Thousands of farmers gathered near Baltic, South Dakota, for the annual Ag PhD Field Day, where improving profitability remains the top priority. Ag PhD’s Zach Hefty said fertilizer management offers one of the biggest opportunities to reduce costs without sacrificing yields. “We get a lot of questions about fertility,” Hefty said. “Once you understand your soil tests and replace only the nutrients you’re removing, it can make your farm a lot of money while helping cut costs.” Hefty also said younger farmers are helping drive technology adoption. “My dad and uncle don’t know how to fly a drone, but I earned my spray drone license and have used it on our farm. That’s something I can bring back to the operation that previous generations couldn’t.” While technology continues to evolve, weather remains a concern. “It’s pretty dry in our area,” Hefty said. “The corn on the lighter soils is really burning up, and the soybeans need some August rains.”
