your Christmas list

Some farmers say they cannot afford to plant cover crops due to short profit margins. But are there benefits that help reduce input costs, thereby improving profit? A heavy mat of cereal rye residue can greatly reduce weed pressure. The cost of seeding a cover crop can be offset by the reduction of herbicide applications. 

Plan ahead

Improving soil health does not always involve technical details. Sometimes, these ideas stimulate thought to get you thinking about your productions systems. When commodity prices and yields are above average, decisions get easier to make. What do you do when prices are down? How do you approach the next growing season? What changes will you consider in 2025 to help reduce input costs? What in-field trials will you do to help learn more about your operation?   

Change can come hard on a farm. Change only for the sake of change is never good. Change with a purpose can lead to good things. In this case, it leads to increased profit margins during times of low commodity prices. Ask yourself: Where can I reduce inputs, maintain or improve yields, and put more money in my back pocket? Or, as Brown says, “sign more backs of checks than fronts!”   

Related:Don’t let data scare you