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Technology helps farmers stay profitable during down farm economy

A farmer says adopting technology on his family farm has helped him stay profitable during the down farm economy.

John Nidlinger grows corn, soybeans, and wheat in Northeastern Indiana and Northwestern Ohio.

“In today’s environment of agriculture production, we need to monitor cost and technology is allowing us to do that,” he says. “On the input side, we’ve made great strides and we know what our return on investment is that we’re able to accomplish that.”  

He tells Brownfield variable rate nutrient application and variable rate seeding technologies have helped improve his bottom line.

Nidlinger says he’s also making plans for the 2019 growing season.

“We continue to look at nitrogen, fungicides, late applications of micronutrients, and what those might be,” he says.

He says the biggest gains in technology in the past 10-15 years has been the ability to better forecast cost of production.

Nidlinger spoke to Brownfield at the Top Farmer Conference in West Lafayette.

Audio: John Nidlinger, Indiana farmer