What to plant

[Anonymous-0]

I have come upon an 8 acre field to farm for next year. It is currently planted in old timothy and alfalfa. My first question is should I spray it with round-up then plow it. Or should I green manure it? I know corn would be best to plant after alfalfa, but all I have is a pull type combine at this time. Would it be ok to plant soybeans or am I better off with planting wheat? What are the fertilizer requirements for each per acre. I will get a soil sample, but I am looking for someone to give me a guestimate of what it will cost. That is for fertilizer and for the seed. I realize that this is difficult to anwser, but you guys are always helpful. Thanks for the help

 

[IaGary]

Yes beans are fine following grass alfalfa. Wheat would work as well.

Seed will run about $45-$55 an acre for Roundup Ready soybeans. Herbicide will run you about $15 an acre plus the $6.00 to $8.00 application cost if you hire it done for each time you have to spray. Better figure you will spray it twice.
Fertilizer could be from 0 to $70 an acre depending on your soil needs.

You better figure $10 an acre for fuel.

So total cost could be anywhere from $95 an acre to $200 an acre for beans.

That would be with no burndown. If your going to plow it I would not use a burndown.

I assume if you plant wheat it would be winter wheat.

Wheat would save on herbicide. Seed would be alittle cheaper. About 1/2.

You could put in wheat for about half what soybeans would be.

Gary

 

[Anonymous-0]

what do you have for equipment. if mine I would use burn down no till it . do you have outlet for the wheat and straw, otherwise beans. costs like gary mention are in the area. but can very tremendously also.

 

[kyhayman]

Can you get it this fall? If so why not double crop the wheat or rye and then drill soybeans notil into the wheat stubble next year. Not sure if you climate will support double crop but if it will I would consider it.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks guys for the help. I did forget to mention that this is in south central MN.

 

[JMS/.MN]

About the only double cropping possible in MN is in the canning peas production areas. Comes off in June, and can still get some soybeans by fall.