FEBRUARY 2006 15 Ohio’s Country Journal ROPS From Page 1 Pond only producesC a handful of Then, like soybeans or wheat, the targeted varieties each year. seed goes over a mill that removes 60% “I have five total varieties, all of the foreign material (which is later Roundup Ready,” Pond said. “There’s piled and composted) from the seed not much sense in me having the beans based on the size. that my customers don’t want. I used “From there, I make a determination to custom clean beans so I know the based on the types of weeds that are mixed varieties and the maturities guys in,” Pond said. “If there is a lot of foxtail or around here really want.” curly-dock it goes to the roll mill.” Pond strives to maximize conven- There, the seeds slide over velvet ience for his soybean buyers by provid- covered rolls. The velvet grabs the ing bags or filling wagons that are pointed weed seeds and lets the clover ready to plant. On each order, Pond pass through. The next step is a gravity uses a sheet that provides all the neces- separator that blows air through the sary seed and variety information, the seed to remove any remaining debris seeding rate for planting and the num- by weight, forcing all of the lighter ber of acres it will cover. (non-clover seed) material to the top. Pond has been running the business Once the seed is cleaned, it gets for 20 years — selling his own bagged and each order is labeled for Roundup Ready soybean varieties for every customer. Normally, the clover the past five years. seed processing begins for Pond in the “We knew that to keep the business middle of August and finishes up going we were going to have to start Pond examines his soybeans in the gravity separator. around February. Much of the seed selling our own soybean genetics,” he then gets planted in March or April said. “Since then we’ve been all about “And, we get to work with people in into standing wheat. making this as user-friendly as possi- agriculture — they are the best people The medium and mammoth red ble. We’ll even pick up wagons from to work with.” clover Pond cleans and sells is an our customers’ barns, fill them up and important part of his business, but cus- drop them off.” tom cleaning wheat and soybean sales Selling soybean seed is the account for the majority of his time. most important part of his business, Pond cleans wheat and he works but it also offers the most directly with soybean breeders to significant challenges. develop varieties specifically targeted “You’ve got to anticipate your sales for his local customers. a year in advance and that creates a lot “I pick out my own genetics suited of challenges. You don’t get to see for the soils here,” Pond said. “My the fruits of your labor for a year,” beans are sold locally to around 200 Pond said. “And, I’m working with all customers in six counties around me in of my friends and neighbors. That puts The small seed size of red clover makes it Ohio and Indiana.” on a lot of pressure to do the job challenging to harvest and clean. Pond and eight other local growers right and make the right decisions. produce soybean seed varieties on a With that though, there’s a lot of specified acreage that will be cleaned job satisfaction.” and sold the following year. Now in its third generation, Pond “All of us growing the seed use a Seed Co. compliments Pond’s 850-acre gentle setting, clean out the combines farming operation nicely and it gives and harvest at the right moisture. It’s him the chance to really involve his wife and two children in his livelihood. my belief that my customers are getting This sheet is put right on the side of wagons the most cared-for seed possible,” Pond “I like working with my family, and filled with Pond’s soybean seed. It adds said. “That’s my trump card over the with this business, we really get to be a convenience for his customers. bigger companies.” part of the community,” Pond said. While Pond sells much of his seed in hopper wagons, he also bags it, depending on the customer’s wishes. These bags of red clover seed will be distributed throughout Ohio and into Indiana and Michigan. While the seed bags have changed through the years at Pond Seed Co., the dedication to quality has not. ABN Assistant Farm Director Precision fertility — Does it pay? HEATHER HETTERICK BY JOHN BARKER, KNOX COUNTY Scenario 4: GIS software was used to EXTENSION EDUCATOR divide the field into management zones. Farmers often question the economic These zones were based upon actual, his- value of global positioning system toric crop removal data from this field. ABN Director of (GPS) technology. Does precision agri- Fertilizer recommendations were based Farm Broadcasting culture pay? In most precision agricul- upon the actual crop removal in each of DALE MINYO ture circles, this is the most often asked these management zones. Fertilizer question, and at times a most difficult applications were made using variable Starting at 5am… see below for affiliates question to answer. rate technology. Today’s technology allows farmers to Table 1 contains the data from this vary the application rates of crop inputs analysis. Fertilizer recommendations were City Call Letters Dial County Airtimes*: throughout a field. These practices are made for each of the four scenarios using Archbold WMTR-FM 96.1 Fulton 5:45am, 12:14pm Ashland WNCO-AM 1340 Ashland 12:30pm, 3:15pm creating vast and sweeping changes on the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations Ashland WNCO-FM 101.3 Ashland 12:30pm, 3:15pm many farms. This technology allows such as a guide. Overall fertilizer use was the Ashtabula WFUN-AM 970 Ashtabula 5:45am inputs as herbicide, insecticide, fertilizer, highest using the farmers normal produc- Bellefontaine WBLL-AM 1390 Logan 6:45am, 12:14pm manure, etc. to be altered at any particu- tion practices (scenario 1). Using grid soil Bryan WBNO-FM 100.9 Williams 5:45am Bryan WQCT-AM 1520 Williams 5:45am, 12:32pm lar point within a field. Geographic sampling and variable rate applications Caldwell WWKC-FM 104.9 Noble 6:06am information system (GIS) software allows (scenario 2), fertilizer use was reduced by Canton WHBC-AM 1480 Stark 3:15pm various field data such as soil test results, 3,420 pounds. Soil sampling using man- Celina WCSM-FM 96.7 Mercer 5:45am, 11:40am, 3:37pm crop scouting data and yield data to be agement zones based upon soil type and Chillicothe WKKJ-FM 93.3 Ross 5:45am, 4:05pm analyzed and incorporated into the using variable rate fertilizer applications Coshocton WTNS-FM 99.3 Coshocton 12:30pm Crooksville WYBZ-FM 107.3 Perry 5:45am, 4:04pm decision making process. (scenario 3) reduced overall fertilizer use Defiance WDFM-FM 98.1 Defiance 6:10am Theoretically, combing field-based data by more than 3.5 tons. The most efficient Defiance WONW-AM 1280 Defiance 5-5:45am, 5:45am, 11:45am with the ability to vary input usage at spe- fertilizer use was in Scenario 4, which used Dover WJER-AM 1450 Tuscarawas 5:45am,12:45, 5:40pm cific points within a field should increase GIS software to divide the field into man- Eaton WEDI-AM 1130 Preble 12:00pm, 3:30pm input efficiency. Increased efficiency agement zones based upon crop removal Findlay/Tiffin WCKY-FM 103.7 Hancock 4:35pm Findlay WFIN-AM 1330 Hancock 5:30am, 5:45am, 11:56am+, should improve profit margin and result in and used variable rate fertilizer applica- 3:35pm the adoption of more environmentally tions. This scenario, which is based on the Findlay WKXA-FM 100.5 Hancock 5:33am+ sound practices. But does it pay? actual field production, shows phosphorus Fostoria WFOB-AM 1430 Wood 12:14pm To answer this question data was ana- recommendations were reduced by almost Fremont WFRO-FM 99.1 Sandusky 12:00pm Gallipolis WJEH-AM 990 Gallia 8:00am lyzed from a 45-acre central Ohio farm. 1.5 tons and the potash recommendations Hillsboro WSRW-FM 106.7 Highland 5:45am, 4:30pm Seven years of accurate and calibrated were cut in half. But does it pay? Jackson WCJO-FM 97.7 Jackson 11:50am yield data was available for this field, with Fertilizer prices of $250 per ton for Kenton WKTN-FM 95.3 Hardin 5:50am, 12:13pm the use of a GPS-based yield monitor. This potash and $315 per ton for D.A.P. were Lancaster WLOH-AM 1320 Fairfield 5:45am, 11:45am+, 3:50pm field was in a strict corn-soybean rotation. used for this analysis. Soil testing charges Lima WIMA-AM 1150 Allen 5-5:45am, 5:45am Lima WIMT-FM 102.1 Allen 5-5:45am, 5:45am Fertilizer recommendations were devel- and variable rate fertilizer application Mansfield WMAN-AM 1400 Richland 6:28am oped using the four following scenarios. charges were included where appropriate. Marion WMRN-AM 1490 Marion 5:45am, 11:30am Scenario 1: Fertilizer recommendations Scenario 4 (fertilizer recommendations Marion WMRN-FM 106.9 Marion 5:45am were made according to the farmer’s nor- based upon crop removal) produced the Marietta WMOA-AM 1490 Washington 5:45am McConnelsville WJAW-FM 100.9 Morgan 5:45am mal production practices. Variable rate greatest savings.