The Storm sucked for moisture, had lots of wind, lets do a poll how dry are you?

[furrowtickler]

It’s been quite a game . We were all told we needed to up production to feed the world . They don’t make more land and the growing population required us to produce way more .
Well farmers and the ag industry reacted.
Yields of all crops in general have jumped dramatically since the 80’s let alone the 60’s due to many factors .
Vastly improved farming practices like min till , fertilizer use efficiency, more detail to seed and fertilizer placements and accuracy. More detail to fertilizer ratios.
Crop genetics have helped a lot but not as much as the above imo . You can take today’s genetics in crops and use 1960’s farming practices and the advantages would be minimal at best.
The biggest jump has been in min till in most areas , fertilizer use efficiency, fertility rates and highly effective and efficient seeding tools . Fungicides have helped but not as much as most would like to believe.
It’s farmer practices that has changed the most to improve yields.
Now we are being told it’s not good , we need to change .... again , to reduce carbon emissions.
I guess farmers got too efficient at improving yields by better management use of inputs , time and machinery.

[bucket]

Just to play devils advocate...

Give two guys the same amount of fertilizer and seed and 160 acres...

If a guy preworked a field then floated on fertilizer, then seeded with a set of $1500 discers, would the crop net much different in the end?

When you consider machinery costs those higher yields are a must are they not?

I watch this between neighbors within a 30 mile radius every year...more than likely those $1500 discers are netting more per acre...but he's not on a grand scale

[checking]

...but he's not on a grand scale

Well, actually he is on a grand and a half scale!!

[AC man]

Ya 88 was the year that instead of 1 combine and 2 trucks you took 2 combines and 1 truck and brought the truck home yourself when you got tired after dark.

That is so true about that year! Good friend of mine had 2 combines and 1 semi with tandem trailer and never filled it in the day. They were combining to get enough wheat for seed.

[tweety]

No edit button.

I said we are not dryer than 1981 not even close but 2021 isn’t starting very well.

How many crops have you lost in March and April?

[AlbertaFarmer5]

How many crops have you lost in March and April?

I have a neighbor who was new to Canada. He seeded canola in April once, a month before anyone else seeded anything. It froze as is to be expected around here. So then he sued the air seeder company and dealership because it was their fault.

So that's one crop lost in April. Could have frost seeded canola in March this year and lost it to frost if someone really wanted to.

[WiltonRanch]

AB5 now that was funny.

[checking]

How dry is it?

Sand paper dry. Not an exaggeration.

[Old Cowzilla]

I have never lost a crop in March or April but I don't think I have made a crop until its in the bin or I have a check in my hand. Funny grain traders don't see it that way on the latter part . But I think first cut hay is going to take a beating, I stick my neck out on that prediction.

[Sheepwheat]

So bizarre. We are on day three or so of runoff. Not a huge runoff, but more than I thought it would be. Trees full of snow still, dugouts full.

Thankful. Not much else to say. Wet years suck, they are the killers here, but I don’t know dry, can’t imagine the concern you must have. Two or three times in my 29 years farming, I have thought I needed a rain fairly badly. Hope everyone gets their fair shake of moisture...

[furrowtickler]

Agree cowzilla, but only those with skin in the game and actually farm would know the warning signs from experience.
Hay crops can definitely be lost in April

[bucket]

I have never lost a crop in March or April but I don't think I have made a crop until its in the bin or I have a check in my hand. Funny grain traders don't see it that way on the latter part . But I think first cut hay is going to take a beating, I stick my neck out on that prediction.

in 2020 it was the latest start to cutting hay I could remember...in May2020 I didn't think we would be cutting SFA....and there was still some moisture below...

Its ugly on the hayland this year around here...

[woodland]

If the trend continues here there won’t be much hay or pasture to deal with. As usual my timing is impeccable to increase the herd. Scratched one equipment purchase due to the moisture/ financial outlook. Fun times ahead.

The frogs aren’t croaking yet so there’s at least one more shot of snow coming. Hopefully it’s more like a foot than an inch............,,

Enjoy the beautiful weather in the meantime 🌞

[seldomseen]

Lots of runoff here. All the water that could have help the crop heading to Hudson Bay.

[furrowtickler]

Small sloughs full here but dropping already , no real runoff
Big drainage areas are very low .
Probably will add 250 ac this year.
Last time that happened was 2001 though