Soybean planting less than 50 days away for Arkansas farmer

Farmers across the country are counting down the days until planters can get in the field to officially kick off the 2024 corn and soybean growing season.

Chad Henderson - Madison, Alabama

Chad Henderson is a fifth-generation farmer in Madison, Alabama. Henderson Farms includes over 8,000 acres of dryland and irrigated corn, dryland soybeans, wheat, and dryland and irrigated double-crop soybeans. When not farming, Chad can be found carrying on another proud family tradition as a drag racer for Henderson Racing.

We recently launched the XtremeAg Show, and I believe everyone is pleased with how it went! Certainly, there are some improvements we need to make, as with anything — it's a learning process. Nevertheless, it was a great start with excellent people and a fantastic crew that contributed to its success.

As we gear up for corn planting, the corn planter is just about to leave the shop. This means the disc openers are attached, the closing wheel attachments are centered, and the closing wheel bearings have been replaced as needed. We've also incorporated new components in the seed delivery system and the meter itself. We anticipate being ready to plant corn within the next six weeks.

The soybean planter is next in line for maintenance. We plan to start planting soybeans around the same time as corn, if not ahead. When the soybean planter comes into the shop, we'll follow a similar process as we did with the corn planter to iron out any issues and ensure it's ready for planting. We strive to make the planting process as smooth as possible. Some of the soybean seed is scheduled to be delivered this week, and we are excited about that, looking forward to a good and safe planting season.

Temple Rhodes - Centreville, Maryland

Temple Rhodes is a fifth-generation farmer in Centreville, Maryland. Chestnut Manor Farms operates 3,000 acres of soybeans, 1,500 acres of corn, and 1,500 acres of wheat. His family also runs a hunting operation.

This week at the farm, we are focused on working on planters. All the methods that proved successful last year involve retrofitting one planter to essentially mimic the other. One significant change we made was transitioning our parallel arms from the previous bushing style to the new bearing style. We observed numerous benefits with the bearing style, particularly in terms of seed spacing and emergence.

Our primary objective is to leverage data from last year and incorporate it into this year's production. Aside from this, we are engaged in various activities such as hauling grain, wheat, corn, milo, and soybeans to generate income. This time of year prompts us to make crucial decisions, including fertility planning. We spend a considerable amount of time meeting with fertilizer and other companies to determine exactly where we can make adjustments. With the potential for sub-$4 corn in the upcoming fall, it is essential to reassess our inputs.

We aim to implement successful strategies from the previous year while eliminating aspects that did not yield the desired returns. This involves making informed decisions about where to cut costs without compromising the overall efficiency of our operations. In this ever-evolving marketplace, we must find ways to make prudent adjustments to ensure continued success.

Matt Miles - McGehee, Arkansas

Matt Miles is a fourth-generation farmer in southeast Arkansas. Miles farms 3,500 acres of corn, 3,500 acres of soybeans, 1,500 acres of cotton, and 1,500 acres of rice.

In 45 days, I'll reach my target soybean planting date, provided the forecast remains favorable — fingers crossed. Last year, we initiated our usual planting on that day, resulting in the highest yields to date. It seems that whenever I advance the planting date, yields tend to follow suit. I still aim to reserve a few acres for planting in February; currently, I'm one for two on that practice. If successful this year, I'll achieve a 66% success rate.

We are still grappling with finding a profitable way to grow corn. During years of low corn prices, it's crucial to remember that it adds a minimum of five bushels per acre on soybeans the following year. This justifies planting at least 10% to 12% in corn; last year, it was 40%.

One exciting development last week was the debut of the XtremeAg show! I'm thrilled to see my partners showcased on their farms, doing what they do best. While we can discuss it all day, witnessing it come to life adds a whole new dimension. This first season will air 23 episodes into September. Be sure to check it out on Acres TV or YouTube.

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