Eastern Iowa Farmer Spring 2021

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mother nature Eastern Iowa Farmer photo / contributed Despite having corn planted early, Virgil Schmitt was among farmers who did not get the yields hoped for before the derecho. Schmitt operates a farm in Muscatine County where he lives and works for the Iowa State Extension as an agronomist in Muscatine County. those whose crop was laid down by wind. “That was a real concern; when you have that corn leaned over and … the ears are close to the ground, you have a scenario where ear moles can become problematic,” Schmitt said. “That’s one of the advantages when it turned dry. Moles like wet conditions and (August’s) weather was not conducive to that.” But then, after the derecho was in the rear view mirror and dryness had set in, rain came at the perfect time, Schmitt said. A soaking rainfall in the middle of September tied a bow on the growing window. “And then it pretty much shut off, which took a lot of the pressure off the harvest,” Schmitt said. What could have been After producers got off Mother Nature’s roller coaster and pulled their crop from the field, they began examining grain quality, and a bittersweet reality set in. Considering the favorable start to the season, producers were left to wonder what could have been. In general, both beans and corn posted better-than-expected yields across eastern Iowa, Schmitt said. Corn yields still weren’t at the levels seen before 2019, Schmitt said. But considering the growing season’s optimal first handful of months, they could have been better — or worse, depending on perspective and geographical location. Schmitt said his fields were under 200 bushel per acre for the second time in a row — and the second time ever. In Clinton County, Frett estimated the dry weather contributed to a loss of 20-30 bushel per acre. “We lost that much,” he said. “And then the derecho came and knocked the corn down.” Jackson County’s yield estimates were more favorable, Bullock said. “It’s all over the board, but for the most part (corn yields are) over 200 (bushel per acre),” he said. “I would say it’s down slightly (in Jackson County) from the last couple years, but not down significantly,” Bullock said of yields last fall. Iowa’s 2020 corn yield was estimated at let’s get to work! No matter if your next home improvement job is big or small, our team of professionals is ready to help you turn your dreams into reality! Start to fiNiSh: CommerCial • reSideNtial agriCulture (563) 652-8399 sheetsdesignbuild.com 60 Eastern Iowa Farmer | Spring 2021 eifarmer.com
mother nature 178 bushels per acre, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s year-end report. That’s down significantly from the 198 bushels per acre harvested in 2019. Corn for grain production in Iowa for 2020 was 2.30 billion bushels, down 11% from the previous year. For Petersen, who’s been working on a farm ever since he was a kid, last year’s weather was a bit unusual, but part of the ups and downs of farming. He remembers a drought when he was in junior high, for example, and a lot of things in between. Part of the lifestyle is adapting to challenges, he noted. For him, farming is a family affair, with his wife, two sons and his dad (technically retired) helping out. He also operates Petersen’s Ag Repair. “I know you go through cycles,” he said. “You just get through the hard times and keep going.” Early birds didn’t get the worm Despite a minor drought, 120 mph winds, early harvest, and yields, there was one more variable to add: Markets. And vary did they ever. Grain prices have skyrocketed since August. “No one would have guessed in July and August that markets would have gone up as much as they have,” said Ryan Drollette, farm management specialist with the Iowa State Extension Office. Drollette keeps a close eye on commodity markets, both domestic and global, and said a lot of puzzle pieces fell into place at the right time. The United States’ crop overproduction in previous years, Drollette said, cooled demand domestically. However, the derecho knocked out enough crop that new-crop supply diminished, and the market evened out. International markets, though, experienced an uptick in demand fed by, among other things, unfavorable growing weather in Brazil and a movement in China to significantly bolster its hog population. “China had stepped away for a while, but now they need us more than ever and are coming back to the table,” Bullock said. “It’s looking pretty good.” Drollette said this year, China already has 400 million bushel of corn slotted for export. Globally, Drollette said the USDA expects 2.5 billion bushel of corn to be export this year, which is up significantly from the 1.7 billion bushels from last year. The same can be said for soybeans. Chinese imports of Iowa soybeans have increased 196% in the last several months, Drollette said. He also pointed out that the U.S. is sending millions of bushels of beans to Mexico, the European Union, Egypt, Taiwan and Indonesia, and that U.S. exports of soybeans are expected to increase from 3.9 billion bushels to 4.5 billion bushels this year. “For export sales, right now we are at 2.1 billion bushel of beans that are slotted to be exported, compared to last year at 1 billion. The level of bushels committed to going out of the country is tremendous.” The bottom line is, well, a positive bottom line — at least for some. Producers who waited to price their corn until late in the season are reaping the benefits of that late boon. Drollette said that dynamic is not normal. Bean futures say prices could eclipse $12 per bushel, Drollette said. Back in August they hovered between $8.70 and $9. “That’s just outstanding,” he said. n — Nancy Mayfield contributed to this report. Planter Health Checks Be Ready When Nature Calls! We are here for your planter maintenance, plant nutrition, and technology needs. Soil Health Nutrition Program Planter Precision Hostetler Precision Ag Solutions Kent Hostetler | (815) 499-7014 24340 150th Street • Maquoketa, IA 52060 eifarmer.com spring 2021 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 61
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The Eastern Iowa Spring 2021 Farmer
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TODD HUSMANN Channel Seedsman Cente
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Today, Tomorrow, Forever Joining th
Page 9 and 10: Story Index 52 Mother Nature is hav
Page 11 and 12: McCaulley Ag Service Tyler Shannon
Page 13 and 14: Chores: The building blocks of char
Page 15 and 16: Country chores (Left) Among the ani
Page 17: Country chores “We’ve always ho
Page 20 and 21: Supporting local is who we are When
Page 22 and 23: We offer tile repair and systems of
Page 24 and 25: grain bin safety Eastern Iowa Farme
Page 26 and 27: Martens Angus Farms grain bin safet
Page 28 and 29: Maquoketa Agency Offce: 563-652-568
Page 30: ASSISTED LIVING • SKILLED REHABIL
Page 34 and 35: gate to plate “We’d take bones
Page 36 and 37: gate to plate “There’s some pol
Page 38 and 39: Have you cHecked your soil Fertilit
Page 40 and 41: 117 S. 2nd St. Maquoketa 563-652-65
Page 42 and 43: woolly endeavor “Every year I com
Page 44 and 45: nursed, Goedken puts the ewe in a h
Page 46 and 47: Bulletins offered good, free advice
Page 48 and 49: ulletins thor, and his or her quali
Page 50 and 51: little bit ...where FRANZEN FAMILY
Page 52 and 53: Clinton County farmer Chad Petersen
Page 54 and 55: It started with one truck... That w
Page 56 and 57: mother nature “None of this equip
Page 58 and 59: More FOR YOUR FARM Animal Health
Page 62 and 63: mother nature Rebuild and Restart L
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Page 88 and 89: FARMERS AT HEART ® DOING WHAT’S
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Page 92 and 93: mother nature Keeping an eye on thi
Page 94 and 95: mother nature way of life. Kara How
Page 96 and 97: A farming future is worth the sacri
Page 98 and 99: Land prices Prices moving to the no
Page 100 and 101: Land prices cultural professionals
Page 102 and 103: By KRIS KOTH Clinton County Executi
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One of the nation’s fastest growi
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