From Stratford to Weslaco, Texas Corn Producers (TCP) traveled all over the state for crops conferences, farm shows and more! TCP heard from extension specialists, agencies, and farmers about what is expected for the growing season ahead. Here are a few of the top subjects mentioned this pre-planting season:
Risk Management with USDA
With the recent passing of the farm bill, many farmers have been interested in what will be new with this mammoth of agricultural policy. With the government shutdown delaying the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) writing of the regulations, many aspects of the bill are waiting to be fleshed out. However, Secretary Sonny Perdue recently released an update on farm bill implementation progress.
Economists and policy experts did highlight the new way farmers will elect their commodity program(s). Under the new farm bill, farmers will elect PLC, ARC-CO, or ARC-IC in 2019 for the 2019 and 2020 growing season. Then, annual elections will be held in 2021, 2022 and 2023. PLC and ARC-CO are crop-by-crop elections, while ARC-IC is farm election.
Agricultural Law
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Agricultural Law Specialist Tiffany Dowell Lashmet frequented many conferences around the state. With a focus on landowners and farmers, Lashmet provided insight into renewed leases and landowner liability.
Soil Health
Extension agents advocated a knowledge-based approach to soil nutrient management. In many instances, agents were seeing farmers prepare their soil with nutrients – without testing the soil first. Want to know how you can maximize your soil health? Check out the USDA’s new farmers.gov website to learn more.
PANHANDLE FARMERS:
Jourdan Bell, Ph.D., released the Texas A&M AgriLife Bushland 2018 Corn Herbicide Trials and Corn Herbicides and Management for the Texas High Plains report. In the report, Bell includes the treatment, rates, application timing, crop injury observations and weed control percentages in the study.
We will continue to share any regional and statewide information we receive that can be useful to farmers. For more information, follow us on social media and TexasCorn.org.
