Feature
Farm Smarter, Not Harder
How to Cut Costs and Boost Yields in 2025
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Sometimes it’ s not about making more money but saving more money, according to the recent Top Farmer Conference hosted by Purdue University. Included in the conference was a panel titled“ Strategies to Reduce Your Cost Per Bushel in 2025” that underscored this principle.
The session was emceed by Michael Langemeir and hosted by panelists Shaun Casteel and Bill Johnson, who both outlined ways to decrease your overhead, while still making your crop yields profitable.
Managing Costs: Cash Rent and Machinery
“ Be careful with how aggressive you get with cash rent,” advised Langemeir.“ You’ re looking at two to three years of losing some money. It’ s a very important decision. It’ s a big cost of corn and soybeans.”
He said he also keeps an eye on machinery cost investment standards.
“ Add up depreciation, repairs and fuel by crop and compare those numbers to the benchmarks,” Langemeir said. In addition, look at higher mechanical costs with scrutiny, because if they save enough on labor, those extra costs may be worth it.
Maximizing Yield With Timely Planting
Timing the planting season is also important so that the crops have maximum time to grow and increase the yield. Casteel said that he sows soybeans once corn planting is done and that on his farm, it’ s purely a financial planning decision.
“ Soybeans are the ones making the profit,” he said.“ One of the best ways to gain growth is timely planting.”
Even if it seems early, as long as the soil temperature is 50 degrees or warmer, he’ ll“ pull the trigger,” he said.“ Rarely in the fields does it go cold again. They [ soybeans ] respond to photo periods and heat units.”
Planting a month early can mean plants with 22 nodes( points on the plant’ s stem where leaves, branches and pods grow), instead of 18 nodes. More plant material means a bigger harvest.
16 | 515-574-2341 | 515-574-2189 | February 2025