It’s good “to have the thinking done ahead of time,” said Brad Hipsag, Federated ag sales rep at the Ogilvie location. Thinking things through is the biggest part of planning and good crop management.

Since winter has arrived early, making fall tillage a near impossibility, the demands of spring 2020 will be even greater. “Lack of tillage this fall will lead to more tillage being done in the spring,” said Hipsag, “which will lead to delayed planting [again].”

Thus, get the thinking done now. “Plan out what we [growers, Federated, applicators, etc.] will be doing for 2020,” said Hipsag.

So what does this thinking need to cover?

1. Soil sampling needs and plans
   • - Grid sampling or whole field
2. Field maps
   • - Exact locations of every crop, entrance points
3. Crop rotation and seed choices
   • - What worked or didn’t work in 2019
   • - Conventional or Round-Up Ready® corn
   • - Soybean genetics, traits (Liberty, Round-Up Ready, Enlist)
   • - Small grains
   • - Pre-buy discounts and deadlines
4. Weed management
   • - Herbicide choices
   • - Resistance concerns
5. Disease management
   • - White mold pressure in 2019
6. Financing
   • - Ongoing deals
   • - Tax ramifications

The main thing is to make a plan so “we all know what’s expected,” said Hipsag. Federated Agronomists can serve growers best when plans are in place – and well communicated.

“I’m a planner so I like to know exactly where I’m going,” said Hipsag, noting that he strives to help growers with their planning, too – so they know exactly where they are going as well!

Make 2020 plans early this winter, and let your Federated Agronomists provide you with their best professional recommendations.