Recap of Farming Season 2022
As harvest has come to a close, another farming season is in the books, and now it’s back to the drawing board for many farmers. While their busiest season is done, preparation for next year has already begun, but how do they prepare? The answer is simple; they reflect on the recent season, the challenges they faced, their successes, and how they can better prepare for the season ahead. Brandon Wipf, a farmer from Huron, South Dakota, and Tanner Hento, a farmer from Avon, South Dakota, gave their insights into their latest farming season and what they do to prepare for next year.
What were some of your successes of the season?
Brandon: Our wheat crops were great this year, as were our first two alfalfa cuttings. The good early-season rains also helped get the corn off to a great start, and despite missing some later moisture, the crop held in there and produced a good yield. Years like this are exactly why we diversify the crops we raise on our farm. I want to have as many chances of success as possible.
Tanner: Despite all the challenges of the soybeans for the year, including the derecho event mentioned below and the little to no rainfall that SE South Dakota faced, our soybeans fared very well, all things considered. We plant 15” soybeans, which isn’t as common of a practice, but it is one component of our operation we feel really aids in our long-term success. A late-season application of fungicide on our soybeans, despite the bleak outlook, bought just enough time before a very late August rain made our soybeans very respectable given the year.
What were some of the challenges of the farming season this year?
Brandon: We started the year off very dry and windy in March and April. In May, it started raining, almost too much for planting season, but we were able to get crops planted in a timely manner. After July 4th, rains were hard to come by again, and it remained dry through harvest. We also were challenged with volatile ag markets and increased operating costs.
Tanner: For our operation, in particular, we finally had an opportunity to plant some very early soybeans around the 20th of April. The derecho event that hit in early May in South Dakota had the unfortunate effect of clipping off our freshly emerged soybeans. In the 2nd week of May, we had to replant the majority of our soybeans and still complete corn planting. It was not the most ideal start to the growing year.
What happens if you don't get your soybeans planted this year? How do you begin planning ahead for the next year?
Tanner: Next year’s preparation has already begun. We are staunch believers in grid sampling our soil and understanding the story the soil is telling. Looking at our corn yield maps from this year, testing compaction throughout fields, and recognizing what weeds and species presented problems in our corn crop for 2022 are all items that are addressed long before the planter places any soybeans in the ground for 2023.
What are some things that you prepared for during planting season that, in turn, led to a successful harvest?
Brandon: We make sure that plants have plenty of the nutrients that they need. This is not just to boost yield but can also help the plants reach maturity more uniformly and help the grain dry down to harvestable moisture more quickly. We also are strategic about what varieties we plant on certain fields to respond to disease pressure, fertility issues, or logistical challenges.
What do you do if your crop doesn't perform well?
Tanner: Our corn crop specifically did very poorly this year. The rains did not fall, and the heat of the summer, unfortunately, came during pollination, which caused significant damage on top of the already drought-stressed corn. Fortunately, crop insurance is the safety net that saves an operation from suffering catastrophic losses on a year such as this. Say, for instance, we had shown we could raise an average of 200 bushels per acre of corn. With crop insurance, despite us only raising 50 bushels per acre, the insurance company will pay for the 150 bushels shortfall in years such as this.
After a long season of hard work, what is your favorite way to wind down after the harvest is completed?
Brandon: It’s nice to take a couple of days, sit at home and relax. We still have some end-of-season work to wrap up after harvest, but we can enjoy a more leisurely pace once the harvest is done.
Tanner: For me personally, I’m the 5th generation farmer. Unfortunately, my father passed away when I finished college at 22, which is how I ended up back on the family farm. I’m very cognizant of everyone who came before me and all the opportunities their work has afforded me. I always take a moment to drive out to my father’s very first farm and sit along the winding dirt path I traveled so many times as a child with my dad. I know he’s gone, but in a way, I really feel like I’m able to share the year and the memories I had with him when doing this.
To all of our South Dakota farmers, thank you for all of your hard work, your knowledge, and your drive to learn more. For more information on local farmers and the farming season, read more on our blog.
