Stay Competitive in 2023

We must look beyond the costs of inputs when pricing products for 2023, and consider the return of investment on each product, as there are still good commodity prices available to lock in profits. As we are looking at products for 2023, we need to look at what value that product will bring to your operation, and what may be lost in returns if that product is cut from your agronomy plan. Trying to decrease expenses this growing season may also cut profits from the bottom line. Little has changed in the overall makeup of corn and soybean production, and we must do anything that we can to keep that competitive edge on our neighbors.

Some things to look at while procuring 2023 inputs for your acres:

Benefits start with a seed that will produce top end yields, taking advantage of any growing conditions that we may experience in 2023. This seed should also have traits to help as needed to optimize yields. IE. Insects, weed, fungal, and rainfall.

We must apply adequate fertilizer, with proper placement on your farm to optimize crop growth and development, cheating on rates below that of optimum production only cheats yourself on yield potential. This includes N, P, K, S, and micronutrients needed to optimize yields. VRT application also allows fertilizer to be applied where needed on your farm to add value to your operation. We have new and exciting options in VRT fertilizer at SFG using yield potential, CSR, soil types, and soil test information, combing this information gives us the capability to spread fertilizer more accurately than ever on your farm, to optimize returns across your acres.

Keep your fields clean, to prevent weeds from robbing yield from your crops, and keep the weed bank under control for future years. One pass chemical programs have failed many times in the past, so there is no reason to think that anything other than a 2-pass program with multiple modes of action will control weed pressure this year. The weeds don’t care if chemicals are hard to find or that pricing has increased.
Protect your crops against disease and insects with fungicide, insecticide, seed treatment, and other forms of disease and insect protection.

Talk to your local SFG agronomist to help you put your agronomy plan together for 2023, to keep that competitive edge over your neighbor.