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Dave Schrock
Bremen, INWhen a heart transplant required Dave to downsize his farm, he focused on getting the most from his most productive acres.
Operation overview :Acres:6,000Crops:haysoybeancornTillageDeep till; residue left intact
What Drives Dave?
Dave had high hopes to take over his dad’s farm but when the farm crisis hit, it was sold. After starting his own construction, excavating and abatement company, Dave then started his own farm at age 40.
Fertility Program
Dave takes an active, hands-on approach with fertility by:
- Broadcasting potash and adjusting pH levels with lime post-harvest
- Applying P, N, micronutrients and biologicals (including BioPath®) which are banded at planting or applied with a Y-drop in-season
- Paying attention to high-production corn, which may get up to four applications throughout the season
Why Biologicals
“I saw biologicals take totally dead soil from these spills and with time – 18 months – that same soil would start to grow grass. I was intrigued to see how that could be applied to agriculture.”
Follow Dave
Check out Dave’s social channels for more firsthand information about him and Schrock Farms.
THE LATEST ON SCHROCK FARMS
RAINY DAYS? IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE HEART
Rain is usually a good thing, but this spring has been so wet for Dave Schrock that it’s pushed back what he thought would be an early planting season. Out of 6,000 acres of corn and soybeans, he and son Zach only planted about 120 acres of soybeans by May 3.
“It was just a wet mess. We couldn’t do anything in the fields. There was one day where we moved to a field and got stuck four times. And just as we got the last tractor out, it started to rain — another 1.6 inches overnight.”
But as frustrating as that can be, Dave also knows that it can get dry just as fast as it got wet.
“I have data that shows any field where we averaged over 300 bushels were planted after May 26, so we really shouldn’t worry. Plus, now we have products like BioPath® that we can rely on. That really helps in extended planting seasons like this year. It enhances and stabilizes the nutrients in the soil, so they are available as soon as the plant is ready to take them.”
Dave also reflects on one growing season in particular that proved no challenge is too tough to overcome.
Dave’s 2023 Trial Data
Crop:CornFertility Timing:Fall/spring/summer as neededOrganic Matter:1-56%Trial Objectives:Improved soil/plant healthSoil Type Mix:Lake bedYield Comparison:3.23bu/acBioPath Application:In-furrow"Fifteen years ago, on May 4, I was in the hospital getting my heart transplant. There were so many things out of my control. That year we ended up planting a lot of crops in June. They turned out to be really good crops, so when I get grumbly about the rain, I just have to live it and see God’s goodness."
Visit our Next Farmer:
Andrew FochtWith family roots tied to farming, Andrew decided to start his own farm just three years ago. With a past career as a soil technician for USDA NRCS, and a current owner of a financial planning business, he uses his background to make the most of his 650 acres of corn.
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PREVIOUSLY: SCHROCK FARMS
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APRIL 2024
JAR TESTING FERTILIZER STARTER MIXES AHEAD OF FIELD APPLICATION
Early April is the final countdown before planting, and Dave Schrock and his son, Zach, have been busy wrapping up field tile work and making final equipment repairs. While it’s all the standard preparation you might expect, they do one thing most farmers might not do — they jar test their liquid starter mixes.
“We don’t use a blanket fertilizer program for all of our acres. We develop different starter mixes based on what our soil tests tell us about our specific fields — or even specific sections of our fields. So, Zach and I try to mimic those mixes in a jar.”
Currently, Dave and Zach have seven different mixes they’re testing. “Mosaic does a great job to make sure their products are compatible. But if we add in other products, I want to know that everything will work together. If it doesn’t, I’d rather see that out here on the table and not in a 1,000-gallon tank going to a planter.”
Right now, Dave said the planters are ready to go, and weather permitting, they will have beans in the ground and corn started by the end of April. “We’re just trying to get everything in place, so that when the planting window opens up, we can crawl through it.”
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MARCH 2024
For Plant '24, budgeting and performance is key
Like all farmers this time of year, Dave and his son, Zach, are busy getting their equipment fine-tuned and ready for the upcoming season. But with less-than-favorable corn markets and input prices not being in an ideal place this year, Dave says they are doing a lot more budgeting to make sure they’re making the right product choices before they head out into the field.
“We’ve spent a lot of time going through different scenarios on what we should do. Can we do this? Or can we do that? In the end, we’re sticking with products that have proven performance.”
Though they’re only trialing BioPath right now, Dave appreciates the data behind it and that he has seen a significant increase in yield on that field.
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FEBRUARY 2024
Focusing on soil health to overcome challenges
Dave is ready to start the 2024 growing season strong. He’s looking forward to achieving healthy, balanced soils to help his crops overcome any challenges that an unpredictable growing season might throw his way.
Catch up with Dave as he starts his 2024 BioPath trial.
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MENTIONED ON THIS PAGE
Liquid fertilizer complement