Nobody has to explain why keeping costs under control should be a major priority during the coming growing season. With prices of everything from seed to fertilizer to pesticides to equipment on the upswing, it’s critical to do everything possible to keep your costs in line.

During the recent 16th National No-Tillage Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, finding new ways to control cropping costs seemed to be on the mind of all 766 attendees. While a number of speakers emphasized the importance of controlling costs, Marion Calmer told attendees that he believes it starts with doing your own on-farm research.

Plant Top Yielders

The operator of Calmer Ag Research and Calmer Corn Heads in Alpha, Ill., stressed the importance of selecting the best-yielding corn hybrids and soybean varieties. His 2007 data indicates the top six Monsanto corn hybrids averaged 236 bushels compared to 222 bushels per acre for Pioneer hybrids. With corn prices averaging $4 per bushel, this represents a difference of $56 per acre.

When soybean varieties were compared, there was no difference.

Row Widths, Populations

Calmer evaluated no-till soybeans in three row widths last year. Soybeans averaged 63.9 bushels in 15-inch rows, 60.7 bushels in 30-inch rows and 53.1 bushels per acre in 45-inch-wide rows. With $12 soybeans, the difference between 30- and 15-inch rows amounted to a boost in income of $38.40 per acre.

Plant populations is another area where Calmer believes you can trim input costs. The “No-Till-Age” chart at left offers results from his 2007 soybean…