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New tire technology has the ability to boost crop yields by 7%. Several recent articles in No-till Farmer outlined the benefits and few disadvantages of new tire technology. Most older farm equipment use standard bias tires inflated to 35 pounds per square inch (psi) but now standard radical tires (20 psi), increased flexion tires (16 psi), and very high flexion tires (VF, 12 psi) allow tires to flex which decreases soil compaction and improves yield while saving farmers money on labor and fuel. As the tire pressure goes down from 35 psi to 15 psi, the tire flattens and the side walls bulge. The tire may look flat but new tires are designed that way. The tire foot print expands by 4.5 inches which means the load is spread over a larger surface area, resulting in less soil compaction. Traction improves so more field work can be accomplished faster with less fuel and labor. Less compaction resulted in higher yields. Tire experts tested tires at 35 psi which is over inflated for most new ...

Agriculture is going through a lot of farm stress lately with lower crop prices and high input prices. Several farmers recently commented how stressful they were about buying new equipment or farmland and how to pay for that with today’s prices? Sometimes it helps to know that you are not the only one going through it. Here are some tips for reducing farm stress so that you have a clear mind for making important farm decisions. Sometimes we all make matters worse by dwelling only on the negative. Here are two methods that can help you think clearly so you can deal with your problems. Do any of these two methods for 2-3 weeks. First, Think of any moment that made you feel comforted and content. Close your eyes and relive that moment. Second, think “B-R-A-I-N.” B = Breathe. Breathe deeply 5 times. Release the air slowly. R = Relax. Tell yourself to relax, whether in your head or out loud. Notice areas of tension in your body, and try to release that tension. A = Ask yourself what you nee...

With lower crop prices, many farmers are struggling to make ends meet. Corn is around $3.50 a and soybean $10/bushel, down from a high of $7 for Corn and $15 to $17 for soybeans/bushel. Brazil crop production continues to drive crop prices lower as they expand acreage into the Amazon forest. To survive, farmers will need to cut costs. Here are tips on cutting crop production costs. Reduce tillage. The equipment costs, fuel, and maintenance have gone up with inflation from 25%-81%, depending on the tillage operation since 2010. As a comparison of 2010 to 2023 prices: Chisel Plow $14 now versus 2023 in $20, a rise of 42%. Disk Tandem ($13, $17, +31%), Field Cultivate ($11, $17, +55%), Plow ($17, $24, +41%), Soil Finishing tool ($11, $20, 81%), Sub soil ($18, $27, +50%). Farmers who eliminate at least one tillage pass or go to no-till can save money. Gary Schnitkey, Illinois University Economist reports in the last two years, the profit per farm on going to no-till over just one pass til...

Farmers pay a lot of money for nitrogen (N) fertilizer, especially on corn and wheat but also vegetable crops like tomatoes, pickles, melons, sweet corn, etc. Most N fertilizer is produced from 200 plants world wide using the Haber-Bosch process. Natural gas or coal is used with atmospheric N using high pressure and high temperatures. The coal or natural gas is a source of hydrogen while the atmosphere supplies the N to produce ammonia (NH3). About 96% of the N fertilizer is produced this way but it also has high greenhouse gas emissions, methane and carbon dioxide. The need for N fertilizer is currently about 100 billion tons per year. The atmosphere is a natural source of N at 78%. Worldwide, there may be 4,000 trillion tons of total N atmospheric worldwide or about 34,000 tons of N/acre. Almost all of this N is in in the wrong form for plants. However, lightning can fertilize our crops adding 1 to 50 pounds (lb) of natural N per acre. Lightning converts nitrogen molecules with high ...