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WC MN | Yes, totally different game. We have deep prairie soils and rolling hills for the most part. I have some land on my farm that is not row cropped because of the hills. I planted a vineyard on that land and they are quite happy there. It was pasture for years and I have no interest in cattle.
Anyways, I am just merely stating that a lot lays idle here. Some was flooded back and a lot was put into grass. Is it all 170 bpa ground? No. Is it all "crap"? No. By no means is it a utopia here. Just stating mere facts. Maybe we have some gravel spots and some light sand but not whole sections of it. I do understand that it's not like that everywhere. My whole point is 140,000 acre decrease from the 50's is a LOT of land "missing". Even in a year like this, CRP that was broken up dryland was making low 100 bpa corn. @ $6 corn, that goes a LONG ways. We don't get the heat like you boys down south so if it's dry, we can still raise a crop. In fact, our crop was better this year than last year with about half the rain. Yes, if corn goes to $4 there might be some issues but we can sell '13 off the combine for $5.85 right now. That's about $900 gross an acre at 155. A guy can keep farming with a gross like that.
Insurance game? Yes, that's being played here too. Those CRP acres being taken out get the T yield (with certain provisions). Last year was 144 and next year my guess will be closer to 150 after this years crop (I didn't get in on the 200 bpa field averages like they did north of me). Three years ago it was 134. 150x.8= 120 bpa 120x$6(estimated insurance price) guarantees you $720/acre. I'd bust out my CRP if I had some and give it a go. You can't lose money. IF you make a crop, great. If you don't, well, you aren't hurting as $720 "pays the bills" and even then some. I am not the only one that knows how to run a calculator and that is why you see CRP being taken out in record numbers. CRP was paying $45-85/acre You are not going compete with row crops and beets.
Just different locations/growing conditions.
http://binged.it/TtOZEg <- 25 years ago that farm was farmed end to end. They plugged the tile and look how cut up it is now. It's HEAVY ground which is why it was tiled to begin with. Landowners can do as they wish with their properties but you aren't gaining acres or productivity by putting in duck ponds.
So, the point again is I hear there is no more farmland. My argument is that there is, you just have to find it. It may not be vast quantities but there is always opportunity to take what you have and make it better. I would much rather farm 10 acres squared up at 200 bpa corn than farm 30 acres cut up at 140.
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Is our corn acreage crowning...
