WEEDS!

Weeds are getting stronger and more resistant to herbicides.  And the problem is only growing.  According to recent interview from agriculture.com of Mike Owen of Iowa State University "The problem is much more widely spread than what I think many of the growers recognize."

What's adding to to the problem is many growers think once they've found a good and effective herbicide they can stick with it.  Unfortunately that's not the case.  Weeds can become resistant to a normally lethal dose of herbicide if used over and over.

The problem is it's hard to spot weeds who have become resistant to the growers herbicide.  Most of the time they aren't noticeable til September and October when they start peaking out above the soybeans.

3 Factors

There are three factors that lead to weed adaptation to the enviroment.

1. Genetic

• Mutation rates
• Mode of inheritance
• Mechanism of resistance

2. Biological

• Species life cycle of plants
• Germination biology
• Population size and density of plants

This is vitally important.  According to Jason Norsworthy of the University of Arkansas, knowing when a weed emerges, its growth rate and when it flowers can all help you find its weakness.

3. Operational

• Herbicide efficacy
• Frequency of use
• Timing of use
• Herbicide use pattern including rotations or mixtures
• Crop rotation
• Herbicide rate
• Cultivation practices

Here is where you can really do something about it.  Understanding weed biology and using diverse tactics such as planting in weed fields can help delay weed resistance.  You can also manage field borders and prevent weed seed movement as well.

"We have to manage the weed before it becomes a major issue," says Norsworthy.  Scouting your field and identifying weeds before they really can grow is the best tactic.

Now What?

There is nothing new coming down the pipeline for at least another eight years or so according to Norsworthy.  Your first line of defense should always be getting to the weed early before it matures and spreads.

Diversity is the key.  They include cultural, mechanical and herbicidal strategies.  And of course make sure your chosen herbicide is effective.  "The way to know whether or not they are effective is to look at the herbicide use history, and also recognize the resistance that do exists in your particular area," says Owen.

Climate Changes Impact on Agriculture

Irregardless of what's causing climate change it is in fact changing.  Those in the agriculture industry that don't adjust to this are bound to be left behind.  What are the major things in climate change taking place and what can you do about it?  According to agriculture.com, in a interview with climatologist Mark Seeley from the University of Minnesota here are a few things to look for.

General Temps Are Rising.

What does this mean?  

• Changes in depth and duration of soil and lake freeze
• More rapid breakdown in residue
• Later fall nitrogen applications
• Change in survival rates of pests, parasites, plant pathogens and soil microbes
• Change in plant hardiness zones
• Longer growing seasons

Higher Frequency of dewpoints of 70 degrees or Higher

• Seasonal dynamics of pathogens, parasites, insects and microorganism populations
• Increased workload in heat-related healthcare
• Increased stress on livestock

Changes in Precipitation Quantity and Character

• Mitigation of erosion
• Altered irrigation, tile damage, runoff, etc
• Impact on insurance
• Change in sewer runoff design
• Amplified flow means mitigation of flooding potential

What Can You Do?

First off don't ignore it.  Irregardless of what you believe is causing it, it is happening.  Climate change should be impacting what you're doing.  Don't get bogged down in worrying about what's happening globally.  Pay attention to what's happening in your area.  Take those changes into account and make the appropriate changes.

What did Seeley predict in this years planting season?  According to agriculture.com he's predicting a cool and wet season.  However, pay attention to your region.  Just because it's cool and wet in say Georgia, doesn't mean it won't be warm and dry in Wyoming.

For more information on Seeley's report click on the link below.

Climate & Weather Education

What's Going On With My Winter Wheat?

With the harsh Winter we are experiencing many are curious if there winter wheat will make it.  How does one see how it's doing?  According to agriculture.comThe University of Nebraska has come up with a way to sample test the soil to give a good idea of how it's doing.

1. Remove the top 3 inches of soil containing the plant crown (typically located 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface).
2. Thaw the samples and warm to room temperature.
3. Remove soil from the roots and wash with cool water to remove attached soil.
4. Cut off roots below the crown and fall growth to within 1 inch above the crown.
5. Rinse the crowns with cool water.
6. Place 10 wet crowns in a labeled plastic bag, inflate the bag, and tie shut.
7. Place the bags in a lighted room, but not in direct sunlight.
8. Check the crowns in two days, rinse with cool water, and reinflate the bag.
9. After four days, the crown should show about 2 inches of new growth.
10. Plants that are not growing after six days should be considered dead when estimating survival.
11. Some plants may grow poorly and develop molds that live on dead or injured plants.

Remember winter-kill is a localized event.  Pick your sample areas carefully and don't over try to get your results too widely.

Farmland Values Cooling Off

It's upon us!  That long stretch of a dramatic rise in land values is finally slowing down.  According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City land in Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Oklahoma and Western Missouri have all cooled off.  This could trigger what I believe is a farmland gold rush for buyers. 

How's That? 

Many farmers have been holding on to their land in hopes to selling it at it's highest value well beyond the normal age a farmer does.  Well, those values have peaked, leveled out and are now starting to come back down a bit.  As of now, there are fewer farms for sale on the market.  I expect a dramatic increase here quickly with farms selling at a dramatic pace.  So if you're an investor looking to get in, now is an excellent time to be brushing up and learning about the cropland business.

Where Should I Go?

There are many websites you can go to to learn.  My favorite is Brownfield Ag News.  This is where you can keep up with all things agricultural.  I especially like it has a spot where the commodity prices are constantly up to date.  You can also download and app for your smart phone as well.

Another good place is Farmers National Company.  Here is a one stop shop for all things agricultural and they do an excellent job spelling things out in laymen's terms to better help you understand.  Also, they are the largest farm management company in the United States.  So, find a local manager in your area using there site and sit down and talk with him.  That the best way to learn.

And then finally, talk to a local real estate agent to help you look and make decisions.  Farmers National Company also does this.  Depending on where you're looking I highly suggest Farmers National Kansas City.  If anything, they can help point you in the right direction.

What About a Bubble?

This is a common fear people have.  While it is a possibility it's highly unlikely.  Most farms were bought by cash buyers.  It was rare someone bought a farm with loaned money.  The reason is farmland prices always go up and rarely fall back.  Now we are experiencing a slow down and may experience a lowering in price, but that won't be the trend for long.  As a matter of fact, what will most likely happen is instead of farm prices rising at a clip of 25% per year.  They are more likely to rise at 5% per year.  So there won't be any collapse like the housing market which was primarily driven by debt.

If you wish to read the complete survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City just click on the link below.

Fed Reserve of KC Survey

Small Farms Get Help

Recently Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been allowing inspectors on to farms with fewer than 10 employees.  While the point of the OSHA's inspections are valid this is a violation.  Small farms a supposed to be exempt from from inspections.  Inspections are only allowed when a farmer is buying and selling grain in an unrelated farming operation.

What's The Point of These Inspections?

In 2010 and 2011, there was a rise of deaths involved with employees dying in grain bins.  Employees would walk on grain or attempt to remove build up.  The employees would sink and get stuck in the grains like quick sand and die.  It then became law for the OSHA to inspect large farming operations to ensure employee safety.  This resulted in a significant decrease in grain bin deaths.  So it's not like the OSHA inspections are a bad thing.

What Went Wrong?

It's a simple misunderstanding but one that had major ramifications against small farm operations.  A memo inside the OSHA stated drying and fumigating is not central to agriculture operations.  This gave OSHA inspectors the go ahead to inspect.  Also, the memo didn't clearly spell out the guidelines and was interpreted incorrectly.

In one such a case, according to Brownfield Ag News, "A Nebraska farmer with one non-family employee was recently assessed a fine of over $130,000 dollars by OSHA."  Clearly a small farm operation can not pay such a fine.

What Was The Solution?

Congressman Sam Graves of Missouri, along with several other congressmen, wrote a letter to the OSHA.  In it they asked OSHA to adhere to the law and clarify the guidelines for the inspectors.  OSHA did so and the problem seems to be resolved.  Below are links to the letter Sam Graves wrote and OSHA's response.

Letter From Congress

Letter From OSHA

Ownership and Estate Planning

Trusts

There are two kinds of trusts that are commonly seen in the farmland industry.  There is the revocable or family trust and there's the irrevocable trust.

The revocable or family trust is were usually you or a family member is the trustee.

A irrevocable trust usually involves a corporate trustee.  I will go into different kinds of corporate trusts you can set up and what is best for you in future posts.

Types of Property Ownership

Tenancy in Common

Tenancy in common is another commonly seen type of farmland ownership we see.  Tenancy in common is where a property is held by two or more persons with only the unity of possession.  There may hold a varying size of interest in the property.  The owners may take the title at different times.  The owners may also have different deeds.

Possible Issues

The owners will share an undivided possession.  So upon the death of one owner there is no right of survivorship.  The other owner can't take the passed owners shares unless stated so in a will.  Decedent's interest passes to his or her will.  Or, it passes to the state law of distribution.