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Planning for the next growing season

A central Iowa farmer says the busy season isn’t over just because harvest has finished up.

Tim Bardole tells Brownfield some recent precipitation has helped boost conditions for fall fieldwork. “With this rain we’re going to be able to do fall anhydrous,” he said. “If we wouldn’t have had it, it would have been too dry and wouldn’t work. I’m hoping that we’ll be able to get quite a bit done yet this fall. When you have your fall and spring work both to do in the spring, that is very stressful.”

He says it’s also a critical time to plan for the next growing season. “Getting seed orders in. We’re deciding how much corn and soybean acres we’re going to have.”

Bardole says the supply of ag inputs has been steady. “The only problem is when you get your checkbook out to purchase it. Fertilizer is still high, especially when you’re looking at $4 corn or less.”

He says he’s hopeful farmers will get some relief on input costs in 2025.

INTERVIEW: Iowa farmer Tim Bardole