Max Engler

Cattle Help Unlock Cover Crop Benefits From an article in Progressive Farmer by Jennifer Carrico Article excerpts: "Integrating livestock into crop production is a must on the Taylor Farm in central Iowa near Bouton. By adding cover crops, they have increased cow numbers and seen multiple benefits, including nearly year-round grazing and soil health enhancements. "We are using livestock to add income to our crop ground, and when Noah wanted to return to the farm, we knew the cover crops was a big part of why we could have another family here," pointed out Dan Taylor, Noah's father. He said cover crops boosted income -- without much added expense -- because they were able to add more cattle thanks to a longer grazing period. A CAUTIOUS START The Taylors began using cover crops in 2016. They started cautiously, aerial seeding rye into corn and hoping it would grow and provide some feed for cows. Through the years, they have learned better practices -- such as switching to a drill for planting cover crops -- to ensure greater success. Link to full article: https://lnkd.in/gXwU2T5J

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Check out our article on how Sentinel Fertigation helped Nebraska farmer Dan Preissler optimize nitrogen use without affecting crop yield from our November/December issue. The more nitrogen you apply, the greater your yield, right? That maxim is being turned on its ear for Nebraska farmer Dan Preissler. Working closely with Sentinel Fertigation, he has reduced his nitrogen application without affecting his corn crop yield. In this interview, Mr. Preissler explains how Sentinel monitors his fields and makes recommendations that help reduce nitrogen use—a win-win for waterways and his bottom line. https://bit.ly/4fUdyHQ #IrrigationLeader #Irrigation #SentinelFertigation #FarmingTechnology #CropYield

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Have you ever had a full-circle moment? U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) board member and South Dakota farmer Mike McCranie describes one of his full-circle moments. Years of serving the #USSoy industry to develop a reliable supply of soybeans, build relationships and continuously improve his farm’s #sustainability, culminated in helping a customer in Thailand secure sustainable soy for food and feed ingredients. https://lnkd.in/gqaZfdTx

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Balance4ward is a grass roots movement of the next generation, driving change in a traditional cattle business. We are passionate about leveling the playing field for mid-market cattlemen. We have built a platform of services to become the best at helping mid-market cattlemen capture cattle feeding opportunities. The problem we are solving is most cattle investors analyze a closeout without a projection to reconcile against.This promotes a lagging decision making process. We suggest you change your mindset to managing a pen breakeven 18 months before the pen is empty. We help you see proactive decisions so you can feel confident in predictable profits. B4W the cattle projection company. If you like solving complex problems, are savvy with technology, and you embrace change, contact us. A shot of grit wouldn't hurt! Join the movement. https://lnkd.in/dNViptnq

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In today's edition of Market Journal, you can view a conversation between Derek McLean, UNL Dean of Agricultural Research Division, and James Schnable, Plant Breeding and Genetics expert, PSI member, and the Nebraska Corn Checkoff Presidential Chair. They discuss James' work developing digital corn fields in collaboration with colleagues at Iowa State University, Purdue University, and in the private sector. The interview takes place at the Havelock Research Facility, which is just 15 minutes from campus. Watch the interview to learn about how UNL research can impact farmers by providing data to make their operations more sustainable and profitable. In the Field Update | UNL Research Update | September 27, 2024 (youtube.com)

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ICYMI: The new Prairie-wide Fusarium head blight (FHB) risk maps are here. Access real-time risk assessments for your crops and make informed decisions to protect your yield. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4bGvkMt #AbAg #WestCdnAg

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Farmers can browse, filter, and compare cover crop incentive programs by using a new, first-of-its-kind website in Iowa, costsharecompare.com, built by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance. The goal is to help farmers transition to using cover crops by making it easier to find and sign up for cost share. https://lnkd.in/gXtv-cM2

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Agriculture is a truly humbling profession. Once you think you have unlocked the puzzle we are always reminded how little we know. Having a great team of people who are all committed to working together and finding solutions to complex problems makes the job extremely rewarding. One small win at a time still moves the needle of progress. #potatoes #Alliedpotato #chipperbec #teamwork #harvest https://lnkd.in/gRVkkznx

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Farming requires constant decision-making and problem-solving, which can take a toll on mental health. Agronomist Erin Hightower shares five essential rules to help farmers reduce mental fatigue and improve overall well-being. 1️⃣ Create Transparency: Use technology to streamline tasks and reduce stress from constant check-ins. 2️⃣ Develop a Communication Process: Clear communication tools make daily tasks easier to manage. 3️⃣ Adopt a Data Growth Mindset: Rely on data to make informed, timely decisions. 4️⃣ Create a Team Goal: Empower your team to work toward shared objectives. 5️⃣ Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself, especially when things don't go as planned. Farming is tough, but with these strategies, ag professionals can protect their mental health and perform at their best. How do you manage your mental load on the farm? 🔗 To read the full story: https://ow.ly/GcYA50TB6qN #MentalHealthInAg #FarmSafety #AgTechnology #PrecisionAg #Agribusiness #AgRetail

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🚀 Enhancing operational efficiency in liquid storage: Learn from Mike's Midwest Farm 🌊 Mike owns a 500-acre farm in the Midwest, where he primarily grows corn and soybeans. Like many medium-scale farmers, he's always looking for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs. That's where utility tanks became a game-changer for his operation after making significant investments in 2022 in Tank Depot's utility Tanks. Here's how: 1️⃣ Fertilizer Application: A 300-gallon tank mounted on his tractor allows Mike to treat 100 acres before refilling, cutting application time in half. 2️⃣ Water Management: 1,000-gallon tanks distributed throughout the farm to collect rainwater for irrigation, reducing reliance on local water supply. 3️⃣ Mobile Fuel Storage: A 100-gallon diesel tank on his pickup eliminates refueling downtime during harvest. The Bottom Line Since incorporating utility tanks into his operation, Mike has seen a 20% increase in overall efficiency. The time saved on refilling, whether it's fertilizer, water, or fuel, has allowed him to focus more on other aspects of farm management. "These tanks have paid for themselves many times over," Mike concludes. "They're durable, versatile, and have become an essential part of our day-to-day operations. I can't imagine farming without them now." How can utility tanks serve you? Utility tanks are revolutionizing industries from agriculture to emergency response. Imagine having a single solution that can: Store chemicals safely ⚗️ Mix small batches with precision 🧪 Power up your mobile detailing business 🚗 Supercharge your farm operations 🚜 Be your hero in disaster response 🦸‍♀️ With capacities from 2.8 to 4,200 gallons, there's a perfect fit for every need. These tanks are tough, portable, and ready to tackle any challenge you throw at them! Just like Mike, our Tank Depot experts will guide you in selecting the right tank type and size for your unique application. Give us a call at (866) 926-5603 for guided consultation. Care to learn more about how utility tanks can help increase your operational efficiency and save you time? Check out our latest guide on utility tanks: https://hubs.li/Q02Q4RXX0 #fertilizerapplication #operationalefficiency #liquidstorage #fuelstorage #chemicalstorage #utilitytanks #TankDepot #TrustTankDepot

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Financial stress testing for farms By Matt Reese and Dale Minyo It is no secret that there are some economic concerns right now for many in the agricultural sector, and it may be a good time for farms to assess how they are positioned to withstand potential challenges ahead. “The recent USDA report of net farm profits going down 27% definitely pushes us to consider stress testing,” said Brock Burcham, regional vice president of ag lending for Farm Credit Mid America (FCMA). “Stress testing is a way that you can model how extreme or unfavorable circumstances in the marketplace will impact a specific operation so you can be prepared for what you don’t know and play with the numbers. Three of the numbers that we like to focus on when we’re looking at stress testing are working capital, our interest expense ratio and our net farm income. All of our decisions can impact each of those three numbers and we encourage folks to look at those three to help make their decisions for their next purchase or investment.”… Continue reading https://lnkd.in/g3HiB_S8

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The future of dairy lies in the ability of farms to adapt new technology and new processes that allow them to be more efficient both with their cows and their teams. The Milc Group has helped McCarty Farms do just that. You can hear more from this conversation in episode 172 with Mike McCarty! ➡️ https://loom.ly/q9FEoEY #dairyindustry #dairytech #agriculturepodcast

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USDA Reports 67% of Corn, 68% Of Soybeans in Good to Excellent Condition - AgriMarketing The USDA reports another week of modest changes for the national #corn and #soybean condition ratings. That continues the growing season's story of generally favorable conditions in parts of the region against at least some crop stress in other areas. As of Sunday, 67% of the U.S. corn crop is in good to excellent shape, 1% less than the previous week, with 88% of the crop silking, 46% at the dough-making stage, and 7% dented, all close to or ahead of normal. 68% of U.S. soybeans are called good to excellent, up 1%, with 86% blooming and 59% at the pod-setting stage, both faster than the respective five-year averages. 88% of winter #wheat is harvested, compared to 86% on average. 74% of spring wheat is rated good to excellent, unchanged, with 97% headed and 6% harvested, slower than most years. 45% of #cotton is in good to excellent condition, 4% lower, with 91% of the crop squaring, 60% setting bolls, and 8% of those bolls opening, just above average for all categories. 80% of rice is reported as good to excellent, a decline of 3%, with 80% of the crop headed and 7% harvested, more than the usual rates. 47% of #sorghum is good to excellent, a drop of 8%, with 63% of the crop headed and 25% coloring, both progressing ahead of the typical paces. 35% of U.S. #pastures and #rangelands are in good to excellent shape, a decrease of 3% on the week. The USDA's weekly national crop progress and condition numbers run through the end of November. https://lnkd.in/dcr_bjRK #ussoy

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NutriQuest and Agricen Sciences Announce Partnership to Advance Agricen’s Industry-Leading Crop Technologies in the Livestock and Poultry Sectors 🤝 Mason City, Iowa, Oct. 24, 2024 - NutriQuest, a leading provider of nutrition and business consulting, research, and product development for the swine, poultry, and dairy industries, has partnered with Agricen Sciences to develop livestock and poultry technologies based on Agricen Sciences’ successful platform of industry-leading crop products. Agricen Sciences, a Texas-based biotechnology company, develops innovative microbial and biochemical technologies to enhance plant health and nutrition, creating novel solutions that address sustainability and production challenges in agriculture and related industries. “This exciting research partnership with NutriQuest will leverage Agricen Science’s world-class R&D capabilities and technology platforms to identify microbes and metabolites that can be optimally deployed to enhance animal health,” said Michael Totora, CEO of Agricen, which commercializes Agricen Sciences’ discoveries. The partnership will drive research into adapting Agricen Sciences’ naturally derived technologies for poultry and livestock applications, aimed to reduce antibiotic usage and improve sustainability in animal production. “I have known Michael and the Agricen Sciences team for many years and have admired their leadership position in developing natural products for crop production, while NutriQuest has been on a parallel path in animal production,” indicated NutriQuest CEO Steve Weiss. “Not only is there great potential in the shared technology development platforms, but we also share similar cultures and passions for improving farmers’ prosperity through natural solutions that enhance sustainability.” Agricen Sciences has developed multiple sustainable biostimulant and biological products for agriculture that have been successfully commercialized and deployed by partners across North America, South American and Australia. “Our innovation teams have already begun collaborating,” shared Dr. Kim Friesen, President of NutriQuest. “These early efforts make me very optimistic that we will jointly develop important applications for the livestock and poultry industries.” #Livestock #Research #Innovation #Agriscience #Biotechnology #Agriculture #Partnership #AnimalHealth #AnimalNutrition #Science

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