2012
LOGAN COUNTY FARM OUTLOOK MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com October 23, 2012
23
Justin also pointed out that when crops
are stressed, such as in a drought, the yield
harvested may be at risk. “Certain types of
disease will cut the yield further when it is
taken to the elevator and can be accepted for
only a minimal number of uses, and then we
can be docked possibly $1.50 per bushel.”
Larry Martin also farms in Logan County.
He noted that the high heat was more of a
problem. “Not only were the days hot, but
so were the nights. Corn needs a chance to
rest, and that didn’t happen,” he said. Also,
“
there was no dew at night, and the plants
can benefit from that.”
Martin said he thought that if they had
gotten some rain at the time of tasseling, that
might have helped. “The heat also made any
side dressings of herbicides less effective,”
he said.
Martin also pointed out that in the drought
of ‘88, the yield they did get was subject to
some of the same problems. “However, in
2012
our expenses were four times higher
than in ‘88, and even with the same yield
both years, this year’s profit is more at risk
because of the higher overhead,” he said.
Another problem for some farmers can
occur when they sell grain on the futures.
“
When you do that, you have to agree to sell
a certain number of bushels at a locked-in
price. When the yield goes down, for any
reason, you have to pay the difference and
probably a penalty,” Martin added.
[
Fuzz Werth]
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