Farmers plan to innovate with new technology, cropping practices in 2013

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Producers will continue to embrace new farming practices in 2013, according to survey results presented at the recent Ag Connect Expo and Summit in Kansas City.

According to the survey, which was sponsored by Case IH, 85 percent of the 1,109 producer respondents are considering new cropping practices and technologies for this year’s growing season.

The results were revealed during a presentation by Brian and Darren Hefty, co-hosts of RFD-TV’s weekly “Ag PhD” program. 

“These survey results are not surprising,” said Brian Hefty, who operates Hefty Seed Co. and farms about 2,500 acres with Darren Hefty near Baltic, S.D.

“Agriculture is driven by new technologies. Farmers face new challenges with each cropping year. It might be drought, flooding, new diseases or high fertilizer prices — it’s a seemingly endless list. Innovative solutions and technology are how we’re going to be able to create a better growing environment and positively impact the farm’s bottom line.”

“As one would expect, survey respondents are willing to try new technology that has the potential to increase yield or reduce input costs,” Darren Hefty added. “This is especially true for technology that can increase yields since it has the most impact on producer profitability.”

* Cover Crops Make Comeback — Cover crops are the top farming practice that will be tried for the first time in 2013 with 24 percent of respondents planning to plant them.

“We’re seeing resurgence in cover crop use for multiple reasons,” Brian Hefty said. “They can improve soil tilth, water infiltration, organic matter levels, and soil fertility, as well as reduce erosion and suppress weeds.

“Clearly, a single cover crop will not accomplish all of these benefits. Producers need to determine their goals as each potential benefit may require a different seeding program.”

Another practice to improve soil health — vertical tillage — ranked as a close No. 2 with 23 percent of respondents planning to use a vertical-tillage tool to maintain conservation benefits of residue while making it more manageable at planting time.

“Vertical tillage prior to planting is becoming more popular every year,” Darren Hefty said. “The need to manage corn stalks in a no-till system is one reason. Other reasons are to incorporate manure, lime or fertilizer into the soil, as well as conditioning the seedbed prior to planting.”

Rounding out the top five new farming practices to be tried for the first time in 2013 were resuming deep tillage at 22 percent, no-tillage at 18 percent and strip tillage at 15 percent.

* Accelerated Adoption of Precision Farming — New precision farming tools will play a significant role in farming operations in 2013, especially during the planting season. Variable-rate fertilizer application will be used by 27 percent of survey respondents for the first time as a way to reduce production costs and increase yields.

“Farmers are seeing additional profits with variable-rate fertilizer applications as they are able to increase grain yields without increasing total nutrient inputs,” Brian Hefty said. “This is especially true with today’s grain and fertilizer prices.”

Autosteer on the planter tractor ranked as the second most popular precision farming method at 25 percent to ensure accuracy and increase productivity by being able to plant day or night in difficult visibility conditions.

“This technology can improve efficiency without changing other management practices,” Darren Hefty said. “Autosteer helps reduce planter overlaps and skips. Even small errors prove costly when all inputs such as seed, fertilizer, fuel and labor are considered.”

Grid sampling tied with autosteer on the planter tractor as the second most popular precision farming method with 25 percent of survey respondents planning to use it for the first time in 2013. Rounding out the top five new precision farming methods are yield and moisture mapping at 22 percent and field mapping for the planter at 22 percent.

* More Efficient Equipment — Engineering advances are the norm for equipment manufacturers.

“Farmers need to be more productive and efficient with their land,” Brian Hefty said. “Manufacturers are responding to customer needs with not only bigger equipment, but more innovative equipment that is efficient and versatile.”

Survey respondents’ top new equipment pick is a perfect example of innovation and efficiency. Vertical tillage tools will be used by 23 percent of survey respondents for the first time in 2013.

“Farmers can pull these tools with less horsepower and at higher speeds, so they cover more acres per hour than they could with a disk or field cultivator,” Darren Hefty said.

“Vertical tillage is proving its value for producers who want a smooth, even seed bed for spring planting without compromising erosion control,” Brian Hefty added. “It chops up residue, but does not bury it, which can help poorly drained soils dry more quickly.

“It’s a fast, fuel efficient way to level the ground and improve the seed bed. It can also help warm up the soil profile more quickly in spring so farmers can get into fields a little earlier and plant into a well-prepared seedbed.”

Tools to help farmers be more efficient also filled out the No. 2 and No. 3 spots with wider planters and seeders to be used by 20 percent of producers for the first time and self-propelled sprayers being used by 15 percent. Strip-till units at 14 percent and tractors with tracks at 13 percent complete the list of top five new equipment purchases in 2013.