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“I think it's a good process to put fertilizer around with the planter, but I've always been a believer when it's time to plant corn, that's what you should be doing.”
-Dean Fehl
In this week’s “No-Till Influencers and Innovators” podcast, Frank Lessiter speaks with early strip-till adapter Dean Fehl about how he got started strip tilling, and his current role as a retiree helping his sons work the family farm, and more.
Fehl’s idea of no-tilling soybeans and strip-tilling corn was passed on to his sons, Ben and Brandt Fehl, who have expanded the farm operation and continue the practice.
Listen in as Frank and Dean cover the basics of his son’s operation, conditions on the ground today, and his steps into conservation tillage practices.
No-Till Farmer‘s No-Till Influencers & Innovators Podcast podcast is brought to you by Verdesian Life Sciences.
At Verdesian Life Sciences, we believe that supplying healthy water and soil for the next generation is just as important as supplying efficient nutrients for every crop farmers grow. For us, sustainability and profitability go hand in hand. That’s why we call ourselves The Nutrient Use Efficiency People. We have dedicated ourselves to providing prescriptive nutrient use efficiency solutions that improve plant uptake and reduce fertilizer losses, helping preserve the environment and make the most of your investment. Learn more at vlsci.com or talk to your ag retailer today about Verdesian products.
Full Transcript
Brian O'Connor:
Welcome to the No-Till Farmer Influencers and Innovators podcast. I'm Brian O'Connor, lead content editor for No-Till Farmer. Verdesian sponsors this podcast about the past, present, and future of no-till farming. In today's episode, editor, Frank Lessiter, talks to Dean Fehl, an early adopter of strip-tilling at his farm in La Porte City, Iowa. Here's Frank and Dean.
Frank Lessiter:
So, Dean, you're at La Porte City, Iowa, correct?
Dean Fehl:
That is correct.
Frank Lessiter:
And where is that in Iowa?
Dean Fehl:
Those familiar with Iowa at all, we're approximately 20 miles Southeast of Waterloo.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. And what kind of soils have you got in that area? What are you farming?
Dean Fehl:
Yeah, we have primarily silty clay loams, CSRs, and the oh, 85 to 95 range primarily.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. Did you grow up in this area?
Dean Fehl:
Yes, I did. I've been here my entire life.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. So, was your dad a farmer?
Dean Fehl:
Yes, he was.
Frank Lessiter:
All right. And now you're farming with the boys, two boys?
Dean Fehl:
Yeah. Well, I am currently retired. I've turned the operation over about five years ago to the boys. So, I'm kind of a sideline farmer, so to speak.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. And their names are what?
Dean Fehl:
Ben and Brant.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. And how many acres are the three of you farming today?
Dean Fehl:
I cannot honestly answer that, Frank. I know they've had some expansion several years back to what those acres are. I've never added them up.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. But you're a big acreage farmer I take it, all right? I mean, you're over 2000 acres?
Dean Fehl:
Oh, yes. Yeah.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay.
Dean Fehl:
I know they're over 2000.
Frank Lessiter:
And mainly corn and soybeans or other crops?
Dean Fehl:
Corn and soybeans.
Frank Lessiter:
All right. So, you're strip-tilling corn. What are you doing with soybeans?
Dean Fehl:
We're no-tilling the soybeans directly in the cornstalks.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. So, I assume you got started with no-tilling. How long ago did you start no-tilling?
Dean Fehl:
Well, I started experimenting in the mid 1980s. I had a few stumbling blocks. And then in 1986, I believe it was, I purchased my first no-till drill for soybeans. And then it was long about that time, Jim Kinsella from Illinois started the strip-till program. And I got involved in that. And in a nutshell, that's where we started. And we're still on that program today.
Frank Lessiter:
Were you no-tilling corn before that or not?
Dean Fehl:
I had done some experimentation, was not liking the results. But as soon as I started the strip-till program, it just exploded. And I never looked back.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. So, what were some of the benefits of strip-tilling corn that you saw in those days?
Dean Fehl:
Well, I felt as though we had a drier, warmer seed bed come planting time. I felt as though that was really beneficial to getting the corn up and running for a good start.
Frank Lessiter:
Have the boys looked at all at strip-tilling soybeans?
Dean Fehl:
I really don't think so. There are narrow rows for the soybeans. So, as a result, that really doesn't fit the scenario of strip-tilling.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. So, what the row widths do they have for beans?
Dean Fehl:
They are currently 15-inch rows.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. So, let's talk about a little of the equipment that you have. What's your no-till planter? Well, you got more than one planter I think. Are you using the same planter for both no-till and soybeans?
Dean Fehl:
Actually, yes and no. Currently, we have, or the boys have, one 24-row they use primarily for planting corn. And the other ones set up to plant the soybeans in the 15-inch rows. A few years ago, they did plant a few 30-inch row soybeans. But primarily when they start planting, one starts planting corn and the other one starts in beans. And I know this last year or two, they've not deviated from the 30-inch corn and the 15-inch row.
Frank Lessiter:
That was my next question, what row width were you in corn? But you answered it for 30-inch.
Dean Fehl:
Correct.
Frank Lessiter:
How did you make the decision to move away from the drill to a planter on soybeans?
Dean Fehl:
The very first drill I had was kind of inadequate. I had nothing but plugging problems with that first drill. Could not wait to get rid of it. And then I went to a 15-inch row Kinze planter. And I liked the better seed depth control than what a drill had to offer.
Frank Lessiter:
So, what kind of planters are they running?
Dean Fehl:
Currently, they have two John Deere planters.
Frank Lessiter:
And then does the family own a lot of this land? You rent land? I assume you do. You got both, right?
Dean Fehl:
Some of both. Yes.
Frank Lessiter:
So, you say you're retired. But you also told me in an earlier phone call that they can't get along without you at planting time or at harvest time, right?
Dean Fehl:
Well, I'm not sure I said it quite that way.
Frank Lessiter:
All right.
Dean Fehl:
I like to think that I'm needed. I do run the sprayer in the spring and run one of the combines during harvest. So, that's my fit into the operation as we speak.
Frank Lessiter:
So, it's interesting that one of the boys runs the soybean planter and the other runs the corn planter. How did you decide that they should be both planted at the same time? I mean, a lot of people plant corn first and then soybeans. But now, we've got people saying we should plant soybeans first and then corn. But the boys must have realized there's benefit to getting them both in early.
Dean Fehl:
Yeah. That's correct, Frank. I think they're finding some advantages to get in the field when conditions are fit, and rock and roll. I think that's bottom line. Get her in the ground when you can.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. So, the sprayer that you run in the spring, self-propelled unit or what?
Dean Fehl:
Oh, yeah. It's a large John Deere with 120 foot boom, and all the bells and whistles. The ExactApply system, which is an awesome system. Efficiency is just out of this world. So, that's what the boys are using for a sprayer currently.
Frank Lessiter:
So, even an older guy like you or I could run it, huh?
Dean Fehl:
Well, yeah. Yeah. It's almost you push a couple buttons that they already have programmed for me, and send me to a field, and away we go. The auto steer kicks in, and does its job. And everybody's happy.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. Let's talk about no-till soybeans. Got any idea what rate they like to plant at, or does it vary, or what?
Dean Fehl:
Yeah. They do some variability in their planting population. And I think that's a little bit variety sensitive. So, I really cannot address exactly what their population average would even be because I honestly do not know.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. Fertilizing. They fertilized soybeans?
Dean Fehl:
Yes they do.
Frank Lessiter:
What do they put on?
Dean Fehl:
Dry P and K. And I think there's odd times maybe when they use some micronutrients maybe as needed. But there again, I do not know the details.
Frank Lessiter:
Sure. Have they tried any of the new biologicals? They seem to be hot these days among growers.
Dean Fehl:
To my knowledge, no. But that could be bad information, Frank.
Frank Lessiter:
Well, people were trying them. But they got other people are going to say, "Wait and see. It's too early." They remember years back when we referred to them as snake oil products.
Dean Fehl:
Exactly.
Frank Lessiter:
So, weed control in soybeans. Would they hit the field before they plant, or wait, or what?
Dean Fehl:
Some of both. Generally, there's burn down on ahead of both corn and soybeans. And that varies a little bit based on maybe a field that has a particular issue with particular weed pressure. But there's some pre and post.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
On every acre.
Frank Lessiter:
Will they come back in mid season and make an application, or not?
Dean Fehl:
If necessary, they will.
Frank Lessiter:
Only if they have to, right. Got it. Applying insecticides?
Dean Fehl:
Yes. They've been managing their insects in a timely manner.
Frank Lessiter:
I pulled up on our website a couple older articles we had done with you. And that one time you were very, very high on fungicides. Is that still true?
Dean Fehl:
That is correct.
Frank Lessiter:
Do they try to apply fungicides on every acre, or?
Dean Fehl:
To my knowledge, yes.
Frank Lessiter:
On both corn and soybeans?
Dean Fehl:
I believe that's correct.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. Let's go to the fall. I assume you got two combines.
Dean Fehl:
Correct.
Frank Lessiter:
And you run one. Are you a soybean or a corn guy?
Dean Fehl:
Yes. Yeah. Generally, in one of the soybean combines all of the time. And we've had a few issues with down corn due to some wind damage.
Frank Lessiter:
Sure.
Dean Fehl:
And so, sometimes I'm in the corn combine 100%, and sometimes I'm not. But last year, for example, I probably ran 95% of the corn with one machine. We had standing corn fortunately, a year ago.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
And by and large, I was in the machine every day.
Frank Lessiter:
Were you in the area that got hit by the derecho in Iowa, or not?
Dean Fehl:
Yes, we were. We were kind of on the edge. But yet, it affected us in a very negative manner where we harvested using two combines. Numerous fields were harvested in one direction. And it was ugly. But we were much better off than so many of those poor farmers that disc up their crop because there was no harvesting to it.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. What do you think the yield loss was for you people on those problem fields?
Dean Fehl:
That's a moving target, Frank. You never really can define, or I've never been able to really define.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
The difference. We had completed a proper growing season. Yes, there's definitely a loss.
Frank Lessiter:
Sure.
Dean Fehl:
The plants are injured. They're not performing up to their potential. And just the harvest losses in and of itself. You do your best. But sometimes that's not quite good enough.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. Looking at harvest, you've planted corn and soybeans at the same time. Will soybeans ripen earlier than corn for you people, or both at the same time for harvest?
Dean Fehl:
Generally, we get the soybeans harvested first. But on the flip side, we do switch back and forth, depending on the weather.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
In some years, we may harvest a fair amount of corn before the beans are ready. So, every year's a little bit different for us.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. What growing season varieties would you have on soybeans? How many days, or whatever?
Dean Fehl:
They're primarily mid Group II, I believe.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay.
Dean Fehl:
And maybe a few acres of early Group IIIs. That would be their primary acres would go those maturities.
Frank Lessiter:
How about days on corn hybrids?
Dean Fehl:
I think they surround themselves with 110 to 150 day corn.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah. Okay. Years ago, we did an article on you, which you said, "You got to plant slow." Do you still believe in that? The boys still believe in that?
Dean Fehl:
Yes and no. They have one of the new high speed planters for corn. And this past season, this growing season, was the first year for that. And I was quite impressed with what I saw. But we'll know more come harvest.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. When you're taking these soybeans off earlier, I assume that's ground where you're going to strip-till next year. Are they building berms in the fall?
Dean Fehl:
Yes they are. They try to get all their strips done in the fall.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. So, when you got two people on the combine, do you have somebody else building strips or not?
Dean Fehl:
Not til right at the end of season. And it depends on what the calendar says when we're trying to complete harvest. I think it was a couple years ago, yeah. They actually started stripping before the corn combine was completed. Going into this season, they now have two strip-till units, which will facilitate, of course, getting that job done a little quicker. So, I honestly don't know what their plan is for this year. I can only imagine it's going to be weather dependent.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. So, what strip-till units are they running and how many rows on each?
Dean Fehl:
Currently, I believe they're going to be running one 16-row and one 12-row.
Frank Lessiter:
They building them themselves, or they bought the units, or what?
Dean Fehl:
No. They bought the units.
Frank Lessiter:
What brand are they?
Dean Fehl:
They're actually the Krause units.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay, the KUHN Krause ones?
Dean Fehl:
Yes, that's correct.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah, okay. All right. How tall they try to build berms in the fall?
Dean Fehl:
I think that's a little bit relevant to the soil texture come fall. Sometimes, you don't change depths, and you go from one field to another. You might get a 2-inch berm, or you might get a 4-inch berm.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
So, mother nature has a tendency to control that a little bit, near as I can tell.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. So, are they putting down P and K in the fall?
Dean Fehl:
Sometimes. Yes. There again, I think that's based on soil tests.
Frank Lessiter:
Right.
Dean Fehl:
Whether they do or whether they don't.
Frank Lessiter:
When they come back in the spring to plant on strip-till corn, will they put on all the fertilizer with the planter, or they make some other trips in the spring?
Dean Fehl:
No. They have no fertilizer attachments on the planter.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. So, when will they apply fertilizer in the spring? And how?
Dean Fehl:
Well, generally, that's all done in the fall or in frozen ground in the wintertime.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay.
Dean Fehl:
In general.
Frank Lessiter:
So, if you're putting it on in the winter, you would be broadcasting that?
Dean Fehl:
Correct.
Frank Lessiter:
How about nitrogen that they need for corn?
Dean Fehl:
Well, that'll all go on with the strips.
Frank Lessiter:
In the fall?
Dean Fehl:
Yes, with anhydrous ammonia.
Frank Lessiter:
They got this corn stripped in the spring, so they're not coming back in mid season with any fertilizer?
Dean Fehl:
To my knowledge, no.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. So, but you're probably going to make a spray trip for weed control, and disease, and the insects, or not?
Dean Fehl:
Yes.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay.
Brian O'Connor:
We'll come back to Frank and Dean in a moment. First, I'd like to thank our sponsor, Verdesian, for supporting today's podcast. Verdesian Life Sciences believes healthy water and soil for the next generation is just as important as supplying efficient nutrients for today's crop. For Verdesian, sustainability and profitability go together. Learn more at vlsci.com. Or, talk to your ag retailer today. Before we get back to the conversation, here's Frank Lessiter's answer to a reader question.
Frank Lessiter:
Recently, got a question from a reader asking what would be the value of wheat straw if he took it off, and sold it, and baled it? And the answer came from Ohio State. They did this not too long ago, and actually used 2022 fertilizer prices. And they said a ton of wheat straw would provide approximately 11 pounds of nitrogen, 3 pounds of phosphorus, and 20 pounds of potassium. And according to the June 2022 fertilizer prices and the new removal book values, one ton of wheat straw would take out nutrients worth about $30.31 per ton.
Brian O'Connor:
And now, back to Frank and Dean.
Frank Lessiter:
One of the questions I like to ask is if you've got somebody that's got 3000 acres and they got a sprayer, maybe they're putting 8 or 9000 acres on their sprayer per year. So, I assume on the average you would be making more than one trip across your acres, maybe two?
Dean Fehl:
Yep. Yeah. Generally, two plus.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. That's what I was leading to.
Dean Fehl:
Yep.
Frank Lessiter:
Have they looked at cover crops at all?
Dean Fehl:
Oh, yes. They do some cover crop. I would guess on, oh, I don't even know what percentage, maybe 20% of their land.
Frank Lessiter:
This would probably go on ground that's been in corn harvested?
Dean Fehl:
Sometimes corn, sometimes soybeans. Some years, both.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah. How do they decide where they're going to use in cover crop?
Dean Fehl:
They have one landowner that's adamant that he wants cover crop. So, [inaudible 00:18:23]-
Frank Lessiter:
There's a good reason.
Dean Fehl:
Yep. There's just no question on those particular acres.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
And some of their other fields, I think probably maybe some fields that roll a little bit more, just maybe trying to help the erosion potential, although we've been a no-till for so long, our erosion is just about zero.
Frank Lessiter:
How do they apply the cover crops?
Dean Fehl:
Generally, aerial application.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay. They're using just one cover crop, or using a mix, or what?
Dean Fehl:
They've used multiple mixes. And I cannot honestly tell you what all are in those particular blends. I do not know.
Frank Lessiter:
Well, it's like some guys today are using as many as 15 blends.
Dean Fehl:
Oh, my.
Frank Lessiter:
And then you get some guy that's got 10 bushel vols sitting around, he just tosses in there to get rid of them, but.
Dean Fehl:
There you go.
Frank Lessiter:
So, a lot of people have not been happy with seeding cover crops with aerial. The boys must figure they're making it work.
Dean Fehl:
I see varying results with their aerial application. But if there's a way of getting it done relatively timely without crop damage, and so as a result, I think that is part of the reason they do it that way. But there again, some of those decisions I'm not privy to the information. I don't ask. I don't know. Then I can't get in trouble.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. Right. The rental contracts you have, cash rent, or sharing, or what?
Dean Fehl:
That's all over the board.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay.
Dean Fehl:
I think they have multiple choice with different landowners.
Frank Lessiter:
Are you finding that it's easier for them to rent land because they're no-tilling and strip-tilling, or not?
Dean Fehl:
I would have to say, I don't know, but I don't think it's hurting them.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. Back when you were more active, was it a major selling point for you getting land?
Dean Fehl:
Yes, it was.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
The last number of years I farmed, I had owners coming to me saying they liked my system. And so, we were able to do business based on that.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. Well, that's great. Most landowners, local or live metropolitan areas, or all over the place?
Dean Fehl:
Generally, local.
Frank Lessiter:
Years ago, I think it was Ben, we did an article with Ben. And he was talking about tiling. And he was talking about how you were able to convince landowners that you rent from to tile. Can you elaborate on that?
Dean Fehl:
Well, I was able to show that some yield maps that could prove that yield reductions were significant where there was not adequate drainage.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
And as a result, I mean, it was pretty black and white. So, I had good participation with landowners.
Frank Lessiter:
I take it, you were encouraging them to spend some money and tile their ground, right?
Dean Fehl:
That is correct.
Frank Lessiter:
Were you investing any money on tile on rented ground, if you had a long-term contract, or not?
Dean Fehl:
Did very little of that. But there was payback to me over time.
Frank Lessiter:
Right.
Dean Fehl:
So, I had numerous scenarios that yes, I worked with the landowners. Yes, I spent some of my own money. But yes, I got it back.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah. Do the boys have a lot of long-term contracts for rented land, or just one year? Because it gets pretty tough for someone to invest in tile on rented ground if they got a short contract.
Dean Fehl:
Yeah. I honestly do not know the lengths of their contracts, other than my own scenario and the land that I rent to them. And most families are long-term. You know what I mean?
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah. Right, right. Well, that's good. What have I missed talking to you about?
Dean Fehl:
I'm not real sure, Frank. I think we've covered a lot of the high spots. The getting started. Obviously, there's a learning curve in no-till. I wouldn't go back to full tillage for anything.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
It is proved to be a huge asset to our farming operations. It just, all the labor savings, fuel, machinery, soil, all the above. It just is a great system.
Frank Lessiter:
You mentioned that there's no fertilizer going on in the planters. Can you elaborate on why that's been a good move for you people?
Dean Fehl:
Yeah. It's a time consuming process. I think it's a good process to put fertilizer around with the planter. But I've always been a believer when it's time to plant corn, that's what you should be doing.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
Because there are alternatives for fertilizer application. And for me, using fertilizer at the time of planting was not a good reason for the planter to shutdown because you had fertilizer problems.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah. Well, for-
Dean Fehl:
But that's just my personal preference.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. Well, everybody's got a different idea. For years, there was always talk about whether we had to put starter fertilizer on with no-till corn or not. So, you people have found it not necessarily to do.
Dean Fehl:
Yeah. Yeah. That's in our scenario, that it works fine to not. We've been happy with yields. And so, as a result, we're staying the course.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah. Well, for years, we've had people with, years ago, a lot of farmers had livestock. And we got a lot of people through the Corn Belt today that don't have any livestock. And we've got people who have a rotation of soybeans and corn in Florida in the winter. Now, I look at you're retired. And you've got corn and soybeans in Canada in the summer, right?
Dean Fehl:
That is correct. Yeah.
Frank Lessiter:
Tell me about your Canadian experience.
Dean Fehl:
Well, I was very fortunate in that back in 1954 was the first time my parents took me to Canada. My dad was a fisherman. He enjoyed the area. And as I grew up, we continued to travel into Ontario, into lake country. I got married. My wife enjoyed it. Our kids grew up on a lake where we currently have a private cabin. And it's just an awesome place to go and vacation, do a little fishing, relaxing, et cetera. Can't get enough of it.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah. So, I think you told me you'll go up for maybe three weeks or so in the summer, come home for a while, and go back a couple times?
Dean Fehl:
That is correct, Frank.
Frank Lessiter:
And you told me that you're in Western Ontario. International Falls, Minnesota is in the area?
Dean Fehl:
That is correct. We're just Northwest of International Falls about, oh, about an hour drive.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah. When you got in it earlier, what were the biggest challenges you had with no-till?
Dean Fehl:
Cold, wet soils were probably my first concern, primarily planting corn into soybean ground. That would've been just my prior experience, the strip-till. The no-till soybeans, to me, is easier than no-till corn. But then you throw in the strip-till scenario, and then that levels the playing field a little bit as far as soil conditions and planting time.
Frank Lessiter:
Well, and that always was early on, was one amazement to me that it looked like it would be easier to no-till corn into soybean stubble because there's not as much there as stalks. But a lot of people said that's just not the way it worked out.
Dean Fehl:
And in my scenario, it didn't work out very well. I always wanted to be out planting corn just absolutely as soon as I could.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah.
Dean Fehl:
And so, that was the case with me. That it just wasn't, just strictly no-tilling into bean stubble was not working for me.
Frank Lessiter:
When would the boys and you like to get started planting in the spring?
Dean Fehl:
In our area, I'd say if you could take a five year average, they're started by the 15th of April. I think this year, I believe the first day started was April 5th, on just very limited acreage. I think that was this year.
Frank Lessiter:
How long a planting window do you think you have? Or, how long does it take to get all the crops in the ground?
Dean Fehl:
If the sun shines, they'll be done within a week.
Frank Lessiter:
Wow. Oh, that's great. Wow.
Dean Fehl:
Yeah. Start to finish, if they can, if weather cooperates.
Frank Lessiter:
I think I asked this earlier, but I can't remember for sure. You had a 24-row corn planter?
Dean Fehl:
That's correct. And then the soybean planter is same configuration, same width, only 15-inch rows.
Frank Lessiter:
Okay.
Dean Fehl:
They're both 60-foot planters.
Frank Lessiter:
Gotcha. What kind of horsepower does it take to pull that in your ground?
Dean Fehl:
I think, well, they use two different tractors. One's, I don't know, 350. And the other one's 300 or something. I honestly don't know. I lost track of the makes and models of the tractors and what their horsepowers are.
Frank Lessiter:
Right.
Dean Fehl:
Et cetera.
Frank Lessiter:
All we know is they cost a fortune.
Dean Fehl:
Yes, they do. They're expensive these days. But we thought they were expensive a long time ago, and they've only gotten worse.
Frank Lessiter:
Well, you got to have it, if you're going to plant on time and get it done in a week or 10 days.
Dean Fehl:
Yeah. Yeah. That's just exactly right. And of course, our yields have gone up. And fortunately, the last couple years, the price of the corn and soybeans have gone up to help to offset it.
Frank Lessiter:
Right.
Dean Fehl:
So, it's all cycle.
Frank Lessiter:
Right. One of the things that interests me on strip-till is years ago in the early '90s, we had a newsletter for a few years on ridge till. And we finally got out of it because we didn't see that practice growing. But what's interesting is when you look at strip-till, the number of things that they picked up from ridge till because they're building berms, they're deep placing P and K, they're doing controlled traffic. And the one thing they're not doing is cultivating, which was important with ridge till.
Dean Fehl:
Correct.
Frank Lessiter:
But we had people who are bonafide strip-tillers today who look down their nose at ridge till. But a lot of the things that worked in ridge till they're now doing with strip-till.
Dean Fehl:
That's correct. Yeah. Yeah, I agree 100%. Yeah. We had a few ridge tillers in the area for a few years. And it didn't take long for them to change their minds and start either no-tilling their beans or strip-tilling their corn.
Frank Lessiter:
Yeah. One of the big problems-
Dean Fehl:
No one likes to cultivate.
Frank Lessiter:
Exactly. And one of the big problems was if they had live livestock, when they were cultivating, they should have been bailing hay.
Dean Fehl:
That's true too.
Frank Lessiter:
Right.
Dean Fehl:
Okay. Frank, you take care now.
Frank Lessiter:
Take care. Okay.
Dean Fehl:
Yep. Bye now.
Brian O'Connor:
Before we wrap up today's episode, here's Frank Lessiter one more time.
Frank Lessiter:
Back in 2013, we did a story on Dean Fehl, how they were making tile pay on even rented land besides what they owned. They had purchased a tile plow mainly for improving drainage on rented land. So, they've done a lot of this with absentee owners and got better tile on the ground, better drainage, and got better yields. So, this is also from Ohio State.
And they did a study way back in 2011 that showed that only about 9% of fields that they looked at did not have workable tile. And this resulted in land rental charges that were $12 to $28 per acre below the average for all cornfields in the survey. And they determined that each additional bushel potential corn yield was associated with an extra 37 to 52 cents per acre in expected rent. Now, today with the higher land prices and higher commodity prices, it's probably much higher than that.
Brian O'Connor:
That's it for this episode of the No-Till Farmer Influencers and Innovators podcast. Thanks again to Verdesian for helping make the series possible. You can find more podcasts about no-till topics and strategies at no-tillfarmer.com/podcasts. A transcript of this episode will be available there shortly. If you have any feedback on today's episode, please feel free to email me at boconnor@lessiter media.com. Or, call me at (262) 777-2413.
Frank would also love to answer your questions about no-till and the people and innovations that have impacted today's practices. Please email any questions to us at listenermail@no-tillfarmer.com. If you haven't already, you can subscribe to this podcast to get an alert as soon as future episodes are released. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts. For Frank and our entire staff here at No-Till Farmer, I'm Brian O'Connor. Thanks for listening and farm ugly.
