The Farm Visit Experience

Thursday, September 4, 2008 7:35 AM CDT

The Farm Business & Production Management program is available to farmers and individuals interested in agribusiness. The program meets in numerous locations within the technical college district during times convenient for farmers and consists of group class sessions and individualized student on-farm instruction.

I usually send out a schedule to my students so they know when to expect me for the individualized farm instructional visit. When I arrive, I greet them and ask if there are any questions. I always ask this question first since the student needs to tell me what is most important in their mind for this instructional visit. After the student’s needs are met, I go into my planned instruction.

If a student asks, how much nitrogen should be put on their cornfield, as the instructor I could give an answer; however, usually I follow a different process. I ask the student questions related to their question to find out what information they know. For example, if I ask, “What does their nutrient management plan say?” and the student responds, “I don’t know” or “I don’t have one”, I pull out of my notebook a Nutrient and Pest Management publication titled Fast Facts. We determine the student’s field soil type and yield potential along with which crop was grown last year on the field to find the maximum amount of nitrogen to apply. I also find out if the crop will be used for the livestock or sold since this information influences the economical nitrogen amount.

I also ask if manure was applied and if yes, how much per acre, which type, was it analyzed, and was it incorporated within three days. All of these factors determine the amount of nitrogen from manure to credit against the total amount of nitrogen needed by the corn crop. A similar process is followed with starter fertilizer, side-dressed fertilizer and any other product already applied to the corn crop. The amount of nitrogen from all of these sources is added together. This total is subtracted from the maximum amount of nitrogen needed for the corn crop. The resulting number is how many pounds of nitrogen can still be applied to the corn crop. Adjustments are made under certain situations or a plant tissue test report shows additional nutrients are needed.

Sometimes a farmer asks me a question that I need to go to my car office and retrieve a publication to explain the information and concept involved. Other times we’ll jump into the farmers’ pickup truck and go to the field to examine crop growth. Sometimes the livestock are looked at, rations discussed, or financial statements prepared. We constantly evaluate past practices and plan for the future.

Once the farmer’s question(s) are answered then I teach skills and impart knowledge to improve farm productivity and profitability. The instruction could concentrate on soils, crops, livestock nutrition, livestock management or finances. The focus area depends upon the year’s curriculum but isn’t limited to that area. The visit usually lasts 1-1 ½ hrs.

Mid-State Technical College begins group instruction in Financial Records and Business Analysis in October. Students will learn financial and production record keeping systems, develop farm and family goals, learn the decision-making process, and do financial, tax, retirement and estate planning. Students will construct and analyze income and cash flow statements, a balance sheet, cost of production and other financial records. The group classes are located near Chili, Auburndale, Junction City, Vesper, Adams, Almond and Amherst. If you’re interested in learning these topics with other farm students currently age 16-75 or if you have questions, feel free to contact me.

Mike Sabel is an agriculture instructor with Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) in Wisconsin Rapids. He teaches in both the Farm Business & Production Management and Farm Operations programs. He can be reached at 715-422-5387 or mailto:mike.sabel@mstc.edu.

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