The Key to Corn and Soybean Profitability

To achieve profitability in corn and soybeans, growers need to be able to make more informed irrigation decisions and manage inputs throughout the season. Most farmers would rather slightly over apply inputs “just to be safe”. However, it is neither practical nor cost-effective to do so.

Timing is as important as amount. AquaSpy soil moisture monitoring probes capture data at 4-inch intervals and show soil moisture in addition to how well the crop is consuming it. Downward lines indicate available water in the active root zone and upward lines show how well the crop is consuming it. AquaSpy works in any soil type, and crop type is preprogrammed to reflect critical periods of consumption during the growing season. All the grower has to do is stay in the green band.

Maximizing crop yield for corn and soybeans doesn’t automatically lead to maximum profitability. Often, a farmer will think that maximizing yield is the only goal, when in reality, focusing solely on yield can have a negative impact, not only on profitability, but also can result in unnecessary application of costly and potentially limited resources like water.

Achieving profitability requires a balanced management approach: control costs, sustain crop productivity, and obtain a good market price.

Growers have essentially relied on gut instinct or outdated technology to tell them when to water their row crops. Yet with climate change threatening and persistent drought in most of the growing areas in North America, growers need better information to improve irrigation decisions for corn and soybean in addition to good soil management decisions.

Use Less, Make More Profits

To optimize profits when growing corn and soybeans, managing inputs effectively is key. It’s important to apply an adequate amount of inputs, but not too much. Historically, farmers tend to be risk adverse and would rather slightly over apply inputs “just to be safe”, because it is well-known that under-application will result in poor crop yields. However, in reality, it’s neither practical nor cost-effective to over-apply inputs when you are growing corn or soybeans. Particularly, as water resources become increasingly constrained, and the risks of nutrient run-off become more apparent, it’s time to think of ways to hit yield targets without over-watering or over-applying nutrients.

Timing is Key to Crop Yield Optimization and Profitability

The best way to manage inputs against yield is by managing the timing of your inputs as well as the amount. Begin with knowing how much available moisture is in the soil at the depth where the roots need it. Second, find out where the active root zone is, and how well the crop is consuming moisture. Pouring on water when the crop doesn’t need it, or can’t consume it, will end up harming yield. On top of that, the timing of the application is important too, particularly for critical periods like tasseling or fruiting.

Try the AquaSpy vertical approach to managing irrigation decisions

AquaSpy’s easy to install soil moisture and root monitoring probes capture data at 4-inch intervals and send that via wireless cellular connection to a mobile device or desktop. Easy to read fuel gauge and summary charts tell the farmer what’s happening in the active root zone at the time and how far the last irrigation has reached.

AquaSpy reports show more than just soil moisture – they illustrate how well the crop is consuming vital moisture. This means the grower can ensure that the moisture is reaching the active root zone at the appropriate time in the growing season. Downward lines in the summary graph indicate available water that’s in the active root zone and upward lines show how well the crop is consuming that moisture. Balancing the supply and demand reduces variability and this eliminates waste in inputs like water while optimizing yields. AquaSpy works in any soil type, and the crop type is preprogrammed so that the green band is uniquely curved for each crop type to reflect critical periods of consumption during the growing season. All the grower has to do is stay in the green band.