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Minnesota | There's a big difference in investment cost between tiling and something like variable rate planting. If you think variable rate fertilizer is worthwhile, can you custom hire it done to prove that it is actually going to have a positive return?
Tile takes first priority for me....but, it is also by far the most costly investment. In a wet year, I've seen 100+ bu corn difference on adjoining fields where the only difference is tile. Even last year (which was exceptionally dry for us), we saw 20 bu higher corn yield on the tiled fields. I now have the option to tile a problem field....it's going to cost over $1000/acre for the tile system.......but, I know that's what it takes to farm in an area with very poorly drained soils.
We do see good return from section control (corn) in small odd-shaped fields with lots of obstacles....mostly from not over planting. Remember, that you'll need some sort of accurate GPS to make this work. You can pick up used parts and piece together a system without a huge investment. My planter started out with section control on a ground drive, then we changed to hyd drive (with used parts), and now, we converted the same planter to electric drive an hydraulic downforce. You can upgrade things a little bit at a time... | |
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Establishing Priorities
