A Stine Seed Company representative says some farmers are still making planting decisions due to geopolitical uncertainty.
David Thompson, Stine’s director of brand strategy, tells Brownfield Ag News, “Fertilizer prices are weighing on the corn plantings. Right now, I think the market has kind of baked in an increase in soybean acres. A lot of that is because of the increase in fertilizer prices.”
He says it’s resulted in some last-minute seed orders.
“They know what they want their crop mix to be in a perfect world, but we’re not in a perfect world. And so, they are weighing those options, and I think now we’re seeing the reality settle in –now we know what it is and now we’ve got to make our plan.”
Thompson says the number of late maneuvers is higher than usual, but Stine is getting everything shipped out to growers in a timely manner.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
As the saying goes, the best laid plans…. Farmers are used to making adjustments in any given year, whether that is due to drought or rising fertilizer prices. This year it’s the latter. Corn requires more fertilizer and different formulations depending on the soil type and prior year rotations. Soybeans, on the other hand, are capable of producing some of their own nutrient needs, especially nitrogen. That may be a major consideration for many farmers this spring.
All that said, YOU CAN HELP! If the farmer/rancher is going to purchase or lease a qualifying truck or SUV, they qualify for AgPack®. With nearly $50,000 in exclusive rebates and discounts, AgPack can help lower their operating expenses. But here’s the real kicker – with all the talk of increased fertilizer prices, one of our premier AgPack partners is AgroLiquid – a fertilizer company. They are offering serious incentives through the AgPack program. Make sure everyone asks that all important first question when a customer comes into your dealership, “Are you a farmer or rancher?” If so, lead in with, “Are you concerned with fertilizer prices this year?” The answer can lead right into the introduction of AgroLiquid, etc.
