Farm Management.
Farm management is described by West Virginia University as the collective learnt skills that enable the manager of a farm to arrive at informed decisions (para. 1). The decisions made by a farm manager lead to the implementation of changes that aim at making the farms operations fulfill its goals and expectations. A farms success may be measured against the quality and timely adequacy of the decisions made by the manager based on the quality of information. This has an ability of reflecting on the quality and quantity of produce the farm achieves.
For this Farm Management report, I chose Corn production as the crop of choice as it is a widely grown produce that has the potential to make a good return. The decision to grow corn was arrived at after evaluating the conditions necessary for the growth of corn which revealed climatic conditions that are not too demanding to the at times unpredictable weather. An added advantage of a limited requirement of workforce and care for the plant growth made growing corn a more profiting venture to indulge in. I also located my 192 acre farm in Iowa which is a region that suits the growth of corn hence has been the biggest producer of corn in the US in the past 14 years (Iowa Corn, para. 4).
According to the US environmental protection Agency, the US is the largest corn producer in the world (para. 1) with farmers producing approximately 100 billion in corn every year. Grown in over 400,000 farms, the US was responsible for the production of almost 10million bushels of corn out of the 23 billion bushel crop the world relies on annually. A quarter of the corn harvested from the US is used for grain in the country while that grown for silage make up an extra two percent which can be translated to six million acres. The percentage of land cultivated for silage varies as growing conditions change which might lead to corn plantations being salvaged for silage in poor weathers that affect the growth of the crop (para. 1).
Uses of corn
The Nebraska Corn Board reports that there are currently over 3,500 uses for corm ranging from the manufacture of aspirin, disposable diapers, and latex paint to shaving cream (para. 1). The board however describes main corn use in the US as for animal and human food and also export. The Environmental protection Agency writes of a report by the nations National Corn Growers Association which reflects that approximately eighty percent of the corn grown in the country is consumed by livestock, with the rest fed to fish and poultry either locally or overseas. The crop is also fed in the form of ground grain, high moisture, silage or enriching corn oil. Another approximated 12 of corn grown in the US is used in foods directly as corn chips or indirectly in the form of high content fructose corn syrup. A wide variety of its industrial use also includes the manufacture of ethanol which is a popularly used oxygenate in the production of burning automobile fuels. The extensive use of corn within and outside America makes it a preferable crop as the market is assured and in case of any poor bad weather affecting the crop, it can be salvaged for use in silage hence preventing huge losses that would be otherwise incurred.
Farm Management Practices for the Growth of Corn
Research by North Dakota State University reveals that changes in technology, export markets, farm policies and environmental rules and regulations have increasingly created the need for corn farms to have keen planning and management in order to secure maximum yields that fetch a high profit (para. 1). The agricultural department adds that weather changes, varied rain amounts and soil conditions may call for corn growers to implement specific systems in tillage, soil preparation, strategies in weed control, fertility management disease and pest control practices. These aspects will act as the key managerial responsibility in the corn farm to ensure quality corn is harvested that ensures high profit is realized.
It is evident that the timely decisions made by management in corn farms such as purchasing disease free seeds, practicing crop hygiene, crop rotation, good spray management and using disease resistant methods determine the success of production especially in the big farm to ensure quality and quantity of the produce. It is important that farm management go by the rules and regulations set aside by the federal label clearance when buying products such as seeds, pesticides and other farm products. Other contributions by reliable research bodies to comply with the relevance practices and rules applied in the growth of corn should be sought to ensure state of the art technologies and procedures are followed that ensure maximum profits. This is further emphasized by the fact that some pests and diseases affecting grains become resistance with time hence current means of combating them should be applied where possible. APSnet suggests the use of disease resistant seeds would help deal with the problem (Munkvold and Hellmich, para 1). The farm will invest in seeds that are resistant to diseases and pests to ensure diseases do not take over.
Conditions Necessary for the Growth of Corn
Knowledge in the stages of growth for corn helps growers to time the field operations properly so as to take advantage of opportunity windows. McWilliams, Berglund, and Endres explain that proper timing for fertilizer application, cultivation, irrigation and pest control can improve yields significantly (para. 1). Poor timing of these activities would imply bad crop development and in bad cases huge losses incurred. The writers also insist on the need of farm managers to have extensive knowledge on the different plant growth processes as it would lead to the innovation of means that lead to an enhancement of the crop growth. As the proprietor, I intend to hire a well trained manager with adequate knowledge on farm operations while at the same time trying to seek information on the many farm practices that surround growing corn. By having an ability to detect plant symptoms of deficiency in different stages, the farm manager would be in a good position to determine a possible cause and an effective measure to curb the problem (para. 2). Growth of corn needs specific climatic and soil conditions to ensure a good yield.
Due to changes in climate owing to global warming and varied soil needs, these conditions may change from season to season. Owing to this reason, conditions in the farm can be boosted to ensure that the crop grows under the best possible environment that will ensure maximum yield. As documented in the Corn Production Guide by North Dakota State University, corn requires 18-22 inches of soil moisture to achieve a maximum potential in growth (para. 1). Through tilling the land enough to ensure adequate depth and texture is achieved, the soil function ability would be ensured. Irrigation is the best option for supplementing rain which is a solution to maintaining soil moisture that is which needed for corn growth. In the presence of adequate soil moisture, corn has the capability of producing about 8-14 bushels of grain and a relative 1.25-1.75 tons of fodder for every inch of additional water supplied (North Dakota State University, para. 1). Despite Iowa displaying the ability to grow corn, irrigation has always been used to achieve good and controlled levels of soil moisture (Williamson, pp. 2).
The North Dakota State University explains that the maturity length of corn affects the rate of water usage. In a typical growing season, water use by a 90 day corn will significantly exceed that of an 80 day old corn (para. 1). In this light, the varied maturity length taken by corn affects the levels of seasonal water use. Consequently, the amount and frequency of irrigation conducted on a water plantation depends on the growth rate and growth stage of the corn which in turn is determined by water holding capacity of the soil and the existing weather condition. This calls for the implementation of an irrigation system that is implemented based on the need of water by the corn within the farm.
Corn is seen to be a deep rooted crop. The North Dakota State University reports that in relatively deep soils, corn roots will reach up to 18 inches from the stalk and an added 4 inches deep. About 90 of the roots are found at the top 3 feet and is considered an effective depth for the purposes of irrigation (para. 3). It is reported that about 40 of the moisture used by the plants is derived from the first one foot of soil, 30 from the next foot and 20 from the third foot. The soil below three feet is accountable for less than ten percentage of water used by the crop. Soil texture, depth in addition to its water holding capacity has great influences on the amount and frequency of irrigation necessary (para. 5). It is important to have a soil profile that is up to the field capacity during planting. Initially, this may be made possible owing to the natural effect of winter snow and the rainfalls of spring to enhance root development in the later seasons. As a result, the soil will need to be tilled to a point where it acquires the required depth and texture before planting.
Corn is considered as relatively resistant to drought (North Dakota State University, para. 7) and can survive moisture depletion in the soil up to 60. Blister Kernel development has ensured the growth of corn with such high water deletion levels without affecting the yield. Research shows that application of lesser irrigation water to corn frequently bears better results than the application of large amounts often, a factor that will be considered.
Planting Corn
Proper cultivating tools vary depending on soil type, crop to be cultivated, weeds and the depth that is aimed at being achieved. Proper cultivation for the growth of corn requires the use of Flex-tine harrows which plough both over and between crop rows. Their efficiency is added by the fact that they can be used in the event of repeated harrowing to prevent newly germinating weeds from chocking the crop. Crop rotation will also be practiced to ensure the success of this crop which makes the soil prone to bearing the best results (University of Connecticut, para. 2). According to Iowa State University, seed rates evaluation done in 2006 indicated that planting 25,000-45,000 seeds per acre would result in a good yield (para. 2). The institution also added that the location of the farm and surrounding vegetative conditions in relation to pollination contributes highly to the status of the yield. The environment and the condition of the field should therefore be considered before making decisions on seed rate to ensure high yields. The existence of many corn farms in Iowa is an advantage to the farm as the yields success is more or less predetermined.
Fertilization is an important aspect to consider so as to ensure good yield in fields that have low nutrient levels. Rehm, et al. of the University of Minnesota account that corn requires a good amount of nitrogen in the soil to flourish. They add that technological advancement has seen practices such as weed and pest control shift focus away from nitrogen rates to parasite elimination (para. 6). From soil tests conducted prior to planting, addition of fertilizers will be determined.
The productivity of the soil is the biggest determinant of levels of nitrogen and the need to add more of it to the soil. Soil tests conducted to determine the levels of nitrogen before planting will guide the farms management in deciding whether or not to increase the amount through administering nitrogenous fertilizers. Such fertilizers include diammonium phosphate which has the ability to suppress pests and diseases and also trigger early maturity in corn (North Carolina State University, para. 10). Corn can be affected by pests such as false wireworms, wireworms, cutworms, army worms and black beetles (Government of Australia, para. 76). These pests and diseases can be combated through administering pesticides that are readily available in the market.
Harvesting and Estimating Corn Yields
Harvesting of corn is done once the ears are completely filled out in the case of sweet corn and until the ears are brown and dry in the case of dry corn (National Gardening, para. 3). Machines are used to separate the corn from the cob in the case of large scale production. Large scale harvesting is done using a header, a machine that removes the maize leaving the stalks standing (Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations, para. 22). The stalks can be cut and sold fro use in different industries. This form of harvesting makes covering such a huge volume of land easy and saves time. After harvesting and processing, disease and pest control methods are administered to ensure the harvest is not destroyed while in storage awaiting consumption or sale. Owing to the changes in different pesticides and insecticides due to resistance, only the best and most effective brands will be recommended for use.
The North Dakota University suggests several methods in calculating the estimate of yield expected by corn growers prior to harvests. A more reliable version developed by the University of Illinois which is the most commonly used necessitates the use of a numerical kernel weight in calculating the amount of grain expected. Due to the variance in weight per kernel based on the differences in environmental factors and crop breed, the equation is rendered as being an estimate to relative yield of the grain. As a result, yields would probably be overestimated in poor yield seasons and an underestimation expected in a high yield season. This method of estimate will be used to be able to predict the expected yield and also make future plans for improvement.
Cost of Growing Corn
The Ontario Corn Growers Association claims that drying is not necessary for high moisture corn otherwise known as whole plant silage (para. 1). The association also claims that costs per acre for harvesting and storing whole plant silage is relatively high. Owing to this, the farm will in the first seasons refrain from drying the crop hence avoid unnecessary costs. Increase in corn yields also increases per acre costs of fertilizers and other materials used in the process and also drying the produce and trucking. The farm management will charge itself with all activities that aim at increasing yields of quality. Other production costs remain constant with the exclusion of land whose rate of renting varies with time. Rental of land in areas where yields are higher than the provincial yields is usually higher than in areas with low yields. To make good profits, growers are more likely to maintain a low per acrebushel cost of production through reducing tillage costs, application of nitrogen fertilizer, costs of fertilizer application and drying expenses (para. 2). Renting land wont be a problem to the farm as the 192 acres are already bought, offering a good platform for production of the crop. With time, the management may decide to boost the farms profits through marketing.
Corn Growth is increasingly showing great potential in the market and also industries due to its many uses within America and the rest of the world. The market share is also expected to increase due to its diverse use and increasing demand in the market. The quick growth of the crop and a relative good return weighed against the few requirements for its growth which can be fully mechanized, make it a more preferable crop to be grown. Improvement in farm management skills, increasing the density of planting and methods in areas of pest and disease control, and other methods will ensure the yields increase, and more profits would be realized.
For this Farm Management report, I chose Corn production as the crop of choice as it is a widely grown produce that has the potential to make a good return. The decision to grow corn was arrived at after evaluating the conditions necessary for the growth of corn which revealed climatic conditions that are not too demanding to the at times unpredictable weather. An added advantage of a limited requirement of workforce and care for the plant growth made growing corn a more profiting venture to indulge in. I also located my 192 acre farm in Iowa which is a region that suits the growth of corn hence has been the biggest producer of corn in the US in the past 14 years (Iowa Corn, para. 4).
According to the US environmental protection Agency, the US is the largest corn producer in the world (para. 1) with farmers producing approximately 100 billion in corn every year. Grown in over 400,000 farms, the US was responsible for the production of almost 10million bushels of corn out of the 23 billion bushel crop the world relies on annually. A quarter of the corn harvested from the US is used for grain in the country while that grown for silage make up an extra two percent which can be translated to six million acres. The percentage of land cultivated for silage varies as growing conditions change which might lead to corn plantations being salvaged for silage in poor weathers that affect the growth of the crop (para. 1).
Uses of corn
The Nebraska Corn Board reports that there are currently over 3,500 uses for corm ranging from the manufacture of aspirin, disposable diapers, and latex paint to shaving cream (para. 1). The board however describes main corn use in the US as for animal and human food and also export. The Environmental protection Agency writes of a report by the nations National Corn Growers Association which reflects that approximately eighty percent of the corn grown in the country is consumed by livestock, with the rest fed to fish and poultry either locally or overseas. The crop is also fed in the form of ground grain, high moisture, silage or enriching corn oil. Another approximated 12 of corn grown in the US is used in foods directly as corn chips or indirectly in the form of high content fructose corn syrup. A wide variety of its industrial use also includes the manufacture of ethanol which is a popularly used oxygenate in the production of burning automobile fuels. The extensive use of corn within and outside America makes it a preferable crop as the market is assured and in case of any poor bad weather affecting the crop, it can be salvaged for use in silage hence preventing huge losses that would be otherwise incurred.
Farm Management Practices for the Growth of Corn
Research by North Dakota State University reveals that changes in technology, export markets, farm policies and environmental rules and regulations have increasingly created the need for corn farms to have keen planning and management in order to secure maximum yields that fetch a high profit (para. 1). The agricultural department adds that weather changes, varied rain amounts and soil conditions may call for corn growers to implement specific systems in tillage, soil preparation, strategies in weed control, fertility management disease and pest control practices. These aspects will act as the key managerial responsibility in the corn farm to ensure quality corn is harvested that ensures high profit is realized.
It is evident that the timely decisions made by management in corn farms such as purchasing disease free seeds, practicing crop hygiene, crop rotation, good spray management and using disease resistant methods determine the success of production especially in the big farm to ensure quality and quantity of the produce. It is important that farm management go by the rules and regulations set aside by the federal label clearance when buying products such as seeds, pesticides and other farm products. Other contributions by reliable research bodies to comply with the relevance practices and rules applied in the growth of corn should be sought to ensure state of the art technologies and procedures are followed that ensure maximum profits. This is further emphasized by the fact that some pests and diseases affecting grains become resistance with time hence current means of combating them should be applied where possible. APSnet suggests the use of disease resistant seeds would help deal with the problem (Munkvold and Hellmich, para 1). The farm will invest in seeds that are resistant to diseases and pests to ensure diseases do not take over.
Conditions Necessary for the Growth of Corn
Knowledge in the stages of growth for corn helps growers to time the field operations properly so as to take advantage of opportunity windows. McWilliams, Berglund, and Endres explain that proper timing for fertilizer application, cultivation, irrigation and pest control can improve yields significantly (para. 1). Poor timing of these activities would imply bad crop development and in bad cases huge losses incurred. The writers also insist on the need of farm managers to have extensive knowledge on the different plant growth processes as it would lead to the innovation of means that lead to an enhancement of the crop growth. As the proprietor, I intend to hire a well trained manager with adequate knowledge on farm operations while at the same time trying to seek information on the many farm practices that surround growing corn. By having an ability to detect plant symptoms of deficiency in different stages, the farm manager would be in a good position to determine a possible cause and an effective measure to curb the problem (para. 2). Growth of corn needs specific climatic and soil conditions to ensure a good yield.
Due to changes in climate owing to global warming and varied soil needs, these conditions may change from season to season. Owing to this reason, conditions in the farm can be boosted to ensure that the crop grows under the best possible environment that will ensure maximum yield. As documented in the Corn Production Guide by North Dakota State University, corn requires 18-22 inches of soil moisture to achieve a maximum potential in growth (para. 1). Through tilling the land enough to ensure adequate depth and texture is achieved, the soil function ability would be ensured. Irrigation is the best option for supplementing rain which is a solution to maintaining soil moisture that is which needed for corn growth. In the presence of adequate soil moisture, corn has the capability of producing about 8-14 bushels of grain and a relative 1.25-1.75 tons of fodder for every inch of additional water supplied (North Dakota State University, para. 1). Despite Iowa displaying the ability to grow corn, irrigation has always been used to achieve good and controlled levels of soil moisture (Williamson, pp. 2).
The North Dakota State University explains that the maturity length of corn affects the rate of water usage. In a typical growing season, water use by a 90 day corn will significantly exceed that of an 80 day old corn (para. 1). In this light, the varied maturity length taken by corn affects the levels of seasonal water use. Consequently, the amount and frequency of irrigation conducted on a water plantation depends on the growth rate and growth stage of the corn which in turn is determined by water holding capacity of the soil and the existing weather condition. This calls for the implementation of an irrigation system that is implemented based on the need of water by the corn within the farm.
Corn is seen to be a deep rooted crop. The North Dakota State University reports that in relatively deep soils, corn roots will reach up to 18 inches from the stalk and an added 4 inches deep. About 90 of the roots are found at the top 3 feet and is considered an effective depth for the purposes of irrigation (para. 3). It is reported that about 40 of the moisture used by the plants is derived from the first one foot of soil, 30 from the next foot and 20 from the third foot. The soil below three feet is accountable for less than ten percentage of water used by the crop. Soil texture, depth in addition to its water holding capacity has great influences on the amount and frequency of irrigation necessary (para. 5). It is important to have a soil profile that is up to the field capacity during planting. Initially, this may be made possible owing to the natural effect of winter snow and the rainfalls of spring to enhance root development in the later seasons. As a result, the soil will need to be tilled to a point where it acquires the required depth and texture before planting.
Corn is considered as relatively resistant to drought (North Dakota State University, para. 7) and can survive moisture depletion in the soil up to 60. Blister Kernel development has ensured the growth of corn with such high water deletion levels without affecting the yield. Research shows that application of lesser irrigation water to corn frequently bears better results than the application of large amounts often, a factor that will be considered.
Planting Corn
Proper cultivating tools vary depending on soil type, crop to be cultivated, weeds and the depth that is aimed at being achieved. Proper cultivation for the growth of corn requires the use of Flex-tine harrows which plough both over and between crop rows. Their efficiency is added by the fact that they can be used in the event of repeated harrowing to prevent newly germinating weeds from chocking the crop. Crop rotation will also be practiced to ensure the success of this crop which makes the soil prone to bearing the best results (University of Connecticut, para. 2). According to Iowa State University, seed rates evaluation done in 2006 indicated that planting 25,000-45,000 seeds per acre would result in a good yield (para. 2). The institution also added that the location of the farm and surrounding vegetative conditions in relation to pollination contributes highly to the status of the yield. The environment and the condition of the field should therefore be considered before making decisions on seed rate to ensure high yields. The existence of many corn farms in Iowa is an advantage to the farm as the yields success is more or less predetermined.
Fertilization is an important aspect to consider so as to ensure good yield in fields that have low nutrient levels. Rehm, et al. of the University of Minnesota account that corn requires a good amount of nitrogen in the soil to flourish. They add that technological advancement has seen practices such as weed and pest control shift focus away from nitrogen rates to parasite elimination (para. 6). From soil tests conducted prior to planting, addition of fertilizers will be determined.
The productivity of the soil is the biggest determinant of levels of nitrogen and the need to add more of it to the soil. Soil tests conducted to determine the levels of nitrogen before planting will guide the farms management in deciding whether or not to increase the amount through administering nitrogenous fertilizers. Such fertilizers include diammonium phosphate which has the ability to suppress pests and diseases and also trigger early maturity in corn (North Carolina State University, para. 10). Corn can be affected by pests such as false wireworms, wireworms, cutworms, army worms and black beetles (Government of Australia, para. 76). These pests and diseases can be combated through administering pesticides that are readily available in the market.
Harvesting and Estimating Corn Yields
Harvesting of corn is done once the ears are completely filled out in the case of sweet corn and until the ears are brown and dry in the case of dry corn (National Gardening, para. 3). Machines are used to separate the corn from the cob in the case of large scale production. Large scale harvesting is done using a header, a machine that removes the maize leaving the stalks standing (Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations, para. 22). The stalks can be cut and sold fro use in different industries. This form of harvesting makes covering such a huge volume of land easy and saves time. After harvesting and processing, disease and pest control methods are administered to ensure the harvest is not destroyed while in storage awaiting consumption or sale. Owing to the changes in different pesticides and insecticides due to resistance, only the best and most effective brands will be recommended for use.
The North Dakota University suggests several methods in calculating the estimate of yield expected by corn growers prior to harvests. A more reliable version developed by the University of Illinois which is the most commonly used necessitates the use of a numerical kernel weight in calculating the amount of grain expected. Due to the variance in weight per kernel based on the differences in environmental factors and crop breed, the equation is rendered as being an estimate to relative yield of the grain. As a result, yields would probably be overestimated in poor yield seasons and an underestimation expected in a high yield season. This method of estimate will be used to be able to predict the expected yield and also make future plans for improvement.
Cost of Growing Corn
The Ontario Corn Growers Association claims that drying is not necessary for high moisture corn otherwise known as whole plant silage (para. 1). The association also claims that costs per acre for harvesting and storing whole plant silage is relatively high. Owing to this, the farm will in the first seasons refrain from drying the crop hence avoid unnecessary costs. Increase in corn yields also increases per acre costs of fertilizers and other materials used in the process and also drying the produce and trucking. The farm management will charge itself with all activities that aim at increasing yields of quality. Other production costs remain constant with the exclusion of land whose rate of renting varies with time. Rental of land in areas where yields are higher than the provincial yields is usually higher than in areas with low yields. To make good profits, growers are more likely to maintain a low per acrebushel cost of production through reducing tillage costs, application of nitrogen fertilizer, costs of fertilizer application and drying expenses (para. 2). Renting land wont be a problem to the farm as the 192 acres are already bought, offering a good platform for production of the crop. With time, the management may decide to boost the farms profits through marketing.
Corn Growth is increasingly showing great potential in the market and also industries due to its many uses within America and the rest of the world. The market share is also expected to increase due to its diverse use and increasing demand in the market. The quick growth of the crop and a relative good return weighed against the few requirements for its growth which can be fully mechanized, make it a more preferable crop to be grown. Improvement in farm management skills, increasing the density of planting and methods in areas of pest and disease control, and other methods will ensure the yields increase, and more profits would be realized.
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