Planting Equipment

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Partners & Friends,

We are currently experiencing a rain delay with approximately 350 acres of corn left to plant. This post includes numerous pictures of our new planter and tractor that we are using this spring. The last time we had new equipment was 50 years ago, in 1975, when we acquired a new MF 1085 tractor paired with a new IH 400 4-row planter, which had a spring tooth tillage attachment on the front. At the Hess Family Farm, equipment decisions are made with great care. Given the high costs, all input decisions are thoroughly considered and evaluated. Equipment, maintenance, and fuel costs exceed $150 per acre.

Our new planter is equipped with hydraulic downforce, individual row shutoffs, variable population capabilities, high speed planting tubes, and row closing adjustments that can be controlled from the cab. These features were all add-ons on our previous planter. The importance of precise planting has become increasingly evident over the past decade. The highest yield potential is achieved the day the seed is planted, and it must be done with utmost precision. There are four monitors in the cab providing real-time data to assist with decision-making as we move through the field.

My earliest memory of planting involves riding on the seat of a horse-drawn planter that had been converted to be pulled by an 8N Ford tractor. I was the "planter monitor," ensuring that the seed levels in the boxes were dropping evenly to prevent any rows from getting plugged. I wonder what planting will look like 70 years from now.

We have received about 1 inch of rain so far. Moisture conditions are good, but there is no surplus. We have been able to keep up with spraying for weed control right behind the planters. We are preparing to side-dress NH3, and hay making will begin soon. Here is a video link to a news segment about planting in the area—check it out. Summer projects are starting, and there are many summer events happening.

We are eagerly awaiting to see how the administration will address renewable fuels. The standards set now will influence how communities are treated in the coming years and the emphasis placed on green crop production. Will we "pay the farmer" for carbon reduction?

It's that time of year for baseball to begin, spring dance recitals, and high school graduations. Phyllis and I had a wonderful time last weekend in St. Louis, where our granddaughter Miriam guided us on an Anheuser-Busch Brewery tour. If you're ever in St. Louis, don't miss the chance to experience an AB tour; it's a great way to learn about brewing and enjoy some local history. We have two granddaughters heading to college next fall—Cora to University of Illinois and Miriam to Purdue University.

Fall Prices:

  • Corn: $4.50

  • Soybeans: $10.25

Enjoy Spring!

Steve

Planting Progress

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Partners & Friends,

Last week was productive for planting. We completed soybean planting on Friday and are about 25% done with corn. We are intentionally cautious with corn planting due to the cold temperatures and low soil temps. This week looks to be cloudy and rainy, so after the 1 inch of rain we received over the weekend, there probably won't be much fieldwork happening. We are caught up with spraying all the planted fields for weed control. We have some maintenance and equipment tasks to address, as the week of fieldwork highlighted any issues that need attention. Fortunately, there were very few problems. Both the equipment and our team performed quite well.

Things are still messy in DC, with new and conflicting information coming out each day. Weather forecasters have determined that Illinois now has two more days favorable for tornadoes than in the past. Our April to October precipitation trend is +2.5", minimum temperatures in Illinois are +2 degrees since 1970, and our maximum temperatures are unchanged. There is some climate change, but no evidence of global warming. Longer-term trends of climate change actually favor Illinois agriculture.

The FFA chapter banquet was a week ago—two Hess girls received certificates. Harper is the Chapter Treasurer. We attended the estate sale for Phyllis' Aunt Luan last Saturday; there was a nice crowd and perfect weather. It wasn't raining, and there was no wind. We had a blessed Resurrection weekend celebrating our risen Savior.

Fall Prices:

  • Corn: $4.35

  • Soybeans: $9.80

Enjoy springtime!

Steve

Starting Block

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Partners & Friends,

We are eagerly and patiently waiting to start field work in earnest. The cold weather has dampened our enthusiasm for planting seeds due to the low soil temperatures. Normally, we would be planting corn and soybeans at full speed by this date, especially with soil conditions this dry. However, our agronomist recommends a wait-and-see approach. The ideal scenario for crop emergence is to plant seeds in warm, moist soil, allowing the seedlings to sprout within a few days. Soil moisture is also a growing concern, with no significant weather events in the two-week forecast. For now, we will keep busy with equipment preparation, removing fences, office tasks, chemical deliveries, trimming trees, and updating technology for the upcoming season. All our calves are on the ground and will be heading to pasture next week.

Uncertainty and chaos dominate the national and international scene. Commodity prices are experiencing extreme volatility, with corn and soybean prices fluctuating like the stock market. Our global trading partners are trying to understand our new normal. Despite this, we should still be very thankful to live where we do. This remains the best place to live in the world, and Illinois farmland is well-positioned to benefit from climate change.

Spring fever is gaining steam. We are looking forward to spring programs, high school graduations, and FFA banquets. Plus, we are very excited about another Luecht grandbaby arriving in a month or so. 😍

Fall Prices:

Corn: $4.23

Soybeans: $9.66

Steve

Signs of Spring

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Partners & Friends,

The first day of spring is just around the corner. The Hess Family Farm team is gearing up for planting season, taking full advantage of the weather. The field conditions are drying out rather quickly, so we've got the tiling crew in full operation. This week alone, we've tiled over 40 acres, with much more to come if the weather holds up. Initially, we planned to drain about 200 acres, but conditions only recently became suitable with all the other activities we had to manage. We've also finished applying the last of the NH3. This year, our corn-to-bean ratio will be 80% corn due to crop economics. That means we'll have a lot of bushels to handle this fall (hopefully), but the corn-to-bean ratio heavily favors corn. Almost all of our beans will be seed beans for Beck's. Seed deliveries started this week as well. Our sprayer update is nearly complete—more on that in a few weeks. We've serviced our equipment and are looking forward to taking our new corn planter to the field.

There is still much uncertainty coming from DC. The mixed signals are causing a lot of head-scratching and delaying commitments for new projects in the ag sector. We're participating in a carbon reduction program to sequester carbon in the field. We qualify for credits due to our cover crops, reduced tillage, and smart fertilizer usage, but the rules still haven't been clarified. It would be ideal if certainty was in place for the 2026 crop. Tariff talk and countermeasures are truly whipsawing the commodity markets. Weather forecasts for this summer suggest a higher-than-average chance of reduced rainfall, but predicting weather months out is very difficult. We heard a presentation this past weekend by Peter Zeihan—he still thinks central US is the best place in the world for row crop agriculture.

On a family note, Judah—the oldest of our three grandsons in Wisconsin—got baptized this past weekend. We had a great week of extra help tiling due to spring break. The spring weather is putting all of us in a happy state as we look forward to another season of working with this wonderful creation to feed the world.

Fall Prices:

Corn: $4.24

Soybeans: $9.80

Enjoy Spring!

Steve

Taking Care of Business

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Partners & Friends,

The management team—Marcus and Shanna—along with Phyllis and me, attended the AgView Executive Business Conference this past week in Florida. It was mostly business-focused, with sessions on cost of production, US and global economics, labor management, marketing scenarios, accounting and tax strategies, land values, entity structure, and more. Here are a few bullet points from the presentations:

Path to Prosperity - Mike Finley

  • Strive for financial independence

  • Invest in appreciating index funds—stock index funds

  • Avoid financial advisors

  • Find the right teachers

Renewables and Tax Implications - Paul Neifer

  • There are lots of unknowns about 45Z, 45Q, and SAF

Farmland Investment and Fractal

  • 50% of Brazil will be out of its climate zone by 2030

  • Illinois has some of the lowest volatility farmland in the world

  • Some people are building their future—others are waiting for the future to impact them

Farm Economics and Trends - Chris Barron

  • Lenders are very concerned and cautious with this ag downturn

  • Know your cost of production

  • Family dynamics and communication are key areas

  • Return to management spread last year was $33/acre to $287/acre

Putting the Odds in Your Favor - David Kohl

  • Economics are overpowering the green movement in Europe

  • Will your operation be sustainable without government subsidies?

  • AI is transforming everything

Labor Management - Panel

  • What is your culture?

  • Define your core values

  • Know your team, know their lives

The ag economy will come out of this economic cycle in 3-5 years. These cycles are predictable. The US is now definitely the second worldwide supplier for soybeans, and that same distinction could soon apply to corn. The new administration is going to create a lot of dust, and until it settles, there are many unknowns. Unless the economies of China and India address climate change solutions, the other economies of the world will not make much of an impact. There has been a nice recovery in commodity prices—not great, but closer to covering the cost of production.

We are so thankful the weather has moderated. This time of year seems to be the dark before the rising sun. The warmth of the south is a nice break from the cold. Harper has also started teaching goat showmanship classes!

Fall 2025 Prices:

  • Corn: $4.28

  • Soybeans: $10.13

Steve