Barley

[rsomer]

Why, actually we do live in a semi arid region. Most people do not fertilize at all here and use a two year crop, one year summerfallow rotation. In my township one other farmer other than me fertilizes at all. My fertilizer rates are determined by annual fertilizer trials that I have in about 1/2 of my fields with the actual yields measured each fall. Fertilizer rate represents a compromise between maximum yield and conserving cash during crop failures. Moisture is often our limiting factor. I tend to look at soil moisture in the spring and fertilizer prices before determining how much cash I want to risk on fertilizer. I would not consider the expected price of the crop, moisture and cash spent is what matters to me. It will be a tough decision this spring to see how much I should spend this year, although the available snow looks better now than a week ago, actual soil moisture remain very low.

[lornej]

rsomer - I think you answered a lot of our questions about how you can make money at 30 bushel yields when you mentioned that you depend on other farm enterprises to help cover off your fixed costs . I quit farming 5 years ago and my costs to produce a bushel of grain approached $100/acre then . This was a pedigree seed farm with no livestock to subsidize the costs and fertilizer prices were much lower than they are now !

[cowman]

The last two years I haven't put any fertilizer on the hay due to the drought and high prices. The year before that it cost over $40/acre and it actually paid quite well with the increased production. Now I'm just not sure what amount my cousin puts on. Some anhyrous and some when he seeds but he usually is pushing the max. He soil tests.
I guess he would be considered a high input/high output farmer but he does produce some real good crops and it is moderately profitable.
I am often in awe of you guys who farm out in the desert! You are a hardy bunch!