August 16, 2022
Dickinson Research Extension Center Updates

Goal based crop production

 

Ryan Buetow
Dickinson Research Extension Center
701 456-1106
Goal based crop production

Ryan Buetow

Often times people search out for the magic recipe that will give them the answer. Whether that is a fertilizer mix, cover crop mix, crop rotation or anything else on the farm. It is always a good idea to know what other people are doing and what works for them, that being said it is important that we identify what our goals are for the field we are working with. Most often when I ask that the answer is “to be profitable” which is what we are all working towards, however profitability in the short term can sometimes lead towards future losses in productivity or sustainability. Especially when it comes to owned acres we need to think long term and prioritize the secondary goals such as reduce weed pressure, contain salinity, reduce compaction, get better utilization of inputs. With harvest season upon make sure to take time to make notes on some issues you see out in your acres so you can spend this winter prioritizing a way to address these needs for next growing season. Are there adjustments you can make to your inputs to better meet these goals or are there adjustments to your crop rotation that could open up new pesticide chemistries to manage an issue? When we talk about selecting a cover crop we ask what are your goals with this cover crop. Is it to have forage? Is it to manage compaction? Is it to fix nitrogen? We don’t say well this guy 200 miles away says this mix really works for him and you should try it too. We look at your goals, then look at the crop species that can help you meet those goals all while making sure that the seed investment will be worthwhile. There is validity in that mix that works for the guy 200 miles away, but you need to know the nuance of why it works for him and how it is helping him meet his goals in his environment.

Data and experience in western North Dakota show that a late season/post harvest cover crop often has difficulty getting established unless planting a winter annual. If this is something you are considering or you’d like to look further into a goal based full season cover crop mix next growing season be sure to check out NDSU’s selecting a cover crop publication https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/ag-topics/crop-production/soil-health/cover-crops/selecting-cover-crop
 
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