Rick Bieber, Trail City, SD

I’m Rick Bieber, a businessman from north central South Dakota, located 30 miles west of the Missouri River and I’m here to share how I conduct business. I harvest water and sunlight with plants and animals being my workers and soil being my assembly line and structure or factory. Like any keen businessman, to remain in peak efficient production, I must keep my factory (soil) in a clean, healthy state so my workers can produce quality renewable commodities at a competitive price. My business is farming and ranching.

1. CROPS (wheat, corn, soybeans, flax, alfalfa, peas & sunflowers)

1. YEAR 1 – Wheat, a cool season grass.
1. 400 to 600 acres of spring wheat. (10 days seeding)

(1.5 million population)

2. Medium roots and medium water use.
3. Planting: late March to early April.
4. Harvesting: early August.
2. YEAR 2 – Wheat
1. 400 to 600 acres of winter wheat. (1 million population)
2. Medium roots and medium water use.
3. Planting: late September to early October.
4. Harvesting: late July.
3. YEAR 3 – Corn a warm season grass.
1. 400 to 600 acres.
2. 1000 plants for every 5 bushels of expected yield.
3. Deep roots and high water use.
4. Planting: late April to early May.
5. Harvesting: October.
4. YEAR 4 – Broadleaf a cool or warm season.
1. 400 to 600 acres.
2. Wide variety from shallow to deep roots.
3. Medium to high water use.
4. Planting: late April to early May.
5. Harvesting: October.
5. Total planted/harvested acres 2200 to 2800.

2. HERBICIDES

1. Growing crops. The best weed control is thicker, healthier crops, planted into

unlike residue.

2. Different crops allow for different herbicide programs. Use this to your

advantage. Use different modes of action to prevent resistance.

3. WORK LOAD

1. Planting is spread out more evenly, allowing each crop to be planted in the

proper window without high equipment costs.

2. Spraying season is more manageable.
3. Harvesting is spread out. Handle more acres with less machinery.

4. RISK

1. Bad weather at the wrong time for one crop, may be perfect weather for

another.

2. Overhead cost of machinery is less.

5. INTENSITY

1. Water saved through no-till is like money, it’s only good if used properly. If

not used properly it can create all kinds of havoc (Saline seeps).

2. Must increase cropping intensity to use water saved through no-till. Different

crop roots in different soil levels are pulling water and nutrients from different

levels also.

3. Proper intensity depends on:
1. Weather – One must be flexible enough to allow changes in rotation.

Example: Corn-to-millet. High water use to low water use but both are warm season grasses.

2. Soils
1. Some hold more water than others. Good soils use higher

water rotations.

2. Sandy-Coarse Soils

Poorer soils use lower water use rotations.

4. Profitabilities
1. Year 1 – Wheat on broadleaf.
1. Excellent profit.
2. Little disease pressure.
3. Better yield than fallow
4. Cost per unit of production $2.02 per bushel.

1. Year 2 – Wheat on Wheat.

1. Most challenging.
2. Often high disease pressure.
3. 10 to 15% less yield than Year 1.
4. Cost per unit of production $2.09 per bushel.

1. Year 3 – Corn on Wheat.
1. The only way to grow corn profitably.
2. Good yields.
3. Very little disease pressure.
4. Little of no insect pressure.
5. Cost per unit of production $1.69 per bushel.
2. Year 4 – Broadleaf on Corn.
1. Profits, or at least break even.
2. Diseases: breaking year for wheat.
3. Keep soils healthier than fallow.
4. Flax cost per unit of production $4.24 per bushel.

1. You will make mistakes.
1. You did and will do with tillage.
2. I did and do with no-tillage. Not everything works all the time.
3. A mistake this year may be the best decision next year.