Here is some advice to keep your crop on schedule NATIONWIDE NEWS
The following information is provided by Nationwide®, the No. 1 farm and ranch insurer in the U.S. Ensuring you have the right products and tools to raise a bountiful crop is a year-round effort. Success takes attention to what you need at the farm gate all the way to the world marketplace for things such as herbicide and fertilizer. There are always risks in raising a crop, and some of them are out of our control. But you can take steps to mitigate the risk of your crops falling short of peak yield by having the right crop protection products when and where you need them. Get organized and create your plan. That effort starts with being organized and creating a plan for what your crops will need, even if it’s months in advance. And with lingering product supply availability issues, it’s a good idea to develop a Plan A, Plan B and so forth. “Mistakes we make with crop inputs from planting on can negatively impact yield. Get organized, double-check your inventory, read all product labels and make sure you received what you ordered for the whole crop year,” said Nationwide agronomy specialist, certified crop advi- sor and farmer Derek Hommer. “If you
have any gaps in things like seed, fuel, chemical or fertilizer, be ready to adjust your plan to make sure you’re not losing yield potential.” Don’t get lax after planting. Getting your crop in the ground in the spring is the top priority. But don’t let it take your full attention. Though that’s easier said than done, this is another area where good planning helps. Other early-season field work can some- times take a backseat to planting, especial- ly when weather tightens its timeframe. As you develop your crop year plan, make sure you account for every job. “With so many important tasks requir- ing attention to detail, it can be easy to get wrapped up in planting and fall behind in other areas. This is where strong prepara- tion comes in,” Hommer said. “When you have the inputs for that next step lined up and equipment ready to go, you can more seamlessly move from task to task.” Time is always tight in the busy planting and early field work timeframe. The same is true both for your own farm’s workforce and any custom operators you hire. “Stay in good communication with those doing work for or in your operation. If you are hiring custom work, those doing the work
will be busy as well,” Hommer added. “Give them some lead time to help them manage their work loads.” Stay on top of potential field issues. Once your crop is in the ground and your attention focuses on early-season field operations such as fertilizer and herbi- cide applications, make sure you’re stay- ing on top of any potential issues in the field so you can act quickly when specific agronomic needs arise. Being proactive with crop scouting helps identify prob- lems early and enables you to quickly se- cure the products you need to solve them. “Once your crops are planted, you need to be thinking about how to keep that yield potential as high as possible. The best way to do that is by diligently crop scouting. Keep an eye out for nu- trient deficiencies, weed competition, insect damage and disease pathogens,” Hommer said. “When you identify a problem, lean on your trusted advisors to help you tackle it. Keep in mind this sort of team approach requires good commu- nication, from planning to execution.” Nationwide employs exceptionally talent- ed and experienced people from agricultur- al backgrounds, including on-staff agrono- mists, engineers and safety professionals,
to provide support you can trust. Visit AgInsightCenter.com for more re- sources and expert tips on trending topics to help you run a successful business and maintain the safety of your operation. [1] *A.M. Best Market Share Report 2021. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2023 Nationwide Four seats open on fertilizer board The California Department of Food and Agriculture has four vacancies on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board’s Technical Advisory Subcommittee, which serves as an expert scientific panel on ef- ficient use of fertilizing materials and irri- gation water. Individuals interested in consideration for an appointment should complete the application packet available on the fertil- izer advisory board’s TASC webpage and email it to FREP@cdfa.ca.gov with a two- page resume or curriculum vitae. The application deadline is July 31.
2023 Health & Safety on the Farm and Ranch
California Farm Bureau is pleased to offer this year-long program of training sessions presented by Nationwide. Select topics will be presented in both English and Spanish. Members, enjoy access to free classes! Register for the upcoming training webinars. Trainings will be presented via Zoom. The Hazardous Agricultural Materials (HAM) training must be attended in person at a participating County Farm Bureau office or at the California Farm Bureau office in Sacramento. For a list of class dates and to register, visit cfbf.com/FBE or call (800) 698-FARM for assistance. You will receive a Zoom link and details two days prior to your selected webinar date.
14 Ag Alert May 24, 2023
Powered by FlippingBook