2023 Spring Farm Outlook

Page 24 2023 Logan County Spring Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March 2023 herbicide is a good investment” notes that weeds can consume as much as 13.5 pounds of nitrogen as well considerable amounts of P and K. Shawn Hock U.S. Corn Herbicide Product Lead for Syngenta said, “We did a study to see how much nitrogen weeds consume across 20 locations,” he says. “We found that 2- to 4-inch weeds consume about 13.5 pounds of nitrogen, as well as around 0.85 pounds of phosphorous and about 16.8 pounds of potassium. To put that in perspective, you could produce over 16 bushels of corn with the amount of nitrogen being taken by those weeds.” “If you look at it from the perspective of how much those fertilizers are worth, Hock says you’re losing about $24 per acre in nutrients when 2 to 4-inch weeds are present. ‘Investing that money in a strong, pre-emergent residual herbicide would pay dividends,’ he says, adding that not many producers across the Corn Belt are making this application.” “Weeds have undoubtedly increased in prevalence. In the market research we did last year, 40% of corn growers said they were having difficulty controlling weeds like waterhemp and Palmer amaranth,” he says. Another compelling thought for how to make more money on the farm in 2023 was introduced by Market-to-Market analyst Elaine Kub. She noted that while pork prices are hovering steady there is an incline in beef prices. She said at the last close, 550-pound calves were selling at $260/CWT. Fed cattle is going for $150 to 172/CWT. While feeder cattle may not be an option for all, it could be an option for those who are already set up for that style of market. According to another Successful Farming publication “5 Reasons to be Bullish on Cattle” now is the time to expand that heifer herd and raise more feeder calves for a market that is growing, much in thanks to the coronavirus. Market analyst Don Close with Terrainag. com was quoted in the article saying there is a decline in cow numbers while the demand is stronger than pre-covid. The reason? “What they (consumers) realized is that they could get a prime restaurant meal at home,” Close says. “And they like it.” The report goes on to say that beef consumption in 2022 was the highest it has been in 12 years, at an average of 58 pounds per person. While Illinois is not considered to be one of the top cattle producing states in the union, it could rank higher than it does under the right circumstances. With farms thinning their herd as producers age and look to retire, the Continued --