Nielsen and Mintert in southern Indiana
Free Purdue Extension workshops in southern Indiana early next month should help farmers answer some important questions about cash rents and refining their crop input plan but maintaining good yields in the coming year.
Jim Mintert is one of the speakers for “Managing for 2016 and Beyond” and he says Bob Nielsen, Extension corn specialist will focus on using the best science to reduce production costs.
“We’re really relying on the research that’s been done here at Purdue and elsewhere with respect to optimizing things like seeding rates, looking at optimum nitrogen rates, looking at optimum phosphorous and potash rates, and really putting that whole management package together based on research as opposed to what we traditionally have been doing, at least in recent years. I think there are some opportunities to reduce production costs significantly if we pay close attention to the research and really use a high level of management. That will be the focus of what we’re going to talk about on the agronomic side,” he told HAT.
Cash rents is another ongoing decision process made more crucial in current economic conditions.
“And if you look at what’s taking place with cash rents in Indiana we have seen some indication of some softness in cash rents, but truthfully it’s been pretty small so far, the reductions that have taken place, at least as far as we’ve been able to pick them up from some of the reports that we’ve been gathering. But looking ahead we anticipate more reductions in cash rents in response to very tight and in many cases what are going to turn out to be negative crop margins.”
Mintert will offer guidance on making cash rent decisions, and he’ll illustrate the new decision tool to help farm managers anticipate the impact of the cash rent rates on their operation and what they can actually afford to pay over a multi-year period.
Workshop sessions are:
March 3, 1 p.m. CST: Vanderburgh County 4-H Center, 201 E. Boonville-New Harmony Road, Evansville. For more information or to register, contact Amanda Mosiman, Warrick County Extension, at 812-897-6101 or bailey1@purdue.edu.
March 3, 6 p.m. CST: Spencer County Youth and Community Center, 1101 E. County Road 800 N, Chrisney. Contact Nicholas Held, Spencer County Extension, at 812-254-8668 or nheld@purdue.edu.
March 4, 9 a.m. EST: Ponderosa Steakhouse, 5 Cumberland Drive, Washington. Contact Luis Santiago, Daviess County Extension, at 812-254-8668 or santiagl@purdue.edu.
Each workshop is free, but registration is required by March 1.