Monday, March 11, 2024
We had a new wheat consultant from Nutrien stop by today. We gathered at two of the fields near Wheatland to examine the current status of the wheat crop. We were especially interested in observing a variety of wheat that is new from Dynagro. After a short review, and from digging up a few clumps of wheat with their tillers, it was determined that the wheat crop is in excellent condition. This was happy news to receive today. At least there is good yield potential as of today. The market price of wheat is another matter altogether, but today was just about the agronomic status.
Brandon, John, and I met with our local adviser, Greg Anthis, and our regular wheat specialist from Nutrien/Dynagro in Kentucky, Landon Taylor. Also in the group was a new Nutrien/Dynagro wheat expert with national responsibilities, James Gullum. We met James in Houston at the Commodity Classic and invited him to come to the farm. Together, these 3 consultants seemed pretty optimistic about the current appearance of those fields. I found that to be very encouraging.
We didn’t have to walk very far out into the wheat to make the determination… and that’s a good thing, for the wheat fields were quite soft from last week’s rains.
L to R: James, Greg, John, Brandon, Landon.
Greg pulled a single wheat plant, and counted 14 fall and spring tillers that had developed from a single seed. That made him smile.
James Gullum comes to us from east central Illinois and Landon Taylor comes from Owensboro, KY. They were enthusiastic about the fields’ potential.
Although today’s report is very encouraging about June’s harvest, it is still a long way from being a successful wheat crop. Dad’s words ring in my ears, “Don’t start writing checks on it just yet.” Patience. But we are hopeful.
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In other activities, the NH3 applicator returned home today from Alliance Tractor, where their shop had been installing a product improvement package on each row unit. This package was provided by the manufacturer, Unverferth. Today, the guys are installing a GPS receiver on the machine, and it will assist the guidance of the tractor when applying NH3. With this more accurate guidance, we hope to be able to plant the corn rows between the applicator strips, using a JD system called “Autopath”. Autopath should also help guide the sprayer this summer and the combines in the fall. This will be our first experience with this higher-accuracy guidance. If it works as advertised, it will be very helpful in the corn fields the rest of the growing season!
This is our Unverferth Renegade applicator. They are preparing it for spring work. Can you see the GPS receiver on it? Our shop is too little to unfold it inside, but is a good day to work on it outside. A bit cool but sunny.
I think I’ll be able to hook up the field cultivator tomorrow to the new 9R540 tractor and run it in some nearby fields where last week’s rain was <.3″. It’s time to smooth a few ruts and back-fill strips where tile lines were installed last fall. The erosion is very slight this spring because of light precipitation during the winter. It will be fun to crank up that new tractor and put it to work! Perhaps I can get a few nearby fields ready for the NH3 or sprayer before another rainy period arrives on Thursday.
Have a wonderful week.
