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NNN0LHI

(67,190 posts)

59. Here is what a well prepped field looks like during a drought

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 09:49 AM

Jul 2012

I don't have to drive anywhere to see this one. This is a field bordering my property. I just look out the back door. I watched the farmer who owns this field spend 2 months getting everything right before he planted this year. Hardest working man I have ever seen in my life.

How does it look?

Don

Here is what it looked like when he planted it back in April:

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I was talking to a couple of local farmers today about this drought. Old timers [View all] NNN0LHI Jul 2012 OP

Maybe they didn't have the money to do it the right way in the first place? n/t Ian David Jul 2012 #1

Then maybe they should have gone into some other profession. randome Jul 2012 #2

that would mean that anyone who has some bad luck Whisp Jul 2012 #7

sounds like a Ron Paul line of thinking to me ... zbdent Jul 2012 #51

That would mean a reduction in the food supply because of fewer farmers. Zalatix Jul 2012 #12

Reduction of food supply for feed lots, maybe... Scootaloo Jul 2012 #35

or MrDiaz Jul 2012 #77

Obivously you aren't a farmer. Farming is a problem even in good times. We need to support our southernyankeebelle Jul 2012 #28

Because the subsidy money goes to the millionaire farmers. nt Comrade_McKenzie Jul 2012 #55

The problem is crop insurance. HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #3

I wonder if after so many claims, HappyMe Jul 2012 #5

Excellent idea! Zalatix Jul 2012 #13

What? HappyMe Jul 2012 #16

If the insurance companies come out to inspect and enforce compliance Zalatix Jul 2012 #18

Then they would be complaining about too much regulation by "Big Gubment" NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #34

Is the insurance a government run drmeow Jul 2012 #65

Look at my post #6 right below this one NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #66

They mentioned that too NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #6

Good info. HappyMe Jul 2012 #10

If they are like any other insurance company, they might use this to deny the claim. Ian David Jul 2012 #11

Its a Federal program. HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #17

Crop insurance never pays the full value of a good crop. Sometimes 40%, LuckyLib Jul 2012 #19

I read an article the other day citing a higher figure. HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #22

They said 80% coverage was about the average around here NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #29

Thats the figure I read. HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #33

Crop insurance barely covers your input costs. Ikonoklast Jul 2012 #49

Other sources say as much as 80% of the market value. HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #52

Average projected national yield, and projected price @80% gives you $86 over input costs Ikonoklast Jul 2012 #54

It pays the bank loan. and that's about all it does Yo_Mama Jul 2012 #76

Actually if they were really doing it right, they'd not need chemicals you suggest. Lionessa Jul 2012 #4

Nitrogen, potassium and HappyMe Jul 2012 #8

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium sadbear Jul 2012 #9

Every time I've let money make a decision for me its turned out to be a bad decision madokie Jul 2012 #14

I had never even given much thought about that before NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #15

I hope I wasn't being out of line with that comment madokie Jul 2012 #45

Had no idea. Thanks for posting this. aquart Jul 2012 #20

Seems that there's an analogy in there SnowCritter Jul 2012 #21

+1000 HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #23

So what exactly is the correct way to prep the field? vlyons Jul 2012 #24

They didn't explain the entire process to me NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #26

Nobody's crops are doing okay, not even those who've done it the old ways without chemicals riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #25

Could still be third largest harvest on record according to this story sammytko Jul 2012 #40

A huge amount of acreage was planted in corn this year so the sheer scale ensures a return riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #44

Last July temps were over 100 degrees here every single day, today it's 73! sammytko Jul 2012 #47

The southern states have often seen boom/bust crop times. Not so much in Illinois riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #48

The larger point about not doing things on the cheap SheilaT Jul 2012 #27

Who needs to listen to the Department of Agriculture when you've got Zeke. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #30

Having a govt. that provides a safety net for all isn't cheap either. Pizz Jul 2012 #31

I think of the bridge that fell in MN LittleGirl Jul 2012 #32

Sorry but even if they are old timers they are delusional as to the cause. harun Jul 2012 #36

What would be causing one field to survive and the ones on either side of that one not survive? NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #37

Hundreds of factors harun Jul 2012 #58

I'm pretty sure professional farmers 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #67

Never said they forgot harun Jul 2012 #71

No farm is drought-proof 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #78

There could be another explanation. bvar22 Jul 2012 #38

I have never seen any irrigation being done around here by anyone in over 20 years NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #39

Where are you? Motown_Johnny Jul 2012 #41

About 60 miles south of Chicago and about 10 miles west of the Indiana border NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #42

Well, that shows what I know. Motown_Johnny Jul 2012 #43

I Probably Drove Right Past You... KharmaTrain Jul 2012 #53

Works for beef cows too. Drahthaardogs Jul 2012 #46

I saw an interesting seminar on beef production in Texas 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #69

Bailouts? moondust Jul 2012 #50

Crops that are supplied easy and shallow water will develope a shallower root FedUpWithIt All Jul 2012 #56

I really doubt what these farmers are saying... CoffeeCat Jul 2012 #57

Here is what a well prepped field looks like during a drought NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #59

The stalk and tassle may "look" fine but the corn isn't so great. Farm reports say 30% of the yield riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #60

I have walked out and looked at and opened a couple of ears and they looked pretty normal to me NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #61

He's very lucky then. Ours is crap, even with irrigation, the high heat has ruined the ears riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #62

Seconding your comments Yo_Mama Jul 2012 #73

Are you suggesting that this is the fault of the farmers? CoffeeCat Jul 2012 #63

I am telling you what two farmers who have been farming for decades told me NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #64

I didn't see any blame in the OP XemaSab Jul 2012 #68

Not true at all. Sorry but in some places there's nothing anyone could have done. riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #79

depends on the location Yo_Mama Jul 2012 #70

A largely unnoticed thread... Atman Jul 2012 #72

We discussed this on another forum and I tried to talk people down from raiding stores for corn and sammytko Jul 2012 #75

Corn Austerity didn't work? Atman Jul 2012 #74