Spring Planting Issue Volume 13 Issue 2 March 2004

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF CROP QUEST AGRONOMIC SERVICES, INC.

Making Precision Ag More Precise

Back when precision agriculture wasnt so precise, David Waits was leaving his western Kansas farm to attend graduate school at Oklahoma State University. Some of the technologies he encountered there would help producers across the country and beyond access site-specific, agronomic information and a host of other precision ag data. Waits, President of Site-Specific Technology Development Group, Inc. (SST), notes that after a few years of desktop software sales, SSTs largest customer base consisted of crop input

Software from SST helps agronomists, producers use information to the most advantage
dealers who were adding precision ag programs to their roster of services. Many of these programs were simply not working properly. Producers needed site-specific technology, and SST moved toward resolving many of the software issues that their customers were concerned with. We saw that some of the new technologies were applicable to production agriculture, Waits says. We set our minds to developing this technology. We knew agriculturists need site-specific technology to help them make their decisions. Just like with anything else, if producers have access to better information, they can make better decisions. The software SST developed helped, and continues to help, growers quantify the benefits of their management decisions through data collection and compilation. Specifically, the companys SST Information Lab program provides an information system for agriculturists to collect and analyze data from yield information to insect and disease pressure. Crop Quest began working with SST in 1998 to develop software that would allow its agronomists to collect and analyze data more easily. Crop Quest became the first, and is the only, authorized SST Information Lab in Kansas. Authorized SST Information Labs serve as regional data processing and analysis centers, and contain the most sophisticated tools available from SST, Waits says. Instead of having to build their own tools and software, Crop Quest conveys to us whatever it is they are trying to
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Crop Quest Perspectives

Crop Quest Maximizing Production Economically

by Ron OHanlon, President Member, National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, CPCC-I Certified Dodge City, Kan.

For years, Crop Quest has helped producers with all types of agronomic services. Many producers have been with our company since its beginning in 1992, and we look forward to providing many more years of service and support. As the agricultural industry has become more complex, we have tried to keep the flow of information to our clients constant. In addition to personal consultations with agronomists, this newsletter has been our way of providing additional agronomic information, relaying stories about clients or businesses who are doing unique things within their farming operations and providing additional insight about personnel within our company. This expanded version of our newsletter is our way of introducing Crop Quest to additional farmers across our present service area, stretching from the Front Range of Colorado to the eastern edge of Kansas, down to the Winter Garden area of Texas and out to the Four-Corners region of New Mexico and Colorado. Crop Quest, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned, independent crop consulting/agronomic services company that was founded by 67 experienced agronomists. Our goal was, and still is, to provide agronomic services to the farming community with an unbiased approach, free from being tied to any product sales as a source of income. Crop Quest is the largest employee-owned, independent crop consulting company in the nation and, according to a recent survey by Doanes AgProfessional magazine, Crop Quest ranks as one of the top two companies in the nation for the number of acres serviced and the number of full-service clients. For most of our clients, Crop Quest provides a full-service agronomic program, which involves regular soil testing, fertilizer recommendations and hybrid/variety recommendations based on soil type, water availability and management conditions. In addition, our agronomists are involved in making herbicide and insecticide

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Cotton from North to South

by Dwight Koops Regional Vice President Ulysses, Kan. by Kyle Aljoe Area Manager Dimmitt, Texas

Kansas Cotton
by Jim Gleason
Regional Vice President St. John, Kan.

Q A

If I have winter kill in my wheat fields, how much will it hurt my yield?

Southwest Kansas should see another year of significant increases in cotton acres in 2004. The continuing drought, smaller wells and recent success with cotton in the area have expanded the interest of this crop. For farmers growing their first crop of cotton, its important to understand the risks involved. Cotton can net a profit, but producers should expect input costs that meet, or exceed, fully irrigated corn. We see cotton being an alternative on irrigated fields where the yield potential of corn is no longer high enough to net a profit. The major risk with cotton is early or late freezes, as well as cooler summer temperatures. We may see an increase in dryland cotton acres, but they will be limited due to the lack of essential residue that remains after harvest, and the depleted moisture profile that threatens the possibility of raising a subsequent crop.

The weather conditions this winter have been conducive for the wheat to winterkill. Lower soil moisture levels for most of the winter left the plants in a vulnerable condition going into the freezing period of late January to early February. The terraces and other elevated parts of the field are always the most susceptible, since those locations are usually the driest and coldest. A study done by the Southwest Area Office of K-State Research and Extension found that the amount of yield lost was always less than the amount of stand lost to winterkill. The surviving plants will compensate with greater production after the stand is thinned out. The amount of compensation varied by the kind of weather received after the wheat breaks dormancy in the spring. In the study, 25% winterkill gave a yield reduction of 6.5% in a normal spring and 15% in a dry spring. Contact your Crop Quest agronomist for more information about wheat winterkill in your fields.

Texas Cotton

Expect to see a slight increase in the number of acres planted to cotton due to a decrease in irrigation well output. Producers that are planting behind cotton should expect to see decreased soil moisture in those fields. In rotated fields, especially behind corn acreage, the late rains have helped increase moisture levels in those fields. The region has experienced a mild winter and producers should expect pressure from lygus bugs and fleahoppers. In addition, fields that have been continuously planted with cotton may see an increase in nematode pressure.

Precision Ag Continued from page 1

Get Updated!
CQ Perspectives is updated online every other month. To be notified when Web updates are posted, send an e-mail to rohanlon@cropquest.com with subscribe in the subject line.

accomplish, and we build it, Waits says. We have a very close working relationship with the company. Its not a software vendor and a customer its more of a partnership. Two software products are key to the SST Information Lab program. One provides for the collection of special farm management data, while the other delivers value to the grower by presenting the resulting information in a way that he or she can make improved management decisions via the Internet. A unique data collection system developed by SST enables producers to document field management activities and upload these records to the labs. SST has state-of-the-art technology for precision ag, says Ron OHanlon, President of Crop Quest. With the use of SSTs software, we can offer the latest precision ag services to our clients. Because we are a certified SST Information

Lab, we can provide a thorough analysis, then bring all the data together to help our clients. An added benefit of Crop Quests partnership with SST allows both companies to progressively update their software and tools as producers needs increase. For instance, some of SSTs software has been helping producers show environmental compliance. As government regulations become stricter, the technology allows producers to effectively demonstrate compliance and adherence to the regulations. Our partnership with SST allows us to accommodate unique needs of our clients and provide specialized products that fit those requirements, OHanlon says. In the area of precision ag, both companies will be able to progressively update our technology and tools to meet any demands.

Crop Quest Perspectives

www.cropquest.com

Evaluating Corn
by Dwight Koops Regional Vice President, Ulysses, Kan. and Jim Gleason Regional Vice President, St. John, Kan.

High Plains producers choose between corn and soybeans

ing advantage of forward contracting in this area as well. This regions producers are less concerned with energy prices due to more shallow water wells, which take less energy to irrigate. Its not such a large portion of the energy costs compared to other areas where the costs will be a larger concern. Of the producers that have committed to planting corn, more have purchased genetically modified seed. Acres of Bt-rootworm corn have increased, but many other growers are waiting for the GMO seed to become more widely available. Insect pressure from rootworms is fully expected this year. To reduce cost from treating insect and disease challenges, producers should take advantage of their local Crop Quest consultant. Deciding on the appropriate seed choices and technology well before planting is the best method of managing against insect and disease pressure.

Western Region

Corn acres in the High Plains will most likely be down in 2004 due to the continuing drought, high energy prices and the general decrease in well output. The bright spot right now is higher commodity prices. Many farmers are taking advantage of the higher prices and placing forward contracts to lock in their profits. Higher commodity prices help cover expenses more quickly and easily than increasing total bushels. A combination of good yields and good prices will help increase the profit potential for the 2004 corn crop. If a producer has good water and good yield potential, corn should be the number one crop choice this year. The key to maintaining that yield potential will be starting the season with an adequate moisture profile.

Eastern Region

The number of corn acres planted this year will remain consistent with last years acreage. However, producers are still waiting to decide between corn and soybeans. Commodities prices are going to largely dictate the decision through March. Many growers are tak-

Maximizing Production Continued from page 1

recommendations prior to planting and postemergent recommendations after the crop is up. The crops are scouted on a regular basis for insects, weeds, diseases and irrigation scheduling (except dryland fields), and recommendations are made for the health and proper management of that crop based on best management practices while keeping economics and the environment as important criteria. Most of our agronomists keep track of the field data by use of a computer in their vehicles. This allows our agronomists to provide their clients a readable and up-to-date field report after the fields are scouted and, with the farmers permission, the data can be compiled alone or with other information for further analysis. For those clients who request or have a need for economic numbers,

the agronomists also provide a crop budget analysis to assist the farmers in knowing the cost of production and alternative cropping options. As many of our clients can attest, these services offer a distinct economic advantage. Planting the right crops on the right field at the right time sounds simple, but any farmer can tell you that its much harder than it seems. The services Crop Quest provides gives our clients the edge needed to succeed. Our network of 73 professional agronomists can make profitable recommendations that work for your specific situation. Give us a call at (620) 225-2233 or visit www.cropquest.com and find out why Crop Quest is one of the premiere consulting companies in the country.

Crop Quest Perspectives

Making Up Moisture 2004 Front Range Outlook

by Kent Davis Division Manager Johnstown, Colo.

Grain Sorghum Expectations

by Dwight Koops Western Region Vice President, Ulysses, Kan. and Roger Unruh Area Manager Halstead, Kan.

Crop expectations for Colorado farmers are cautiously optimistic. Although water allocations and total supply is still unknown, Colorado farmers are generally planning for a fairly normal irrigation year. Recently, members of Crop Quests Front Range Division had the chance to speak with regional producers at the Colorado Farm Show, and expectations for a prosperous and profitable year are high.

Sugar Beets The Denver-based Western Sugar Cooperative, which was purchased

by its growers in 2002, has been fighting some tough years, considering the drought and water allocation concerns both of alluvial wells along the South Platte River and the various ditch systems dependant on surface water storage and delivery. The sugar cooperative has issued an additional 20% acreage to contracts. Should the water situation continue to improve, local sugar beet producers are hopeful they can take advantage of this increased acreage and produce again at high levels. Last years acreage did not permit running Western Sugars Greeley, Colo., manufacturing location, causing all beets in Colorado to be delivered to the Fort Morgan, Colo., factory for processing. Local growers hope there is a need to reopen the Greeley factory in 2004 or will likely face it being sold. Sugar price projections are high in the $40 to $50/ton range so if even normal water storage is reached from March through May, producers should be in a good situation to profit.

Barley Last years malt barley production for Coors Brewing Company in northern

Colorado was a banner year. Additional growers were contracted with Coors, and many farmers committed far more of their total acreage to small grains to keep variable expenses low in case the drought continued and minimal irrigation water was available. Weather from March through May provided a much better water situation than hoped, and the resulting crops were of high quality and high yields as well. Carryover barley is quite high, and Coors has cut allocations to growers averaging about 20%. This drop in contracted acreage will likely be taken up with more wheat, corn and beets being planted locally, especially given recent futures pricing seen on these commodities.

Alfalfa Cow/calf operators are crucial for alfalfa producers, as are dairies and feedlots.
Many cow/calf operators culled their herds in 2002 and 2003 due to drought stress, poor milk prices and low market prices late in the year. Consequently, many forage producers are facing very low prices. Additionally, farmers grew a record acreage of alternative forage crops last year. Sorghum-sudan hay and silage was grown to prevent plant insurance acreage as concerns about water availability continued in May. Theres a lot of feed still looking for a home, so I doubt well see many farmers opting to plant new alfalfa.

Beans Dry beans (pintos and others) have always been a mainstay in northern

Colorado, but the NAFTA treaty really hasnt helped us much. Consequently, dry bean prices have tended to stay in the mid-teens/cwt. and many growers havent planted them for the past several years. An increase in contract prices to the $20 range would likely shift growers from corn to beans, especially considering nitrogen prices and local forage carryover.

Urbanization Although urbanization continues along the Front Range of Colorado,

and water issues between cities and farmers will continue, producers are perhaps seeing slowdown in construction and growth. Current house prices make for a buyers market and rental availability is high. New job growth is slowing as well. Even with this recent decrease in urbanization, producers in the area will continue to battle development, but the rapid expansion of the last few years could be slowing.

Dryland milo production should be stable for 2004 because of its drought tolerance and importance as a rotational crop. Grain sorghum acres have been increasing due to drought conditions that have persisted the last few years. However, the yield potential for dryland milo remains very low across the High Plains. Moisture profiles are probably as bad, or worse, than during the past three to four years. Irrigated milo production is not a high-priority crop due to lower yields when compared to corn. Most irrigated milo is grown on low-capacity wells or on soils lower in yield potential. More low-gallonage wells should be planted to milo this year, but it does not appear this trend will cause an explosion in grain sorghum acres. High energy prices this year could limit the profit potential of irrigated grain sorghum. Milo has a wide planting window, but care must be taken with varieties selected in regard to heading and blooming dates. Excess drought and heat are devastating to earlier maturing varieties. In drought areas, producers should continue to play defense when it comes to hybrid selection and populations. Achieving good stand establishment on all planted acres is vital for a successful crop. It is important to adjust plant populations to match the moisture profile and variety characteristics. Cash outlay is somewhat lower on milo, but good management is still important. Producers should consult with their Crop Quest agronomist to carefully choose specific hybrid selection and planting populations. The profits gained from high yield varieties could be offset by low drought and heat tolerance.
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Crop Quest Perspectives

Soybean Decisions
by Scott Beguelin Division Manager Silver Lake, Kan.

Producers balance rising prices with insect and disease expectations

Those growers looking for a crop rotation on their corn fields are considering planting soybeans, but more cotton acreage around Pratt, Kan., will limit the increase. Producers who dont currently have equipment for cotton planting and harvesting will most likely turn to soybeans as their rotation option. South of Highway 54 in Kansas, and cotton acreage is expected to increase. Rob Meyer While north of Highway 54, soybeans will Division Manager most likely be the alternative crop. St. John, Kan. Corn fields that have traditionally produced lower yields are good candidates for soybeans this year as high fertilizer Look for a moderate increase across the prices continue to lower the potential profit state in the number of acres planted to soy- of irrigated corn. Soybeans usually yield beans as producers bank on continued high better on these types of fields with reduced prices for the crop. Many farmers are still input costs. deciding whether to plant soybeans, corn or In the Silver Lake, Kan., area, soybean cotton on their irrigated fields. producers experienced more insect and disease pressure than expected, but the problems are only deterring a few producers from planting the crop. The hard winter could help reduce aphid infestations, although farmers should expect to see the pests again this year. Producers should carefully monitor their fields to control aphid populations early. Soybean sudden death syndrome affected many of the higher-producing fields last year, and conditions were ideal for the development last May. Monitoring fields with better-quality soils, especially irrigated ground, during late July and August will help determine if a rotation to soybeans is a feasible option. To help make your soybean-planting decision, contact Crop Quest at (620) 2252233 for economic analysis, crop budgets or any of your agronomic needs.

Your Crop Quest Consultant: Matt Marshall, serving the Oakley, Kan., area
Growing up in Ness City, Kan., Matt Marshall always worked in agriculture even though his family was not directly involved in the industry. He spent his summers working on local farms and learning about the science of growing crops. After attending Hutchinson Community College, Marshall finished a degree in biology from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 1996. After graduating, he worked for Collingwood Grains Croptimizer Program for five years, and then joined Crop Quest in May 2003. Matt is the kind of person that exudes confidence and competence, says Dwight Koops, Western Region Vice President. This is a great quality to have in an individual who you rely on for advice. Marshall says he enjoys being a part of Crop Quests network of agronomists and enjoys the variety of crops he sees in the Oakley area. I get the chance to work with traditional crops like corn, soybeans and wheat, but were also starting to see more alternative crops in the area. Its a great challenge and opportunity to learn something new.

Your Crop Quest Consultant: Tom Stebly, serving the Enid, Okla., area
From his hometown of Jamesville, Wis., Tom Stebly had a long journey to serve Crop Quest customers in Enid, Okla., but the transition happened quite easily. Stebly attended the University of NebraskaLincoln and worked as an intern in Crop Quests Greensburg, Kan., office during three summer vacations. After earning his degree in agronomy in 1999, he took a full-time position in the Enid division. Tom possesses excellent agronomic skills and is always willing to go the extra mile for each of his clients, says Howard Bartel, Oklahoma Division Manager, Weatherford, Okla. From setting machinery to calibrating equipment, Tom does an excellent job for our clients. He puts in the extra time and effort to get the job done every day. Stebly has worked and lived in the Enid area for four years, and says he adjusted to the change in latitude effortlessly. It was a big change moving from Wisconsin to Nebraska and then to Oklahoma, but I enjoy the area and the people I work with, Stebly says. Crop Quest seemed like a perfect fit. In this area, I get to consult on about anything that grows corn, soybeans, wheat, milo, rye, alfalfa, cotton, peanuts, sunflowers, and then some.
Crop Quest Perspectives

Real Ag Data: Visualizing the Agronomic Network

By Nathan Woydziak Precision Ag Specialist

When a Crop Quest agronomist talks about the companys network of agronomists, what does he mean? To some, the network means being assured an agronomist will always be there to help. To others, it means the ability to draw from a pool of agronomists to find the correct answer. With either definition, your Crop Quest consultant has many resources to find the best management practices for your operation. Connecting to these resources is key to the functionality of a network, prompt answers, reliability and knowledgeable results. Real Ag Data, among other things, is a visualization of the Crop Quest agronomic network in action. Daily experiences are pooled from each agronomist, each of whom are skilled in identifying, quantifying and remediating the cropping troubles of a particular area. The individual, weekly reports make up the composition of Real Ag Data. As implied in the name, the data is very real. At a glance, producers can confidently determine the specific actions that have been occurring over hundreds of thousands of acres. What once would have taken countless hours to compile can now be accomplished on a weekly basis, providing a timely and accurate synopsis of crop events. The benefits of the service are just as real as the name implies. Producers can use the timely information from Real Ag

Data to help make accurate decisions. Even those not directly involved in farming can use this data to keep an eye on the cropping trends of the entire region. To Crop Quest agronomists, thats the definition of network.
Real Ag Data maps, such as this insect density report in rootworm larvae in corn, can help producers more effectively use the entire Crop Quest network of agronomists.

For more information about Real Ag Data or to subscribe to the service, visit

www.realagdata.com or call (620) 225-2233.

Mission Statement
Crop Quest is an employee-owned company dedicated to providing the highest quality agricultural services for each customer. The quest of our network of professionals is to practice integrity and innovation to ensure our services are economically and environmentally sound.
Crop Quest Agronomic Services, Inc. Main Office: Phone 620.225.2233 Fax 620.225.3199 Internet: www.cropquest.com cqoffice@cropquest.com

Employee-Owned & Customer Driven

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Crop Quest Board of Directors President: Ron OHanlon Director: Dave Wetmore Director: Jim Gleason Director: Dwight Koops Director: Cort Minor Director: Chris McInteer