Farmers Are Preparing for Supply Chain Issues in 2022

The inability to source parts and products needed for the 2022 season has altered the preparation plans of XtremeAg farmers Kelly Garrett, Matt Miles, and Kevin Matthews.

KELLY GARRETT - ARION, IOWA

A fifth-generation farmer, Kelly Garrett farms corn, soybeans, and winter wheat in western Iowa.

Our basis continues to be strong, so we are selling and hauling a lot of corn out of our bins this week. We are also concentrating on our insecticide, pesticide, and fungicide plans for 2022. Our goal is to get as much product in-house as soon as possible to avoid any supply chain issues.

• READ MORE: What is going on with fertilizer prices?

Regarding supply chain issues, we just purchased a new-to-us JD 1770 24-row planter with Precision Planting components that are only three years old. We were unsure if we were going to be able to get the parts, we needed in time to add a 2×2 system to one of our current planters and determined that the better solution would be to purchase a planter with the right components already on it. It's a radical idea, but it is another example of how the supply chain issues have forced us to change our thinking on a lot of things as we head into the 2022 season.

We are very excited to test out a new system from CapstanAG on a couple of our planters as well as our Hagie sprayer. Their SelectShot system places the fertilizer in-furrow with the seed and cuts off in-between seed drops. The idea is that it doesn't waste fertilizer where there is no seed to utilize it. Again, the supply chain issues are changing the way we think about farming in 2022.

MATT MILES - MCGEHEE, ARKANSAS

Matt Miles is a fourth-generation farmer in southeast Arkansas who grows corn, soybeans, rice, and cotton.

Things are slowing down this week at Miles Farms as we get ready to take some time off for Christmas. There are still a lot of questions out there on rotation plans and managing higher fertilizer costs. We have taken steps to manage our phosphorus and potassium needs as well as our micros by adding an extra ton of litter this year.

• READ MORE: Manure provides farmers an alternative nutrient source amid volatile fertilizer market

Litter costs are up a little but nothing like the synthetic prices. The problem is that supply of litter is short due to many new farmers taking litter as well.

We started applying litter in 2006 and by 2008 it was our complete source of phosphorus for the last 14 years. At that point, litter was litter but today we have our whole cropping system built around poultry litter. Layer litter if we need more calcium, broiler litter if we are maintaining current levels behind pulling a crop, and windrow broiler (our favorite) to maintain plus adding more potassium in the process. We pull 2-acre grid samples behind combines, and fall apply litter to meet the needs of crop removal and any building we need from there. All litter is sampled and analyzed not only for N, P, and K, but also the micros. Most of our soils we farm in the Delta are low CECs, so litter also helps give us more organic matter but mostly more biology in those sandy soils.

Have a Merry Christmas and please never forget the real reason for the holidays.

KEVIN MATTHEWS - EAST BEND, NORTH CAROLINA

Kevin and his wife, Cindy, own and operate Matthews Family Farms of North Carolina, Inc., Precision Nutrient Management, Inc., and Deep Creek Grain, Inc. in East Bend and Yadkinville.

Most of our seed has been ordered. We still have a few to decide on but for the most part our rotation will stay the same in 2022. Timely rains have shown to help get our wheat tillering better and cover crops germinated. It has also removed the smell of poultry litter from the air, which has made our surrounding, non-farming community happy. The dry spell upset the non-ag community as it perpetuated the smell of the litter and manure being spread in the area. Sometimes we just remind them to enjoy the aroma of organic fertilizer.

The National Corn Yield Contest winners were announced this past week. The teamwork of XtremeAg.farm paid off well as all the owners that entered this year's contest won their state; Kelly and Connor Garrett placed third in the nation in their category. A big shout out to David Hula for another huge yield of 606 bpa. He and the team at Renwood Farms do an awesome job.

Merry Christmas to everyone and please remember everyone effected by the recent fires and tornadoes. All of us at XtremeAg.farm and our many partners are praying for you.

XtremeAg.farm is a team of the nation's top producers who have come together to share their experience, expertise, knowledge, and farming practices with other farmers. Members get access to exclusive content from the team as well as one-on-one support for their own farming operation. Visit XtremeAg.farm for more information.