The smile says everything....

[HappyFarmer]

Farmkid
Corn was tried for grain by a couple of guys in the area this year. We are right on the man/sask border, just 80 k east of yorkton.
Yields varied from 80 to 110 bushel/acre, moisture was anywhere from 33 to 22 when combining. The higher the yeild, the lower the moisture. Rode with one guy used his d****r head to combine corn and it actually was working really good. Unless you have thousand of acres no need for a corn header. Would recomend trying to use a planter instead of solid seeding, yield difference is significant between the 2.
Only problem is early corn seed varieties are probably as tight or tighter in supply than beans.

[SASKFARMER3]

Our trading area will have 10000acres in 2013,
Cargill will be buying like peas.

[seedman]

Famaholic, You are correct. The approximate cash costs for a crop of soybeans will run a bit over $100.00 per acre which includes seed, inoculants, seed treatment and all tech fees; this is assuming solid seeded with airseeder, hoe/DD drills, etc. Costs would be a bit lower if they were planted with a row crop planter which typically requires less plants per acre.

[seedman]

Famaholic, You are correct. The approximate cash costs for a crop of soybeans will run a bit over $100.00 per acre which includes seed, inoculants, seed treatment and all tech fees; this is assuming solid seeded with airseeder, hoe/DD drills, etc. Costs would be a bit lower if they were planted with a row crop planter which typically requires less plants per acre.

[seedman]

Cotton the way it is right now for Saskatchewan is limited crop insurance coverage for the south-eastern part of SK. Apparently for 2013 much more of the province will be included, although I can't speak to that exactly. FASF would be the one to comment as to what areas will be included in the 2013 expansion. Out here in Alberta we are still behind with nothing in place, but we are working with AFSC to come up with a program that would be used for an all risk program. Currently all that is available in Alberta is hail insurance for soybeans.

[freewheat]

Thing is that most forget, is that this
was a stellar year for beans around here
at least. They actually matured for
once. And they went 20-25. I will try
them, but even with cheaper inputs, the
"retarded" sister still kicks butt.

The staunchest backers of the crop,
usually seem to have "seed farm" at the
rear of their farm name. Say it isn't
so! LOL

I am all for new crops, but I sure
wouldn't base a one year sort of success
on how adapted they are. I have seen 4
or 5 wrecks, and finally a year where
they yield half decent. Heck, there are
some still in the field, becaues they
mature so dang late... Here anyways.

[TOM4CWB]

Farmkid1,

Corn is a VERY bad carrier of Fusarium. If corn... then fusarium is on the corn plant after harvest. If early frost... it is like soy... NO grain yeild.

Now the whole world is messed up with triffid... we may as well get a tolerant imi flax approved everywhere and get on with it!

Cheers!

[seedman]

Good points, freewheat. Especially the one about the seed reference! But relax... I'm not going to try to sell you anything!
Truth is, and this is only speaking for myself; I would have grown this crop if I sell them as seed or not. Out our way on irrigation, we have traditionally raised alfalfa as our rotation crop. It offered many benefits; nitrogen fixation, disease breaks from other crops, weed control, lower input costs, spread out the work load, spread out watering requirements, and offering cash flow flexibility. The problem is over the past number of years, our first cut alfalfa is usually a write-off due to rain, then we have to practically give it away. Profitability is dependent on the success of our second cut coming off in better shape, which was usually compromised by the first cut sitting on it for 3-4 weeks in the swath. By going to soybeans, we have every one of the above-mentioned benefits, and it allowed me to get rid of $150,000.00 worth of specialized eqipment to put up hay. The stress level is way lower growing these things over alfalfa, and marketing them is simple.
You mentioned a very good point about one year's success does not make for suitability everywhere. I feel comfortable talking about them as I have been growing soybeans for 8 years, yet I would not make a blanket statement saying that they are good for all areas. That would be foolish. But for those who live in areas suitable for this type of heat-requiring crop who are interested my advice would be to start small. Try 10, 20 or 50 acres to test the waters. They are not the crop for everyone, but for my operation they will be a permanent part of my rotation. I haven't looked back since I started growing them.

[fasf]

We have been growing soybeans in the Yorkton area for 10 years now. We average 28 bushels per acre. Canola is around 36. Net dollars, soybeans win. That is not including the rotational benefits (weed control, disease breaks, N fixation, work load spread) for soybeans. We have cut our N purchases by 2/3's.

We grew some corn also this year. 85 bushels per acre, with fertilizer used 3 gallons of Alpine (that's it) on 2 years of soybean residue. Not going to grow corn. Have too many other projects in the fall. Decent economics but we also had 350 extra crop heat units than normal. Variety selection is crucial. Too risky for me (& I'm not scared of risk). With corn it is all or nothing. Soybeans are way lower risk. Only early grain corn variety left is Canamaize 533RR. Maybe Pioneer, but it is cash only, no booking. When working out corn production budgets, put in $1/bushel for drying costs in marginal areas.

Soybeans, there are a good supply (as of now) of proven varieties. Watch for "heat loving" varieties, and ignore most of the CHU ratings. THEY ARE INCORRECT. Too many varieties are listed at 100 to 300 CHU's too low. On normal years they will not mature or yield. We have trialed a bunch of varieties, moved seed around the province, played with agronomy to help make the soybeans work (seeding rates, seed treatments, inoculants, seeding dates, etc.). Most of the wrecks can be related to non informed variety selection, poor agronomic support, cold (never mind cool) climate, or other extreme conditions. The other thing is too high of expectations. They are not necessarily going to replace your best netting crop, they are to extend rotation, help with time management, fix some N, clean up land, and reduce stress. They are NOT for everyone and every place. We are screening for day light sensitive varieties which compensate lack of heat with longer hours of daylight.

SK Crop Insurance has proposed for 2013 that the area covered for soybeans is the majority of the province. Stay tuned and contact SCI to let them know you need soybean coverage.

We love soybeans because access to a roller and having a flex header is the 2 different pieces of equipment. They are fairly drought resistant (they need stored moisture or rain end of July/early August). Our canola acres are dropping, being replaced by soybeans and cover crops. I'm still at Saltcoats, SK.

Yes I'm a seed grower, growing soybean seed. If I wasn't and growing soybeans, where would I get seed? No one else would be running with the ball except for line companies. They don't get excited about soybeans because the are low margin compared to canola. I am looking at making my farm sustainable. Soybeans are making it so. As the acres grow in Saskatchewan and Alberta, plant breeders are noticing and will be developing varieties for us. Until then, we have to do the leg work on keeping them advancing.

Watch what market the grain buyer is selling into (and buying from you). Human consumption market is very fussy. Feed markets are very forgiving. There are processors around the prairies with more coming as acres take off.

I'm open for discussion, on line, by email, on the phone.

Good farming!

Kevin R. Elmy, P.Ag.
Friendly Acres Seed Farm
kevin.elmy@friendlyacres.sk.ca
www.friendlyacres.sk.ca
306-744-2332

[fasf]

Sorry for the long rant.