Stine^® Agronomists Offer Agronomy Tips to Consider This Holiday Season

With the holidays around the corner, we would like to thank all of our customers for an outstanding year. As a token of our appreciation, Stine’s regional sales agronomists have compiled a list of their top agronomy tips to help you prepare for next growing season. Enjoy, and happy holidays!  

Todd Schomburg, Region 4 
Just because a certain hybrid or variety was your top yielder in 2017 doesn't mean it will be in 2018. Make sure to check as much multi-year and multi-location data as possible when selecting next year's hybrids and varieties.

Mike Eckels, Region 8 
My number one piece of advice would be to make sure and put a pre down in front of your corn and beans for 2018.

Bill Kessinger, Region 16
My number one piece of advice — with all the weather issues and current state of the ag economy, do not make an emotionally charged decision. Take time to think about and fully understand all aspects of what is going on before you make a final decision for your operation. As George Washington once said, “Decision making, like coffee, needs a cooling process.”

Tony Pleggenkuhle, Region 10 
Buy Stine.

Doug Score, Region 17
My piece of advice is to invest in surface and tile drainage to ensure the correct air, water and soil mix for higher yields in 2018.

Scott Wagner, Region 15
With tight margins and growing cost, it is very important when making your 2018 seed decisions that you choose the right traits and herbicide program that best fits your farm. Knowing how to attack the weed, insect and disease pressure the most cost-effective way without giving up yield will be the most important decision for 2018.

Darrin Petty, Region 20 
Soybeans: Do what is best for your farming operation when it comes to choosing trait platforms. If there are a lot of unanswered questions out there on a trait or a chemistry, then I would choose wisely and not “just plant it because my neighbor is.” Contact a Stine representative who can inform you on ALL of the traits.

Corn: Look at yield, plant health and, most importantly, your return on investment.

John Furlong, Region 7 
Make decisions based on profitability, not just on cutting costs.

Kevin Ryan, Region 14 
My number one piece of advice would be to know your soil. Realistic yield goals should be determined by knowing your soil and their soil test results. Both nutrient levels and ph, along with Cation Exchange Capacity, can easily be determined by soil test results. I recommend soil testing all fields at least every four years if not more often. Nutrient levels are one of the factors growers can influence and control in crop production today. The more you know, the more realistic your yield goals can be for all of your fields.

Jason Green, Region 18
My one piece of advice would be to seek knowledge and to try new ideas and techniques to increase your ROI.

Katie Lorenz,Region 2
With 2017 coming to an end and 2018 upon us, it is important to reflect on what you did in the past year to make your farm more profitable for the years to come. Take time by the fire on these cold winter nights to study data that you were too busy to look at during harvest. This can be hybrid and variety locations, inputs used, weather contributions and, most importantly, yield! 

Justin Oden, Region 1
I strongly recommend when growers are making their final seed decisions that they really take a look at their actual ROI and cost per acre. It’s so easy to get fixated on yields, but we really need to be wise and look at the whole picture and all factors to get the largest ROI possible.

Tony Lenz, Region 3
Looking ahead to 2018, we want you to know that with Stine you still have the “freedom to farm the way you want” and have options. You can plant what you want and pay an economical price for that product. Whether it’s Stine LibertyLink^® or Stine GT 27 soybeans or conventional corn or Stine Agrisure^® hybrids, we have the products to fit your operation and that will help you save on input cost at the same time.