FARM

2020
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020

PREVIEW A PUBLICATION OF THE

C2 FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020
farm preview
Hoping for a better year on the farm
I looked at the extended forecast earlier this week. It took me a
couple of seconds to realize that those predicted warmer
temperatures also come with several
days filled with rain. It was sort of a
flashback to a year I’d rather forget for
quite a few reasons.
Last year wasn’t kind to farmers or
backyard gardeners for that matter.
Lindsay Owens
Some people planted multiple times. TIMES HERALD
Some tilled multiple times but never
planted and some never tilled or
planted. Mother Nature just didn’t want to cooperate.
At the farm, we planted a little early and a whole lot of late.
WASHINGTON TIMES HERALD
Some things came off around the same time they always do,
some things had better yields and some things I wish we hadn’t
even planted. Apparently the same issues held true for seed
companies as many of them experienced crop failure on
everything from grape tomatoes and peppers to honeydew and
watermelons. Some of your favorite ornamentals including
asparagus fern and popcorn plants may also be in short supply
this year.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that farming, whether it’s row
or specialty crops, livestock or horticulture products, farming is
always a gamble. Nevertheless, it’s apparently a form of
gambling I have a bit of an addiction to.
CROP TECH Now Carrying
Garden Accessories
• Fertilizer • Mulch
• Irrigation & More!
Fittings
1220 Willow St. - Vincennes • 812-882-2507 / 812-882-0210 • Monday-Friday 8-5 - Saturday 8-12
WYATT SEED COMPANY, INC.
Dealer in
•Cool Season Grasses •Purina Livestock Feed
SEEDS •Warm Season Grasses •Sport Mix
•Clovers & Alfalfas •Pride Dog Food
•Lawn & Turf Seeds •Deer Food Plot Mixes
P.O. Box 218, Hwy 57, Petersburg, IN
800-581-5826 • 812-354-8542 FAX: 812-354-3891

WASHINGTON TIMES HERALD
JOHN NEWTON
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recently
released spring crop-insurance prices for
corn and soybeans were among the worst in
the past 10 years. Cotton prices decreased
as well, by almost 7 percent from the
previous year.
Crop insurance is a key risk-management
tool for farmers. And creditors often use the
spring crop-insurance prices and revenue to
establish a minimum income level, along
with other farm financial indicators, to
determine how much credit they will extend
to a farmer. And many monitoring the
markets use spring prices to evaluate
potential corn- and soybean-acreage shifts.
Each year in advance of the planting season,
USDA’s Risk Management Agency
recalibrates crop-insurance protection based
on expected commodity prices and risk in
the market. During a month-long February
survey period, market expectations for
prices are averaged to determine the spring
crop-insurance price. When combined with a
farmer’s yield history, spring prices and yield
farm preview
Crop-insurance prices decline
determine the level of revenue protection
available during the crop year.
Providing an indemnity payment in the event
of a crop loss or a decline in crop revenue,
crop insurance is an important risk-
management tool for producers. The spring
crop-insurance guarantee is also important
because creditors often use it to help
establish the borrowing capacity they are
willing to extend to a farmer.
Anecdotally many lenders will extend to a
borrower a line of credit that’s equal to 70
percent to 80 percent of the crop-insurance
revenue guarantee – the minimum income
level. For example a $4-per-bushel corn
price and a 200-bushel-per-acre yield with
80 percent crop-insurance coverage could
allow a borrower to receive financing of $448
to $512 per acre. That’s equivalent to $2.24
to $2.56 per bushel.
But crop insurance is not the only financial
barometer a lender may use. Lenders
certainly review many farm financial
indicators such as debt-to-asset or debt-to-
equity ratios among others to determine the
lending volume. Nevertheless reduced crop-
insurance spring prices do reduce the
borrowing capacity of farmers because the
C3
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020
minimum guaranteed income is less.
There have been two consecutive crop years
with retaliatory tariffs. There are expectations
for record corn production and increasing
stockpiles in 2020. And it’s expected there
will be a significant rebound in soybean
acreage and production this year. Plus large
domestic and global supplies of cotton are
expected. With all that the Risk Management
Agency’s Crop Insurance Price Discovery
tool revealed reduced spring crop-insurance
prices for corn, cotton and soybeans in
2020. Historical spring and harvest prices for corn,
The 2020 corn-crop-insurance price was soybeans and cotton are highlighted in
announced at $3.88 per bushel, a decrease Figure 1. Those crop-insurance prices and
of 12 cents or 3 percent from the previous thus the revenue guarantees were
year. The 2020 spring price is the worst determined by averaging the Chicago Board
since 2016’s $3.86 per bushel. It’s the of Trade corn and soybeans futures as well
second-worst in the past decade. For as the Intercontinental Exchange cotton
soybeans the spring price was announced at futures contract-settlement prices during a
$9.17 per bushel, a decrease of almost 4 month-long price-discovery period. Spring
percent or 27 cents per bushel. The spring prices for corn, cotton and soybeans are
soybean price is also the second-worst in a determined by averaging the new-crop
decade, only worse than 2016’s $8.85 per futures contract-settlement prices during the
bushel. The spring cotton price was month-long February price-discovery period.
announced at 68 cents, a decrease of 5 December was used for corn and cotton;
cents per pound – and almost 7 percent less November was used for soybeans.
than 2019’s price.
 C4 FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020
farm preview WASHINGTON TIMES HERALD

STARTING THE NEXT CHAPTER

GREG LITHERLAND
TIMES HERALD

Retiring from farming is not as easy as it sounded to broth-

ers Bill and Mike Burkhart.
The Plainville brothers, who had farmed for nearly 50 years,
retired from farming at the conclusion of the 2019 harvest…at
least the brothers thought they had retired then.
“Retirement really doesn’t feel like retirement because we
still are hauling grain, just like we had done every year we
were farming,” noted older brother Bill. “But that will change
soon.”
And the change, while welcome, also has a bittersweet root.
“We both are going to miss the work,” Mike said. “There just
is something special about working a field; starting with a
blank slate then seeing the results at harvest.”
Seeing the results was just part of what the Burkharts
learned early in life when they came to the realization farming
is not an occupation, it’s is a way of life.
Farming was a family affair as father, Ernie, served as the
farm’s patriarch, determined the way forward and led by ex-
ample, while mother, Mickey, not only was an equal partner
relative to work but also had the additional duties of running
the household.
Ernie set the standard for the sons and engrained in them
the work ethic required of a farmer as a caretaker of the land;
he also ensured his sons understood the need to be true to
their word, word that was sealed with a handshake.
Lessons taught by Ernie stuck with the sons their entire
lives.
“We really didn’t mind the work,” said Mike, “or the hours
because we knew the work had to be done.”
Even though they didn’t mind working as much as 3,000
acres of corn and soybeans as well as tending to livestock,
farm life wasn’t what either brother had in mind relative to a
career field. Bill aspired to be an accountant as he loves work-
ing with numbers. Mike envisioned a career as a teacher as he Greg Litherland| Times Herald
has a penchant for working with people. Mike Burkhart (left) and brother Bill hold an aerial view of the family homestead.
Pursuit of other careers ended abruptly in 1986 as a heart
attack ended Ernie’s life at the very place where the family
had so much life — the dining room table. wives and children. Bill is aware of the sacrifices made by wife Many factors played into the decision to make 2019 the last
“It was a blow,” Bill said. “Mom was 51, I was 27 and Mike Ruthanne and son, Blake, and Mike knows, too, the assistance year of farming for the brothers, and both are satisfied they
was 24. We just knew we had to keep going.” provided by wife Kim, and children: Ryan, Travis, Evan and Je- made the right choice for them.
And, keep going is exactly what the Burkharts did. nae. “We’re kind of worn out,” observed Bill.
“It wasn’t easy, but we had a lot of help from our neighbors,” “Every family member had a hand in any of our successes,” The brothers have tired of most of the business aspect of the
Mike pointed out. Bill said. Bill and Mike both note that the children weren’t en- farm and are glad to be shed of that. They also are glad to be
That help from neighbors is something the brothers appreci- thused about work but understood the work had to be done. free of the worry of rising equipment costs, advancing technol-
ated and reciprocated. The brothers understood as well that farming likely was not ogy and the diminishing margins for a bushel of grain.
“One of the great parts of being a farmer during the 80s was going to be a Burkhart legacy, and that, in part, was by design. Both Burkharts know how tight margins can be for a small
the support farmers gave each other,” Bill said. “We were there According to the brothers, they agreed that their children farmer and understand what some farmers mean when they
for one another.” would go to college and would work away from the family say they “hope to break even because they could sure use the
Being there for each other didn’t apply solely to the farming farm for 10 years. Conversation about continuing the family money.
community; the Burkharts were there for each other as well. farm would occur only after the child/children completed col- Money, though, was not the driver for the farming duo.
“I couldn’t imagine farming without Mike or farming with lege and worked outside of the farm for a decade and had a “Only someone who has worked the land can appreciate the
someone else,” Bill said. “And I wouldn’t have wanted to have desire to continue the farming tradition. feeling you get when the job is finished,” said Mike.
farmed with anyone else but Mike.” That conversation never occurred. Their job is not yet finished, but they can see the end from
Farming as a family affects all in the family, and both broth- Lack of conversation about a legacy led the brothers to talk here. Neither will feel retired until the final load of grain is
ers are quick to point out the contributions made by their seriously about their own retirement. emptied.

WASHINGTON TIMES HERALD
Farm dates to mark on your calendar for 2020
MARCH
March 12 – Knox County Ag Day
Supper, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Vincennes University P.E. Complex.
March 21 – Martin County Ag Day
and breakfast, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.,
Martin County Fairgrounds.
March 28 – Easter Bunny Pancake
Breakfast, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Knox
County Fairgrounds.
farm preview
APRIL
April 13 – ServSafe class offered
through Daviess County Extension.
April 27 – ServSafe in Spanish offered
through Daviess County Extension.
MAY
May 8 – Adult Mental Health First Aid
offered through Knox County
Extension.
May 27 – Youth Mental Health First
Aid offered through Knox County
Extension.
JUNE
June 23 – 27 — Daviess County Fair,
Elnora.
C5
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020
JULY
July 10 -14 — Martin County 4-H
Fair, Loogootee.
July 14-24 – Daviess County 4-H
Show, Washington.
July 20-25 – Knox County Fair,
Bicknell.
AUGUST
Aug. 7-23 — Indiana State Fair.
Some programs require advanced
registration. Please contact the
Purdue Extension Offices in the
respective counties for more
information
C6 FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020
farm preview WASHINGTON TIMES HERALD

Just kidding FARMER

Annual goat show slated for April 26.
Lindsay Owens
TIMES HERALD
While it may not be quite time for the
Daviess County 4-H Show, next month the
mega-species barn at the grounds located
APPRECIATION DAY
also features lunch for participants.
“We take a 30 minute break for lunch,” she
said. “We just ask for a free-will donation.”
While stepping into the world of showing
livestock is an investment in time and
money, Nowling said, it’s a worthwhile
experience for the whole family.

March 11, 2020

in Eastside Park will be filled with goats for “Livestock really is a family thing,” she said.
the annual Kidding Around Classic Boer “We don’t really go on vacations but we
Goat Show. spend a lot of time together at shows like
Megan Nowling, a former member of the this. Had it not been for shows like this one,

Special Pricing
On All
AGRICULTURE TIRES

File Photo | Times Herald MADE BY TITAN

Kidding Around and one of the event
organizers, the club formed for those
4-H’ers in the goat program, said the
longstanding show slated for April 26
typically brings in Boer goat enthusiasts
from around the state.
“It’s really a fun show,” said Nowling, who
said the show is open to those of all ages
and experience levels. “One thing I really
like about showing goats is that people
really want to help each other and want
others to do well. You can ask questions
and there’s always someone ready and
willing to help if you need it. The Indiana
Boer Goat Classic’s goal is really to help the
youth. I think almost all of our IBGA
ambassadors will be here to help.”
Nowling said unlike many shows, this one
I wouldn’t have met half the ambassador
team.”
Nowling said a commercial class will be
offered for those whose animals are not
registered. Registered animals will be shown Sign Up
in their respective market or breeding class.
For Prizes
“We’ve moved the date back a little this
year and I think that will help bring in more Including
people,” said Nowling who said registration Jackets, 2 Rear
is $15 in advance and $10 for pen rental.
Same day registration is $30. Farm Tires From
All proceeds from the show go to Kidding Firestone Farm
Around to help support the club’s members
and their awards. For more information on
and
the show or to register, contact Nowling at Up To $1,000 Off
812-698-2909 or megan.nowling@gmail. 2 Rear
com.
Farm Tires
From Titan

10 Dispatch
10
Service Trucks We
for Fast
On-The-Farm Service What
24 hr. Service
WE SERVICE
We Sell
WHAT WE SELL

M-F 7AM - 6PM; Sat. 7AM - 3PM 2124 Newton Street, Jasper 812-482-2020
 C7
WASHINGTON TIMES HERALD
farm preview FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020

Price of ground steadily increases

MIKE GRANT
TIMES HERALD
The price of farmland has been on a pretty
steady increase over the last decade. While
farming may have had its troubles with trade,
weather and commodity prices over the last
few years experts say the price of farmland
had managed to stay steady and most expect
is not created equal. They point out that there
are big differences on farmland, just based on
where it is.
“There is a big difference across the area,”
said Delmar Wagler with Integrity Realty.
“When you are out in the Amish area the sky
is the limit. We’ve sold some farmland at
$22,000 to $25,000 per acre. That’s not neces-
sarily a fair reflection of all farmland values.
We have also sold some river bottom land for
$1,800 per acre. I can tell you this the days of
“There are farmers who want it and especial-
ly around cities and towns there are develop-
ers who are looking for farmland. Those
things help send prices up.”
Another thing that impacts the pressure on
the price of farmland is investors.
“In the last three months, we have felt an
uptick of investors wanting to buy farmland,”
said Wagler. “For us that’s been exciting. We’re
looking for land for a doctor and for people
from Las Vegas who are wanting to invest in
farmland. It’s an investment you can touch
and feel and on a 10-year average there has
never been a time when land value didn’t go
up.”
Wagler says after a couple of years of land
prices stabilizing, he expects them to rise a
tick this year which means that it may be dif-
ficult to take care of everyone who wants to
buy into farmland. “It always worries me that
we are going to run out,” he said. “There are
still some estates that we sell. We are getting
more calls for land than we have ever had.”
Once again it appears demand for farmland
may be outstripping the supply but there are
plenty of things on the horizon that may im-
prove or deter the outlook on the farm and
the land. “The prices for crops aren’t good,
this flu thing is awful and hurting everybody,”
said Boyd. “But spring is coming and it could
turn into a good year.”
“It looks like a year of uncertainty,” added
Brocksmith. “Of course it is also an election
year which means we probably will have to
wait and see.”

good farmland selling for $7,500 are gone.

it to stay that way in the coming year.
Those days are past.”
“There is so much uncertainty now,” said
With trade issues with some of the nation’s
Vincennes University Agribusiness Chair Su-
biggest agricultural customers, lower com-
san Brocksmith. “There is uncertainty with
modity prices and some troublesome weather,
trade, the corona virus and things seem to be
the expectation might be that farmers may be
staying level. We have a limited supply of
under pressure to sell their land. But with
farmland and it is just going to depend on
farmers receiving trade adjustment support
who has money.”
the financial strain has not been as bad as it
Around 1,000 acres of farmland sold last
might be. Last year a third of all farm income
year in Daviess County for $14 million. But
was the result of federal payments. “Farm in-
all land is not created equal and farmers say
comes have stayed steady for a while because
they are seeing some wild swings.
of the government income support,” said
“Everybody wants good ground,” said Tom
Brocksmith. “There could be some small
Boyd. “There are plenty of buyers for that and
pockets where things went especially bad that
the price is staying up. Average ground has
might be forced to sell.”
gone down a lot, and poor ground you can’t
Despite that there is still plenty of pressure
give away.”
to keep prices up.
Realtors say that all land in Daviess County
“Farmland is finite,” said Brocksmith.
C8 FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020
farm preview WASHINGTON TIMES HERALD

TOMORROW STARTS EARLIER FOR FARMERS

Farmers Home
Insurance
Company’s
125 Anniversary
th

in 2020!
TOMORROW STARTS
Thank youFOR
EARLIER forFARMERS
all of your
hard work. We’re proud to provide
you with the insurance you need, and we’re grateful that you
Thank you for all of your hard work. We’re proud to provide you
with the insurance you need, and we're grateful that you provide
us with the food we put on our tables. Trust in Tomorrow.®
provide us with the food we put on our tables.
Trust in Tomorrow. ®

In Daviess
The Farmers Home
“Trust in Tomorrow.” and “A Grinnell Mutual Member” are registered trademarks of Grinnell
Mutual Reinsurance Company. © Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, 2019. County See
Louis Murphy
Insurance Company 812-787-1984
lmurphy@mccormickins.com
N19-22CM

Doug Steele - Lee Tuggle - Louis Murphy

1115 Weed Lane, Vincennes, Indiana 47591
812-882-5300 www.mccormickins.com