Heading into 2019 some GFN members were asked, “Have you set a goal for your farm or farming operation this year?”
Here’s a collection with a few sentences received from several GFN members to share and potentially inspire other farmers around the world as they consider what they can do on their farms this year to maximize the potential, the productivity and the profitability.
If any other GFN members want to include something in the list, just pass it along to be added!
Kaahwa Jean – GFN, Uganda
This year I will expand my farm to include beef cattle and goats. I intend to stock 30 breeding Beef cattle and 100 goats. For the next 5 years they will multiply and I will only sell off the excess males in the herd.
Dan Kelley – GFN Board, US-Illinois
As I plan for my 2019 corn and soybean planting (which is less than 100 days from now) I am looking at maximizing yield with a careful eye on costs given that current corn and soybean future prices are about 12% below a year ago.
We rotate between corn and soybeans and this year will have slightly more corn acres. We are not fertilizing some fields that have adequate fertility and using GPS applications on others to make best use of our fertilizer expenditures. As I look ahead, 2019 will be a year of opportunity just as the past 50 have been!
Joanna Lidback – GFN Board, US-Vermont
Despite the challenge of milk prices, we continue to grow. One goal in 2019 is to set up the pipeline on the other side of the walkway in the barn so that we can continue to grow our herd numbers from within. Other than that, we are focused on positioning our balance sheet for the next big capital expense item – which will hopefully be a parlor!
Patience Koku – GFN, Nigeria (and recently named 2018 Farmer of the Year by Cornell Alliance for Science)
In the new year we plan to convert about a quarter of our production to zero tillage scaling up from our trials last year. This will reduce our production cost significantly whilst increasing our yields and productivity.
We also plan to buy a self propelled boom sprayer/detassler/fertilizer applicator and a 12 row No- till planter.
Also with corn prices being so low we plan to grow more seed than grain this year. We will look forward to a bumper harvest by God’s grace!
Jayapal Reddy Solleti – GFN, India
Last year I lost my maize crop due to a new insect, fall army worm from South Africa, which damages like stemborer and leads to total damage/loss.
For the new year planning to plant rice and cotton that uses new technology.
Charles Chenza – GFN, Tanzania
Towards the end of last year we managed to visit Congo DRC to look for maize market, the market is huge but the challenge is the neighbouring country Zambia, which has imposed a transit permit to restrict flow of maize from Tanzania to DRC. This is the greatest challenge we are facing as we plan to expand our production in anticipation for the giant maize market in DRC.
Jose Joaquin Rosales – GFN, Honduras
Our farm was inherited from our father. Our case is the typical farming puzzle, where I am the only one willing and able to continue. My two sisters (a lawyer and dentist) plus my brother (teacher for the blind and blind himself too) are not neither willing or able to farm. To solve this puzzle I am writting business proposals in order to consolidate an operating Renewable Energy Company (called ECONERGIA who is owned by me and another investor) with a Timber Project (mahogany-cedar-teak) that I have been brainstorming from a while ago. The idea is to have both corporations in the same farm that can mutually cooperate and make the deal much bigger and more attractive for a green minded investor we hope to find anywhere in the world. The clean energy company (hydropower plant) has a 30 year contract with the local utility company. Under this scheme my brothers and sisters (who don’t want to farm) sell their shares of land and I partner with the new investor to develop the timber project together.
Motlatsi Musi – GFN, South Africa (2017 Kleckner Award recipient)
I’m owner of 21 hectares in New RSA. It’s not easy!! I spent my pension money on tools such as 2nd-hand tractors plus sending my sons to best and expensive schools during the last 15 years. While not leaving other emerging farmers behind doing soil preparations and mentoring, my tractors now need repairs or replacement.
My house in Pimville Soweta also need a facelift, that’s the target for 2019. Next year will be on the farm.
My dream of building a farm school or at least a study
room or hall for [instructing] farmers is on my wishlist. It’s always open [though, but] I struggle hosting scientists, media, farmers and MPs from around the world. My latest guest was President Uhuru Kenyatta [of Kenya] whilst I was in Rome [invited to speak at FAO, so] my children hosted him didn’t take photos… He could have seen pictures or even screened Food Evolution film [Molatsi appeared in film] which could trigger questions or knocked a sense, who knows??