Crop outlook mixed according to MFA

Local climate or weather is unpredictable in spite of the best efforts of the meteorologist, and this is often a problem as farmers use the best forecasts to determine where and what to plant.

According to John Ashley of MFA Tipton Group (formed from a merger last year of the MFA Agri Services of California, Tipton and Versailles) the winter snowfall plus the heavier than usual rain in the spring have made this a bumper crop year for corn and soybeans. In fact, MFA predictions are for the largest corn and soybean crop in the company's 100 year history. While this is good news for the overall market, it is not so good for the individual producer, since a bumper crop means lower prices.

In fact, Ashley said the estimated price given for corn this year for the fall harvest at $3.37 a bushel, compared to $5.57 a bushel last year. New crop soybeans are estimated at $10.38 a bushel, compared to last years $12.50. This will cause many farmers store up as much as possible in their own bins before selling on the market.

Last fall, more wheat was planted in the area than usual, because of the good crop last year. Although the wheat looks good from the road, it didn't turn out so well, due at least in part to a couple of late frosts. It is not testing well.

Hay, with all the spring rain, should be yielding four or five large bales per acre. Not this year. Its two to three bales per acre. Ashley said, it may look like more hay has been produced but that is because there is a lot left from last year. He said they may need it.

Ashley said MFA continues to advance in technology use. "Technology in farming today is a useful tool if the farmer chooses to use it," Ashley said. One of the more effective new tools is MFA Crop-Trak. Another program, Nutri-Tract is another program, designed to treat each acre individually to attempt to make the entire field perform the same.

"I believe its probably some of the better money that can be spent in agriculture today. If you're going to spread fertilizer why not put it where its going to do the most good," Ashley said.

"We try to give our farmers sound economic advice. I don't give any body a recommendation that I wouldn't do to my own property."