A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Javascript is required to use this website.

Featured

Management practices boost farm resilience

Tim Kenyon
Nov 6, 2026
1 hr ago

harvest — Ethan Crow combines through a green and gold field in southern Marshall County, Iowa, that he interseeded for relay cropping.
Photo courtesy of Ethan Crow

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

As another challenging Midwest growing season ends, farmers consider management practices that could close the gap between red ink and profitability.

kAm“%96C6 :D 2? :?96C:E C:D< :? 4C@A AC@5F4E:@?[ 3FE AC24E:46D 3F:=5:?8 C6D:=:6?4:6D E@ G2C:23:=:EJ 42? >2<6 2 >2;@C 5:776C6?46 7@C E96 36EE6C[” D2:5 |2C< {:49E[ x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C 2?5 tIE6?D:@? 4C@AA:?8 DJDE6>D DA64:2=:DE]k^Am

kAm%9:D J62C[ E96 H62E96C E@@< 2 9F86 EFC? 7@C >2?J 72C>6CD :? E96 |:5H6DE]k^Am

kAm“(92E 92AA6?65 E9:D J62C H2D DAC:?8 DH:?8D E@ DE2CE[” {:49E D2:5] “(6 5:5?’E 92G6 E96 5C:6DE DAC:?8[ 3FE 2E E96 E:>6D 7@C E:>6=J A=2?E:?8[ H6 8@E C2:?] (62E96C’D E96 3:886DE @3DE24=6 2?5 W4C@AX G2C:23:=:EJ 724E@C]”k^Am

kAm%@ 4@?E6?5 H:E9 E92E[ D665 D6=64E:@? :D :>A@CE2?E]k^Am

kAm“Wu2C>6CD ?665X 2 D6=64E:@? @7 9J3C:5D E92E A6C7@C> H6== :? 2 3C@25 C2?86 @7 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@?5:E:@?D[” 96 D2:5] “(96? E96 49@:46 H2D >256[ J@F AC@323=J 92G6 ?@ 4=F6 H92E E96 8C@H:?8 D62D@? H:== 36 =:<6[ 3FE A:4<:?8 E96 >@DE C@3FDE D665 4@F=5 96=A]”k^Am

kAmp?@E96C :562 E@ 4@?D:56C :D A=2?E:?8 2 H:56C >2EFC:EJ C2?86[ {:49E D2:5]k^Am

kAm“x7 J@F 92G6 962E DEC6DD[ >2J36 :E @?=J 27764ED @?6 7:6=5 ?@E 2== @7 E96>] %96 D2>6 E9@F89E 8@6D 7@C D@J362? >2EFC:E:6D[ >2J36 =@@<:?8 7@C 2 >:5\pF8FDE E@ >:5\$6AE6>36C 8C@H:?8 E:>6[” {:49E D2:5]k^Am

kAm%92E 42>6 :?E@ A=2J E9:D J62C H96? :E 42>6 E@ 62C=J\ 2?5 =2E6\A=2?E65 D@J362?D’ D665 7:==]k^Am

kAm“$6AE6>36C 42? 36 5:D2DEC@FD 7C@> 2 C2:?72== A6CDA64E:G6[ 2?5 E9:D J62C H2D @?6 @7 E96>[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm(6DE\46?EC2= x@H2 925 4@?D:56C23=6 D@J362? :DDF6D[ 96 ?@E65]k^Am

kAm“{2E6C\>2EFC:EJ G2C:6E:6D 5:5?’E 92G6 2D >F49 @7 E96 AC@3=6> H:E9 :E] %92E 96=A65 C65F46 C:D<[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmr@C? :D “2 5:776C6?E 32== @7 H2I[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“r@C? 92D 2 >F49 =@?86C D665 7:== A6C:@5[ 3FE H6 DE:== ?665 C2:?72== :? yF=J 7@C 4@?E:?F65 8@@5 AC@8C6DD[” {:49E D2:5]k^Am

kAm}@CE9H6DE x@H2 5:5?’E 86E E96 yF?6 2?5 yF=J C2:?D E92E 46?EC2= 2?5 D@FE962DE x@H2 C646:G65[ {:49E D2:5] qFE 6G6CJ@?6 8@E C2:? =2E6C :? $6AE6>36C]k^Am

kAm“%9@D6 $6AE6>36C C2:?D E92E 9:E :? x@H2 H6C6 ;FDE 2D 325 E@ E96 62DE[” 96 D2:5] “|:DD@FC:[ }63C2D<2 2?5 E96 s2<@E2D[ E96J’G6 366? C62==J 5CJ]”k^Am

kAm}@CE96C? x==:?@:D 925 2? 6I46AE:@?2==J H6E $6AE6>36C[ 2D ?62C=J `d :?496D A@FC65 :? A2CED @7 E96 ?@CE9H6DE[ E96 &]$] }2E:@?2= (62E96C $6CG:46 C6A@CE65] r6?EC2= x==:?@:D H2D >@DE=J 36=@H ?@C>2= H9:=6 E96 D@FE96C? 2?5 D@FE9H6DE 2C62D H6C6 5CJ]k^Am

kAm|:DD@FC: 6IA6C:6?465 :ED H2C>6DE $6AE6>36C @? C64@C5 H:E9 9@EE6C 4@?5:E:@?D E92? :? yF=J :? D@>6 A2CED @7 E96 DE2E6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:DD@FC: tIE6?D:@? C6A@CE]k^Am

kAm~?46 E96 4C@A 564:D:@?D 92G6 366? >256[ E96C6’D >2C<6E:?8 E@ 4@?D:56C]k^Am

kAmx? E96 D@J362? >2C<6E[ 56=:G6CJ :? 62C=J E@ >:5\$6AE6>36C @776C65 72C>6CD 2 8@@5 562=[ {:49E D2:5]k^Am

kAm“z?@H J@FC >2C<6E A@E6?E:2=] x7 J@F’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 42E49 2? 62C=J 92CG6DE AC:46 ;F>A[ @C :7 J@F 2C6 9@=5:?8 7@C 2 AC:46 :?4C62D6 :? H:?E6C @C DAC:?8[ J@F >2J 86E 7=6I:3:=:EJ 7@C :E :7 J@F 42E49 C2:? :? $6AE6>36C 2?5 86E 2 =2E6 8C@HE9 DAFCE[” {:49E D2:5]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mw:896C 6IA6?D6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmp== @7 E9:D :D :>A@CE2?E H:E9 2 9F86 ;F>A :? 5:6D6= AC:46D E9:D J62C]k^Am

kAmu2C>6CD 2C6 7@C642DE E@ DA6?5 Sa]c 3:==:@? >@C6 :? a_ad\ae E@ A=2?E 2?5 92CG6DE <6J 4C@AD E92? E96J 5:5 E96 AC6G:@FD D62D@? 27E6C 2 DFC86 :? 5:6D6= AC:46D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 ?6H DEF5J 3J E96 y@:?E t4@?@>:4 r@>>:EE66 s6>@4C2ED]k^Am

kAm#6E2:= 5:6D6= AC:46D :? x@H2 76== b 46?ED 7C@> E96 AC6G:@FD H66< E@ 2 DE2E6 2G6C286 @7 Se]`c 2D @7 ~4E] ag[ E96 x@H2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6 2?5 {2?5 $E6H2C5D9:A D2:5]k^Am

People are also reading…

Optimum time to apply fall N varies
Building big: Cattle barn project clears path for next generation
Grain merchandisers face larger risks
First-time pie won at the Iowa State Fair
Farmers remain cautious about investing in operations
Stress and depression can get to anyone
Prairie Pothole producers eligible to receive funding for solving saline issues
Change doesn't have to be scary
Iowa to elect new governor, U.S. senator
Pork markets struggle going into November
Cracked solar panels raise questions
Nebraska ghost town has an eerie past
Labor needs for dairy push automation
Polar vortex behaving badly
Illinois candidates focus on variety of issues

kAmp J62C 28@[ x@H2 5:6D6= AC:46D 2G6C2865 Sb]dc :? x@H2] %96 ~4E] ag x@H2 5:6D6= AC:46 :D a` 46?ED =@H6C E92? E96 ?2E:@?2= 2G6C286 @7 Se]bd]k^Am

kAmppp C6A@CE65 @? ~4E] ag 2? 2G6C286 5:6D6= AC:46 :? x==:?@:D 2E Se]ef A6C 82==@?[ FA `` 46?ED 7C@> E96 AC6G:@FD H66<] p J62C 28@[ :E H6?E 7@C Sb]fd 2 82==@?] |:DD@FC: 2G6C2865 Se]_h A6C 82==@? 7@C 5:6D6= 2D @7 ~4E] ag[ 5@H? ` 46?E 7C@> E96 AC6G:@FD H66<]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m‘p =:EE=6 H6:C5’k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmr6?EC2= x@H2 72C>6C tE92? rC@H =:<6D E@ 36 AC@24E:G6 :? 9:D >2?286>6?E @7 E96 72>:=J’D 72C> :? |2CD92== r@F?EJ]k^Am

kAm“x’> 2 3:8 25G@42E6 E@ 86E 2 =:EE=6 H6:C5 2?5 @FED:56 E96 3@I H:E9 E9:?<:?8 2?5 :? 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 23@FE A=2??:?8 492?86D[” rC@H D2:5]k^Am

kAmxE 96=A65 E9:D J62C E92E E96:C =:?6 @7 >249:?6CJ ?66565 ?@ >2;@C C6A2:CD[ rC@H D2:5]k^Am

kAm“x’> G6CJ 92AAJ H:E9 E92E 2D H6 <:?5 @7 92G6 @=56C 6G6CJE9:?8[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 72C> H2D “962GJ @? D@J362?D” E9:D J62C 2?5 72465 D@>6 BF2=:EJ :DDF6D]k^Am

kAm“(6 925 D@>6 7:89E:?8 282:?DE 2 =:EE=6 >@=5 2?5 AFCA=6 362?D — ?@E 2D 325 @E96CD C6A@CE65[ 3FE H6 <6AE 2 H2E49 @G6C :E 2?5 ?@E9:?8 >2;@C H2D 7@F?5[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmw2CG6DE AC@8C6DD 4@?E:?F6D 2E E96 72C> ;FDE D@FE9 @7 |2CD92==E@H?[ x@H2]k^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 23@FE @?6 >@C6 52J @C D@ E@ 36 5@?6 H:E9 362?D] %96?[ H6 H:== 86E 27E6C 4@C? 2?5 36 HC2AA65 FA :? 2 H66< @C D@[” rC@H D2:5 23@FE 9:D 2AAC@I:>2E6=J d__ 24C6D @7 C@H 4C@AD ~4E] af]k^Am

kAmrC@AD 925 2 =:EE=6 3:E @7 62CH@C> AC6DDFC6 — >@C6 E92? =2DE J62C[ 3FE :E C6>2:?65 >:?@C]k^Am

kAmw@H6G6C[ 96 8C6H D@>6 @A6?\A@==:?2E65 C65 4@C? E92E 5:5?’E 6?;@J E96 H6E $6AE6>36C] xE DAC@FE65 2?5 E96 E:AD H6C6 F8=J[ 96 D2:5[ 3FE D@>6 H2D D2=G2865]k^Am

kAm(665 4@?EC@= H2D “AC6EEJ 8@@5” 6I46AE 7@C DA2CD6 4@4<=63FCD :? 2 76H H6E 2C62D[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm~? J:6=5D[ rC@H D2:5 D@J362?D 2G6C2865 :? E96 =@H e_D 2?5 FAA6C d_D] $@J362? >@:DEFC6 >62DFC65 ``\`aT 86?6C2==J[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mu=6I:3:=:EJ >:?5D6Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmw6 2?5 H:76 |2C:2 92G6 7:G6 49:=5C6?[ D@ 7=6I:3:=:EJ :D 2 DEC6?8E9 7@C E96> H:E9 32=2?4:?8 72>:=J 2?5 72C> 42C6E2<:?8]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 >@G:?8 3FE H6’C6 ?@E :? E96 4@>3:?6 2E g 2]>] =:<6 2== E96 ?6:893@CD] … (6 92G6 2 `\J62C\@=5 H9@ 5@6D?’E =6E FD D=66A :? >F49[” rC@H D2:5 H:E9 2 =2F89]k^Am

kAmrC@H D2:5 96 36=:6G6D 72C>6CD D9@F=5 ECJ E@ 492?86 E96:C >:?5D6ED 7C@> E9@D6 E92E 5@>:?2E65 H:E9 AC:@C 86?6C2E:@?D] u@C 9:>[ E92E >62?D 5@:?8 >@C6 H:E9 76H6C 24C6D]k^Am

kAm“{6E D@>6 24C6D 8@] {@@< 2E H92E H6’C6 A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? 2?5 6?;@J :E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmw6 8C25F2==J 92D H@C<65 @? >@C6 5:C64E\E@\4@?DF>6C D2=6D]k^Am

kAm“(6 :?4C62D65 @FC A2DEFC6 A@F=ECJ D6EFA 3J a__ 3C@:=6CD E@ d__ E9:D J62C[” rC@H D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96J 3F:=E 2? “688>@3:=6” E92E >@G6D 2C@F?5 :? E96 A2DEFC6 2D A2CE @7 E96 ?6H 6?562G@C] %96J 2=D@ 92G6 b__ =2J:?8 96?D @FE @? E96 8C2DD]k^Am

kAm%96 ?6H ?:496 82:?65 =@J2= 4FDE@>6CD 3FJ:?8 688D 2?5 7C@K6? 49:4<6?D G:2 5:C64E D2=6D]k^Am

kAm“xE 96=AD FD 2?5 :E’D 2 =@E >@C6 D2E:D7J:?8 E92? 5C@AA:?8 4@C? @77 2E E96 6=6G2E@C] (6’G6 56G6=@A65 ?6H 7C:6?5D9:AD 2D 2 C6DF=E[ E@@[” 96 D2:5] “rFDE@>6CD 2C6 4@>:?8 7C@> E9C66 9@FCD 2H2J 2 52J]k^Am

kAm“xE’D <:?5 @7 EC:4<J 3FE D@ D2E:D7J:?8 E@ FD6 @FC 8C2:? 2?5 7665 :E 2?5 DFAA=6>6?E :E] (6 C646:G65 E@?D @7 A@D:E:G6 7665324< 7C@> 4FDE@>6CD 42==:?8 :E 2 ‘DFA6C:@C AC@5F4E’ 4@>A2C65 E@ 3:8 C6E2:=6CD] u6H6C AC@5F46CD 2C6 5@:?8 49:4<6?D[ D@ H6’C6 @776C:?8 E96 <:?5 @7 ?:496 56D:C65 3J A6@A=6]”k^Am