During this incredibly challenging 2019 planting season, Indiana corn and soybean farmers are faced with difficult planting decisions.  We have passed the June 5 date to begin electing prevented planting on corn acres, and the June 20 soybean date is quickly approaching.  With more rain in the forecast, we could see substantial acreage across Indiana in this prevented planting scenario. Policy and market dynamics are further complicating these decisions.  For farmers continuing to face delays due to saturated soils, prevented planting may appear to be a rather sour outcome in what is already a challenging agricultural economy.  Can we turn these proverbial lemons into lemonade? Farmers with livestock or neighboring livestock operations in need of forage could look at generating some revenue from these prevented planting acres by seeding forage-type cover crops that could be harvested or grazed starting November 1, and still provide a full prevented planting payment (see[Read More…]