While it might seem hard to believe, the no-tiller who grew the highest yields in the nation last year calls corn just a rotational crop. That’s because David Hula has a thriving soybean and small grains seed production business.

The rising costs of materials and components, manufacturers say, are forcing them to increase the pricing of their equipment, which may force machinery dealers to increase the prices of farm equipment to growers, Ag Equipment Intelligence (AEI) reports.

High Snowfall totals and colder-than-typical temperatures have historically meant hotter- and drier-than-normal summers, which has fueled speculation among some weather prognosticators that the Midwest could see severe drought conditions.

Timing probably ranks as the most important issue in farming, especially when it comes to spraying, says Phil Needham, a widely known ag consultant and a National No-Tillage Conference speaker.