Farming Full-Time #56: Special Gonzo Report

Wheat, ROI, and Real Talk—What We’ve Learned from the Fields Thus Far

Sep 13, 2024

The Wheat Shitshow

Wanna know a quick way to torch your hard-earned cash? Grow spring wheat.

Gee Cripes, what a friggin' disaster.

I know, I’ve been bouncing around like a squirrel hopped up on Mountain Dew lately—one minute, I'm recounting trucking nightmares. The next, I’m neck-deep in Parts Run shenanigans. But hang onto your hats because this week, we’re diving headfirst into the deep, nerdy end of farming: wheat.

If you’re here for wild Adamski tales, you might wanna hit the eject button now. But if you know someone who’s into the geeky grind of farming’s finest head-scratchers and could use a masterclass in hard red spring wheat varieties, go ahead and hit that share button. Spread the love. It won’t kill ya.

Please and thank you.

Market Expectations and Reality

Going into this year, we knew wheat wouldn’t be the big-money crop. But we planted it anyway because we love the pain.

From the start, it was clear we’d need a mind-blowing crop to break even. Early on, it looked like we had it—great emergence, tip-top stands, cool and wet conditions—the standard breeding ground for big bushels. Then disease, water damage, and falling numbers came knocking at our door.

And here we are, trying to make sense of it all.

WestBred 9641

This new WestBred release hit 150 bushels per acre in the high spots, which would typically have me breaking out the champagne.

But, as is often the case in farming, there’s a catch. The vomitoxin levels were through the roof. If you’re not familiar, vomitoxin is a poison. And when the elevator won’t take it, it’s not exactly the golden ticket we hoped for.

WestBred 9642

Here’s another new one from WestBred. Now, I didn’t get the chance to grow 9642 myself, but word on the street is it outperformed its baby brother (9641) with even better yields and didn’t take as much of a beating from head scab.

Of course, this is all secondhand—coming from farms fifty, sixty miles away.

As with every season, things can change. Next year, this variety could show up with a different story entirely. But if you’re looking ahead, 9642 might just be worth keeping on the radar for 2025. Time will tell if this hussy can hang with the big boys.

WestBred 9590

This one’s a veteran, and for good reason. WestBred 9590 has been kicking around for years, and farmers still swear by it. Sure, it’s not winning any medals for head scab resistance, but it’s reliable—like an old pickup that keeps going, year after year.

Even after a decade on the market, 9590 continues to live up to its reputation as a solid, no-frills performer.

Farmers are sticking with it because it gets the job done. The talk is that newer varieties like 9641 or 9642 might eventually push it out of the spotlight, but 9590 has proven it’s not going down without a fight.

There’s a reason it’s still hanging around—it works.

Buster from LCS

Buster came into this season with all the hype of a rockstar, but man, did it flop hard.

I saw fields with enough straw to stuff a thousand scarecrows but not a yield in sight to back it up. Some of the guys who grew it? Let’s say they weren’t exactly singing its praises. I'm not naming names here, but it's safe to say Buster’s future looks bleak.

At this rate, Buster’s destined for the wheat graveyard—just another variety that had its moment in the sun, then faded into the forgotten annals of farming history.

AP Wildcat

This variety has a split personality, and I’m not sure it knows what it wants to do. Two years ago, we grew a quarter for seed, and it barely limped past sixty bushels an acre while Murdock and Torgy were crushing it with eight or nine handles. Meanwhile, guys can’t get enough of Wildcat just a few miles down the road—they’re hooked.

I had the chance to run a red combine through some Wildcat on sandy soil, and let me tell you, the monitor didn’t dip below triple digits. What gives? Sure, it was flat on the ground and an absolute bastard to combine—like dragging a rake through wet cement—but with yields like that, maybe it’s worth the headache.

Is it a gamble? Absolutely. But Wildcat might be the wildcard you’re looking for if you’re willing to take the risk.

Rolls from Peterson Farms Seed

This one's fresh off the line for me, but rumor has it that Rolls is bringing the heat. Big yields and solid protein? Yes, please.

Peterson Farms dropped Buns a few years ago, and while it had its flash in the pan, it seems to have faded into the background. Now, Rolls is stepping up with some impressive numbers and keeping the protein game strong.

Gotta appreciate whoever’s got the cheeky sense of humor in their naming department—Buns and Rolls? Someone’s clearly having a good time with this. I haven’t grown it yet, but you bet it’s on my radar. Might have to give this one a test run next season.

Rothsay

I know this might sound like a Wall Street scumbag plugging his product, but Rothsay earned its stripes this year. It was the only variety that stood tall after the rains, boasting impressive straw strength, solid yields, and high protein.

To top it off, we had zero issues with falling numbers or vomitoxin. And here's the kicker—it’s a public variety, so you can plant it without breaking a sweat over the seed bill.

Sure, some guys say it struggles on lighter ground, and the later maturity isn’t everyone’s favorite. But more often than not, Rothsay delivers, especially when the conditions fall into place.

Other Notables

Word on the street says AP Elevate from Agripro is causing a stir among the early adopters. I might have to toss a little of that sassy hussy into the mix next year to see what all the noise is about. Gotta stay ahead of the curve, right?

Meanwhile, North Dakota—reliable as ever—has rolled out a new variety. Do I remember the name? Absolutely not. Better text Carl over at MCIA (shoutout to my loyal reader, Carl—appreciate you, buddy!). Ok, Carl, what's the name again? Wait... still blanking. Don’t worry. I’ll get back to you when it finally hits me.

We also toyed around with AP141, a hybrid wheat from Agripro. Early on, it had the town buzzing—yield talk at the coffee shop was high, and folks were ready to crown it the next big thing. Then... splat. Fell flat on its face with falling numbers lower than a Hollywood director’s moral compass. Talk about a nosedive—a total bust.

ROI and Rethinking Fertilizer and Seed

Fertilizer Reduction Trials

We’ve been running fertilizer reduction trials in wheat and corn, pairing them with Source from Sound Agriculture to see how the crops respond.

Here’s the key takeaway: Source has stepped in to maintain yield wherever we cut back on nitrogen or phosphorus. Not to pump up Source too much, but the results speak for themselves. It’s so promising that Sound Ag is backing their product with cold cash next year, paying farmers to reduce fertilizer on corn and trusting the results to speak for themselves. That confidence says a lot.

In one of our wheat fields, we cut nitrogen by 25 pounds, and even in the wettest part of the field, where some nitrogen was lost to denitrification, the yield only dropped by one bushel compared to the rest of the field. Source is pulling its weight. I’m not trying to brag, but that’s impressive. The ROI will be substantial, but I’ll spare you the maths.

Source Results on Sugar Beet Ground

Now, here’s where it gets exciting. Typically, planting wheat on old sugar beet ground is a losing proposition. Decomposing sugar beets are notorious for tying up nitrogen—those leftover beets from last year, the ones we couldn’t process, usually turn your wheat crop into a disaster. I’ve thrown extra nitrogen at it in the past, and it didn’t seem to matter. Everything was still tied up, and the wheat ran like garbage.

Many guys have started growing soybeans after sugar beets to combat that nitrogen tie-up, but even soybeans aren’t the answer. In a wet year, disease pressure from the sugar beets can carry over and slash your soybean populations, too.

So, what do you do?

That’s where Source comes in. On this wheat crop planted in old beet ground, we added 25 pounds of nitrogen because we knew about the tie-up, but we also used Source. And guess what? We saw a 12-bushel increase. That’s unheard of for wheat planted into decaying sugar beets. It’s the first time I’ve seen something work in that situation, and it’s a massive win for Source.

The return on investment here is enormous because, due to the crop size, we’ll likely have to leave sugar beets in the ground again this year.

Knowing that Source can help make up for the nitrogen tie-up means we’ve got a solution to a problem that’s plagued us for years. If you're in a similar situation, this could make you a lot of money next year.

Seed Population Trials

We’ve been experimenting with lower seed populations, and the results appear promising—bigger plants, more pods. The world record soybean holder works with around 110,000 plants per acre, much lower than we've been planting. While I’m not planning on going that drastic, it's making me wonder how much we can cut back without losing top-end yield.

The seed and fertilizer companies will probably hate me for saying this, but tough times like these teach us how to run leaner and more efficient operations. It’s the silver lining in this shit show—figuring out how to do more with less.

Honestly, with this kind of talk, I’m probably the worst seed salesman in the world. But we're doing something right if we can cut seed costs and still come out ahead.

Ditching, Lime, and Planning for Next Year

The ROI of Ditching and Scraping

Water—usually a farmer’s best friend—quickly becomes a sworn enemy when there’s too much of it. Your crops will suffer if you can’t move that water off your fields fast enough. We’ve learned this over time, which is why ditching has become one of our biggest priorities.

When it’s done right, ditching pays off in spades. You can always spot the fields that have been properly ditched—especially in a wet year when those heavy rains hit. The well-ditched fields survive while the others drown.

Proper ditches are a lifesaver in the Red River Valley, where it’s so flat you could roll a bowling ball for miles.

But ditching? It’s a soul-sucking job. I’ve spent two weeks rebuilding the canals of two-quarter sections, and honestly, it felt like carving the Grand Canyon with a teaspoon. After day six, it doesn’t matter how many podcasts, audiobooks, or playlists you’ve got—the mind snaps.

And some years, it never ends. You’re ditching until the ground freezes or until your brain checks out. But for all the headaches and exhaustion, there’s no better ROI out there. You might hate every minute, but your fields will love you for it.

Spent Lime and Soil Health

For many beet growers, applying spent lime has been standard practice for over a decade, and for good reason. This stuff changes the game when it comes to soil health, especially for fields with that sticky, heavy clay we lovingly call gumbo. Spent lime can turn that straight-up muck into something more workable—more like "muck lite." I know guys who wouldn’t even think about planting beets in a field that hasn’t been limed first.

We're also applying spent lime on ground destined for next year’s sugar beet crop. Lime helps reduce soil acidity and improve its overall structure, making it easier to work with. But it's not just about reducing acidity—spent lime brings a boatload of essential nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients that can really boost soil fertility. In the long run, that nutrient boost is a major factor in improving yields.

It's one of those investments that pays off over time. Sure, there’s an upfront cost that’ll make you wince when you open your wallet, but it’s worth every penny when you see the long-term benefits. Healthier soil means healthier crops, and that means better yields and a better bottom line.

Looking Ahead to the Harvest Triple Threat

Wheat is done, but we’re not finished yet. The harvest triple threat is just around the corner—soybeans, corn, and sugar beets are still waiting for us. This year has been tough, but we’ve learned a lot.

Fertilizer cuts, reduced seed populations, and Source have all shown promise, and we’re excited to push the boundaries even further next year.

We’ve all been riding the waves of this farm crisis—some days better than others—but we keep pushing through. That’s farming: a gamble every season. Together, we’ll figure out what works, what doesn’t, and how to make it to the next one. It’s a tough road, but we’re in it for the long haul.

Thanks for reading! If this struck a chord or you know someone who could use a good laugh (or cry), pass it along—you never know who might need a farming lifeline.

And hey, share it… or you might wake up to an angry tractor engine revving outside your window. Your call!