Resource Management and Conservation - Real World Experience from an Iowa Corn/Soybean Farmer.

Fertility management, achieving high and sustainable yields, and managing inputs for maximum efficiency is more than a research question, journal article, or seed promotion opportunity for farmers.  Developing and implementing the perfect formula each year is challenged by variably soil and topography, the vagaries of Mother Nature, and highly variable prices for inputs and commodities.  An explanation will be given for how we manage in-season crop fertility including managing nitrogen in corn production by utilizing available data and historical information, on our farm in Story County, Iowa.  Experiences with returning marginal land to grassland and buffer strips, best summed up as “to farm or not farm”, will also be shared, along with personal passions concerning preservation of our farmland as a fifth generation farmer.