Animal

Well-known Member
I know that I am old and slow, but can someone tell me how growing corn makes a profit at 3.50 a bushel?
 
It don't. and yet we will continue to plant millions of acres. What's wrong with us? The definition of insane is doing the same thing over and over and expect different results.
 
Yup.

Or feed it through livestock that is profitable. (No that's not looking promising either this year....)

So I'll only lose on that 55 acres I bought in March. ;)

Sadly, corn pencils out better than soybeans around here. My peat/flaying high ph wet dirt doesn't play well with soybeans 4 out of 5 years, have to plant such a defensive bean that there are few options, can't shop for a good yielder, just need to find those that can actually grow in this dirt.

So, folks plant more corn at these prices.....

Paul
 
Put it through cattle that are born on the farm. I have to laugh now at everybody who thought I should sell the cows and then sell the corn back when corn was high.
 
I have been wondering about canola or milo the seed producers seem to have us by the short and curlies and they will not let go! You cattle producers have seen a big drop in your markets,but hot dogs are the meat of choice here because beef has not dropped much at the grocery stores, it's kind of like the price of crude oil and protrlium products. I am too far advanced in years, if I could do it again being a middle man or a crooked politician looks like the best options in these times. Hard work and honesty are a thing of the past.
 
I hear you.

I just worked up 20 acres and hope to plant oats in it tomorrow.

When we are looking at how much we will lose per acre... Oats is cheap to plant, low feet use, comes off early, and I can sell the straw. I put a plow down blend of cheap alfalfa and clover as under seeded and can grow a little bit of fertility for next year. My work flow get spread out a little during the year.

Works for me. Glad I don't have to confer with my banker on such plans, they might not have the same color lens in their glasses. ;)

Paul
 
Volume also helps if you only make a penny a bushel it helps to have a lot of bushels. Also if you have equipment it doesn't take much more to cover extra ground spreading your cost over more ground
 
Gross of 700 dollars /Acre. 100 for seed fertilizer and spray each leaves 400. Another hundred to plant, combine and truck, plus another 100 for drying. Still leaves a bit left over IF all goes well. Costs may be different in your area. Ben
 
The price ratio between crude oil and refined petroleum products is comparable to the spread between corn and processed, sacked, commercial livestock feed, there are a lot of middlemen getting a piece of both pies.
 
You wouldn't want to be a dairy farmer then either. My parents just shipped more milk than ever last month and the check was less than it was in the 80's/90's. Every time they get more efficient, the price drops again. Good thing they are farming with paid off equipment and that I'm no longer in the house on the food bill!
 
If I were still farming I could make a profit on $3.50 corn.....My land is paid for and I would be farming it with 30-40 year old paid for equipment..

If I were paying a large cash rent and had all new equipment I doubt that I could make a profit unless I had a huge yield..
 
I went back to doing some milo about three years ago. I've been planting an 80 of it. I keep some to grind but sell the majority. Then I winter graze cows on that 80. It seems like milo took a hit in the commodities this last week but overall it's been pretty reliable. If there's a market for it in the area it's pretty darn easy. Spray some atrazine down, plant it, and sit back. It's not like beans that need a couple of sprayer passes.
 

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