Farmers have been reporting acres of planted crops to the Farm Service Agency. It is especially important now to file acreage reports on small grains before the June 15 deadline. Many producers are finished planting and report all crops at the same time. This year would seem to be maybe the best as far as good planting weather. However, the extended period of six weeks without rain has caused other concerns, especially for those who have yet to receive any rainfall.

As for acreage reporting, many producers have inquired if there is a lot more corn acreage this year. Nationally we have been told there will be 12 to 15 million more acres than last year, but in this area, for the most part, corn acres are similar to previous years —with some exceptions.

Substantially higher input costs caused some grain producers to rethink the decision to plant more corn. It very well may be that hay, oats, wheat or barley will net more money per acre than corn when all costs are accounted for. It will all depend on the growing season, but it is fair to say if corn is below $4 per bushel, profit margins will be slim. It could be that corn producers were better off with $2 corn and substantially lower input costs and an LDP.

Corn producers who also feed livestock, such as hogs or beef, may find that there are higher profit margins for corn used for feed rather than sold as grain. It will depend on how well farms are set up for livestock facilities, which in turn require capital and investment. Also, feeding livestock is probably a little more of a risk than storing and selling grain. Both enterprises offer advantages and disadvantages and, for the most part, producers will not be making any major changes — once again, with few exceptions.

Honey bees

The nation's honeybees, which have been mysteriously disappearing at an alarming rate, may receive help through the proposed Pollinator Habitat Protection Act, which would authorize $5.25 million over three years for research, and would earmark $50 million over five years for USDA research grants to investigate causes of the decline of pollinators.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.