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About Us
County Impact Statements - Logan County
Research Verification Programs and Variety Demonstrations Increase
Yields and Reduce Crop Production Cost
Abe and Keith Willems have seen dry land corn yields increase by 36.8 bushels
over the last three years. He credits the 30% increase in yields to improved
varieties, better nitrogen management and more effective weed control
recommended by Extension Corn Specialist, William Johnson.
One hundred bushel yields have made wheat a major crop in Logan County. Four
of the last five years wheat yields have hit slightly above or below 100
bushels. Dave Schultes was the first to plant Coker 9543 in the fall of 1996.
"In June of ‘97, I cut four, 1000 bushel trailer loads off 40 acres. That’s
right at 100 bushels an acre that we sold," said Dave. Mike and Kenny
Schluterman raised 95.3 bushels in 1998 on their wheat verification field, 92
bushels on their wheat challenge field in 2000, and had three varieties yield
over 91 bushels in their 2001 variety demonstration plots. "The major boost
came from weekly visits from Extension crop specialists," said Mike.
Doing the right thing at the right moment has increased yields dramatically.
"We’re not throwing more money at the crop to increase yields. We’re often
cutting cost from the way we used to do things. That’s where Extension helps us
out," said James Albert Komp.
Abe Willems said in jest, "Every since Extension Agent, Larry Campbell,
showed up our prices have fallen. Every time he comes out to the farm we have to
spray. But seriously, everything he recommended has made or saved us money. I
don’t know how we would have made it through these hard times without
Extension."
Charlie Weisenfels’ non irrigated corn demonstration averaged
157.8 bushels in 2001.
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Impacts
- Wheat yields have increased by 20.5 bu. an acre from 1990 for $143,910
in added sales annually.
- Corn yields have increased 36.8 bu. in three years on corn variety
demonstration plots for an increase of $152,352 in gross sales.
- Full season beans have increased 10.1 bushels. Test plots averaged 52
bushels for group V beans in 2001. That’s $399,253 in added sales.
- Pioneer 33J56 tops dry land corn variety demonstration with 165.7
bushels in 2001.
- 1998 State Wheat Challenge contest was won by Mike & Kenny Schluterman
producing 119.4 bu. of Coker 9543.
- The total benefit of Extension row crop programs, including the Quick
Response program, is over $1,258,758 annually above baseline production
sales in 1997.
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