Harvest is a great time to analyze the past growing season and review what you did or didn’t do to make it a success. Whether the weather was good or bad, whether you had a great crop or a crop that was not so great, you played a big part in the results. Take a few minutes to review the checklist below. Look at the key elements to a successful harvest season and check the ones you did. It may help you finalize your plans for next year while everything is fresh in your mind.
- I put together a field by variety cropping plan prior to harvest.
- I planted only one variety in each field to maximize the yield in that field.
- I set a bushels per 1000 plant goal for each field.
- I set a bushels per 1000 plant goal for my farm.
- I applied 2 different forms of nitrogen at 2 different times during the season.
- I followed the cropping plan all season and never skipped a step.
- I followed the Top 5 Factors to Produce a top crop.
- I planted only when the soil conditions were an 8, 9, or 10 on a scale of 1-10.
- I planted at no more than 5.5 mph.
- I applied fungicide at least once during the season.
- I am finalizing next year’s field by variety plan during harvest.
Carefully analyze the decisions you made this past season right now, while everything is fresh in your mind. Early planning is the no.1 factor to raising the highest yields, so make sure you take the first and easiest step to achieving those top yields.