Poll: Are you buying seed earlier this year?

[nwobcw]

   I ordered a new bean variety just out this year and in short supply.  Haven't paid yet as my elevator hasn't come out with 2012 pricing discounts yet.

[Blacksandfarmer]

You really seem to like those RR2 beans huh? Im considering them for next year.

[nwobcw]

   Yup I do.   I initially resisted RR beans in the 90s.  Trying to be the lower  cost producer.   What a nistake.   You get what you pay for.   I have a field of RR2 beans next to   a guy with RR 1 beans which according to the seed signs used to be my favorite variety.   His are  a 3.2 and mine are a 3.0.   He planted 2 days sooner than me.   Those beans looked better all summer till now.  They look like they have run outta gas whereas mine are still growing.   BTW I had 1.4 inches this evening.   A little red spot on radar the size of a fly speck hovered over here for 2 hrs.   Thank God.  

[SouthWestOhio]

I called our local seed supplier earlier this week. I was worried what the lower yields might do to availablilty. He said they were anticipating a 30% reduction in production and they should be able to handle their demand with that. He said they usually don't worry until production drops 40% or more.

[Blacksandfarmer]

SW this seed shortage talk seems a little laughable to me and others in this area. Guys have to remember that seed corn is grown in a fairly controlled environments and we in this area have experienced about 4 or 5 drought years in a row now and there was no concern prior. My pictures posted on crop talk have been the norm 4 out of the past 5 years. The corn west of me all the way to just west of Chicago looks as good as corn in eastern Iowa and a lot of that area also produces seed corn. My neighbors and I spent the other day walking irrigated cornfields and the corn looks excellent. A slight tip back is evident on most ears but the corn should still run 180-200 bushel in a lot of those fields while dryland fields should come in between 50 and 110 bushel depending on the field. Since all seed corn in this region is irrigated I can't see where there would be any difference in quality. Yes if we plant close to 100 million acres of corn next year there will be shortages of some guys favorite varieties but a shortage of corn seed in general is highly unlikely. The only time I could really see the nations seed corn supply being in Jeopardy would be if this region had a massive hail storm sweep through.

NW you have me talked into trying RR2 beans next year!