Ask me anything about Agriculture

[Parliament 14260]

I did this threat over at "the other place," and it was warmly received.  A few recent CR threads have involved ag, and it's time for this thread.  Anyway.

I work in agriculture.  In my case it's commodity grain production, but I do have some knowledge of animal ag, commercial vegetables and biotech.  I'll participate in this thread for as long as it stays civil.

Go!

[RexWilson 1348]

Is there enough land for production to meet future demand? With urban creep, I often see farm land getting sold to make way for another subdivision of housing or retail space.

[Parliament 14260]

Yes definitely. For one, urban sprawl, as wasteful as it is, takes up a very small percent of farmland every year. Imho, all these "rural homesteads" (horse people and similar) are worse. Makes it hard to spray, fertilizer, etc around all those fields.

Regarding "feeding the world," the problem has never been technology. The problem is politics and economic systems. Ie, if Africa had a western economic system, they'd make all their people as fat as us.

[Upgrayedd 5814]

Is Brawndo really what plants crave?

[DaysOff 7951]

Yes definitely. For one, urban sprawl, as wasteful as it is, takes up a very small percent of farmland every year. Imho, all these "rural homesteads" (horse people and similar) are worse. Makes it hard to spray, fertilizer, etc around all those fields.

Regarding "feeding the world," the problem has never been technology. The problem is politics and economic systems. Ie, if Africa had a western economic system, they'd make all their people as fat as us.

I agree. Malthusian theory is wrong. Feeding 7+ billion people is possible now, and peak population is probably 10 billion. Distribution and politics is the only roadblock.

[Parliament 14260]

And I'll add world hunger is falling. Still a lot of work to do though.

[SuingToGetAMessageBoard? 3861]

What would happen if all farming subsidies stopped tomorrow?

[Ben Tobin 374]

Is "commodity grain production" the fancy pants way to say row croppin?

[Jerry Callo 8704]

Any chance you can get me an advanced copy of the USDA's monthly orange crop report?

[Post Oak 20239]

Thoughts on Allan Savory and his rotational grazing method?  It makes sense to me but I've only read about it.  Never seen it first hand 

[luke duke 6413]

What does Vic Mackey pay per pound for his heifers?

[BottleRocket 646]

Can you explain "disaster farming" as it pertains to corn/cotton farming? 

[Quagmire 2147]

What is agriculture?

[MissingInAction 25105]

42 minutes ago, luke duke said:

What does Vic Mackey pay per pound for his heifers?

I'll take this one.... tree fiddy. 

[El Diablo 4232]

2 hours ago, SuingToGetAMessageBoard? said:

What would happen if all farming subsidies stopped tomorrow?

Tobacco farmers would grow something edible.

[Eddyline 116]

How much of the world's food supply does Monsanto control?

[Bash Riprock 1695]

1 hour ago, Quagmire said:

What is agriculture?

Well, I could be wrong, but I believe agriculture is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

[Doc Reeves 6434]

As agricultural cloning becomes the norm, how confident do you feel in our social preparedness for an all encompassing catastrophic plant disease?

im not trying to be sensational, but I know there were some very scary issues with both bananas and orchids over the last decade.

Edited October 8, 2018 by Doc Reeves

[Royalfan5 2354]

1 hour ago, Eddyline said:

How much of the world's food supply does Monsanto control?

It's Bayer now. 

[SuingToGetAMessageBoard? 3861]

I guess Parliament was just talking to RexW?

[elfenix 34272]

exactly how much alfalfa does major major's father get paid to not plant?

[Parliament 14260]

4 hours ago, SuingToGetAMessageBoard? said:

What would happen if all farming subsidies stopped tomorrow?

Not much would change.  Some marginal land would return to pasture and forest, but outsiders would not notice.

4 hours ago, Ben Tobin said:

Is "commodity grain production" the fancy pants way to say row croppin?

I think so.

3 hours ago, Post Oak said:

Thoughts on Allan Savory and his rotational grazing method?  It makes sense to me but I've only read about it.  Never seen it first hand 

It makes sense definitely, but seems too good to be true.

2 hours ago, BottleRocket said:

Can you explain "disaster farming" as it pertains to corn/cotton farming? 

I cannot

2 hours ago, El Diablo said:

Tobacco farmers would grow something edible.

Tobbaco has not been subsidized for a decade or so.

1 hour ago, Doc Reeves said:

As agricultural cloning becomes the norm, how confident do you feel in our social preparedness for an all encompassing catastrophic plant disease?

im not trying to be sensational, but I know there were some very scary issues with both bananas and orchids over the last decade.

To be clear, NO animals and few plant crops are commercially cloned today.  Of course that may change.  I know bananas are for sure, and it does scare me.  Governments and ag industry are incredibly adept at responding and adapting to such crises, but there's no guarantee of an easy fix.

[BottleRocket 646]

OP should change thread title to "Ask me a couple of things about agriculture" 

[Parliament 14260]

This is a fun thread.  I'll answer all the questions I know an answer too.  

[Sbbruin 21858]

Should I buy or sell frozen concentrated orange juice futures?

[AeroHorn 752]

What about Hydroponics, such as vertical crops in green houses with LEDs? They supposedly use a fraction of water, don't use soil, grow faster due to artificial light cycling, and potentially safer (minimal need for pesticides, etc.) Is it economically viable on a large scale? Could solve lot of food related issues around the world where soil and irrigation are not optimal.

 

[El Diablo 4232]

30 minutes ago, Parliament said:

 

Tobbaco has not been subsidized for a decade or so.

Direct subsidies haven't been paid but tobacco has still been subsidized. Where there's a loophole, there's a way.

https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/editorials/article204799704.html

[El Diablo 4232]

11 minutes ago, AeroHorn said:

What about Hydroponics, such as vertical crops in green houses with LEDs? They supposedly use a fraction of water, don't use soil, grow faster due to artificial light cycling, and potentially safer (minimal need for pesticides, etc.) Is it economically viable on a large scale? Could solve lot of food related issues around the world where soil and irrigation are not optimal.

 

LED's aren't economical in those applications.

[AeroHorn 752]

Yes, the LEDs could be optional. Usually, the areas that lack water/irrigation have plenty of sunlight, which should allow for solar powering the operations, including the optional LEDs.

For example, I read somewhere that Saudi Arabia grows alfalfa in Arizona(?) and has it shipped. There was some outcry since this crop is a water hog. Can they do Hydroponics and grow it in their desert climate? Same thing for North African countries, what with Sahara expanding due to climate change, etc.

 

[ImissWallyPryor 9046]

Why does breeding Aberdeen Angus bulls with Hereford heifers produce smaller Baldie calves when a full-grown female Hereford is virtually identical in size (weight) to a female Angus? I always assumed it had more to do with different pelvis size. 

Edited October 8, 2018 by ImissWallyPryor

[Bernard 879]

50 minutes ago, Parliament said:

Tobbaco has not been subsidized for a decade or so.

When Medicare and Medicaid stop using taxpayer money to treat smoking related ailments we can continue this discussion. Until then, tobacco is being subsidized. 

Bernard

[Sbbruin 21858]

What wattage grow light do I need for the kush?

[F250 28777]

When do you expect the price of hay to go down?

 

[Parliament 14260]

What about Hydroponics, such as vertical crops in green houses with LEDs? They supposedly use a fraction of water, don't use soil, grow faster due to artificial light cycling, and potentially safer (minimal need for pesticides, etc.) Is it economically viable on a large scale? Could solve lot of food related issues around the world where soil and irrigation are not optimal.
 

As expensive as water and land and labor are, man made sunlight is far more expensive. Five or so years ago, indoor "urban farming" was all abuzz. To my knowledge, most startups have failed. Itxs simply cheaper to raise lettuce hundreds of miles away.

[Gil Bang 25961]

I've got a small patch of grass that's been devistated by gophers "(I quit watering because I lost control).  I plan to dig down about 6", lay down some chicken wire, return the dirt, and put down new sod. 

If I spray roundup on the existing dying grass, how long before I can go back with new sod?

[Parliament 14260]

Give it 5 days of sun, or 7 days of clouds for the herbicide to kill it good.  Then do what you need.  Roundup has a zero-day plant back restriction.

[DaggerHorns 3085]

1 hour ago, Parliament said:

4 hours ago, AeroHorn said:

What about Hydroponics, such as vertical crops in green houses with LEDs? They supposedly use a fraction of water, don't use soil, grow faster due to artificial light cycling, and potentially safer (minimal need for pesticides, etc.) Is it economically viable on a large scale? Could solve lot of food related issues around the world where soil and irrigation are not optimal.
 

Read more  

As expensive as water and land and labor are, man made sunlight is far more expensive. Five or so years ago, indoor "urban farming" was all abuzz. To my knowledge, most startups have failed. Itxs simply cheaper to raise lettuce hundreds of miles away.

One of the best LED companies on the globe is from right here in Austin.

https://fluence.science/

[ImissWallyPryor 9046]

4 hours ago, ImissWallyPryor said:

Why does breeding Aberdeen Angus bulls with Hereford heifers produce smaller Baldie calves when a full-grown female Hereford is virtually identical in size (weight) to a female Angus? I always assumed it had more to do with different pelvis size. 

Baldy, not Baldie. Man, I feel stupid now. 

[Fuck Tim Beck 3834]

1 hour ago, ImissWallyPryor said:

Baldy, not Baldie. Man, I feel stupid now. 

Baldy heifers? That's the Vic bat signal! 

 

 

[ImissWallyPryor 9046]

They’ll eat about anything, so yeah. 

[bmbmd 1027]

I've got a twenty some odd acre pasture with native grass and some remnant coastal in Young County. The surrounding pastures are oak and mesquite with two small tanks.  What's the best way to convert that pasture in to native sunflowers?

[Parliament 14260]

Spray it with roundup now, and disk it next spring.  Then plant.

But don't do any of that.  It'll get ate up with weeds real quick.

[Armybrat 40850]

I don’t have a question, but would like to say that our family farm in Missourah is gonna lose $$$$ this year because the soybeans are under water after all the heavy rains up there. The farm has been in the family since the 1880s and makes money about 2/3 of the time. It is currently owned by my brother because he drew the short stick when we divided up the family properties in the Show Me state. I dodged a bullet on that one. Lol

My oldest son is a senior VP at a major land bank system. He oversees about $20 billion in assets and can loan you sodbusters up to $50 million for your aggy projects. His most important job however is organizing the golf tournaments held during the banker conventions.

[cactusflinthead 27601]

56 minutes ago, bmbmd said:

I've got a twenty some odd acre pasture with native grass and some remnant coastal in Young County. The surrounding pastures are oak and mesquite with two small tanks.  What's the best way to convert that pasture in to native 

Sunflowers for wildlife in the Cross Timbers

[Shinesintx 53]

On 10/8/2018 at 9:28 AM, Upgrayedd said:

Is Brawndo really what plants crave?

No, put toilet water on it. 

[Parliament 14260]

I don’t have a question, but would like to say that our family farm in Missourah is gonna lose $$$$ this year because the soybeans are under water after all the heavy rains up there. The farm has been in the family since the 1880s and makes money about 2/3 of the time. It is currently owned by my brother because he drew the short stick when we divided up the family properties in the Show Me state. I dodged a bullet on that one. Lol
My oldest son is a senior VP at a major land bank system. He oversees about $20 billion in assets and can loan you sodbusters up to $50 million for your aggy projects. His most important job however is organizing the golf tournaments held during the banker conventions.

Ag is in its 3rd year of a downturn. [CR]And soybean tariffs are not helping.[/CR]

[Fuck Tim Beck 3834]

Is it true you can get gonorrhea from a tractor?

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4976]

Depends on who's big green tractor you are going for a ride on. 

[heso 2809]

On 10/8/2018 at 5:53 PM, Sbbruin said:

What wattage grow light do I need for the kush?

If your space is the size of mayor Quimby’s, a single 250 watt high pressure sodium would be sufficient. Much bigger and you’d be better off with 400w. 

[Al_4_ISU 12464]

19 hours ago, Armybrat said:

I don’t have a question, but would like to say that our family farm in Missourah is gonna lose $$$$ this year because the soybeans are under water after all the heavy rains up there. The farm has been in the family since the 1880s and makes money about 2/3 of the time. It is currently owned by my brother because he drew the short stick when we divided up the family properties in the Show Me state. I dodged a bullet on that one. Lol

My oldest son is a senior VP at a major land bank system. He oversees about $20 billion in assets and can loan you sodbusters up to $50 million for your aggy projects. His most important job however is organizing the golf tournaments held during the banker conventions.

Our soybean harvest is getting severely delayed because of the wet weather as well.  It's quit raining for what looks like awhile, but it's unusually cloudy and cool which will slow their return to an appropriate storage moisture. 

Have they gotten anything harvested, and if so are they happy with yields?