Bushels Are The Key: Dan Arkels, Illinois High Yield Farmer

by | Mar 2, 2017 | 5 Ag Stories, News

Agribusiness Matters 3-2-17

Thousands of Midwest Farmers have Flown south to attend the Commodity Classic in San Antonio.

Corn, Soybean, Wheat and Grain Sorghum associations sponsor the event that allows farmers to focus on policy and production while sizing up the newest in machinery and technology.

An Illinois Farmer known for producing large yields spoke with me about how he does it. Last year he had a soybean field that looked like it could be an all time Illinois record. Mother nature intervened, so he called it a 98 bushel crop failure.

Dan Arkels Farms along the Illinois River near the town of Peru. His Muscatine soil is deep, rich and holds water well. His methods are scientific with a dash of enthusiasm and a dollop of determination.

Arkels says, “Plant health, post pollination is paramount. You have to keep that corn plant green, healthy, and produce weight and starches in that kernel. You can take a test weight of 56 and you can jack it all the way up to 65.”

He worries about profitability on corn at current prices but says production is the key to success. “We sell bushels in the end. You have to go into every season trying to produce as many bushels as you possibly can.” Arkels explains, “You have to take care of your crop. You can’t just plant it, and walk away from it and expect a good outcome. Requirements that go into producing high yield soybeans are all the way from the very beginning to the very end.”

Last summer, he had a goal of producing over 100 bushels per acre on a fifty acre field. Stems were large and green, beans were large, but the one factor he couldn?t control took him down.

Arkels is undeterred. He spoke Thursday at a Commodity Classic Learning Session underwritten by Stoller Ag Products.