March weather was cool and wet. We were preparing ourselves for a repeat of last year. Even the long-range forecast leaned below normal temps, and above normal precipitation through mid-May.

So, it was unexpected when the short term forecast predicted highs in the upper 70's for the week of April 10. We kept our hopes in check and prepared a plan to maximize this opportunity. 

By the weekend of April 15th, we were 10% planted corn and beans, just in time for the gentle 2-3" of rain that fell across our area. 

The next ten days were not fit for tillage, but by April 27th field operations began again with rock picking and chemical application. By May 1st it was all hands on deck with every man and machine in the field. As of today, May 7th, we are closing on 75% planted. Last year, this was the day we started planting. So far, the '23 planting season has been close to perfect.   

While weather is the primary variable that influences our timeliness, management is a close second. Asset allocation and organization tremendously affects our ability to get the most work done in the least amount of time at the lowest cost.

In an era of upper six figure, nearly autonomous machinery marvels, the biggest enhancement to our capabilities this year is our new mechanic, Adam Johnson. 

Chris Adams has been our main mechanic for the last six years and is a lock for the Pinicon Hall of Fame. His ability to weld, fabricate, improvise, and resurrect the unrepairable is renowned. Chris still maintains his sideline passion for building and racing stock cars. However, the workload in our shop would keep several high output fixers fully employed. We've learned the hard way being understaffed creates additional stress and unhappiness. At the same time, finding the right man for this position who would complement Chris's skills and see a long-term future in our company required patience.

After two months, Adam is exceeding expectations. He brings the laptop savvy of a recent tech school graduate with old school hustle. He is comfortable mounting truck tires, heading out with the service truck for field repairs, or grappling with an uncooperative skid loader CPU exhibiting dementia symptoms.

On a given day, it is not unusual for Chris and Adam to both be in the field with a service truck. At Pinicon, machine down hours are the number one cause of lost capacity. Adam’s addition not only improved our ability to respond, it also brought more capabilities in house. We always received great service from our vendors, but having a technician on staff who can be dispatched instantly, has working knowledge of the machine, and understands the time sensitive nature of his role has further reduced down time.

Growing seasons that begin early with good soil conditions either end up as bumper crops or drought diminished disappointments. Odds favor the former, but a 20% chance of the latter should not be dismissed.

We'll do everything in our power to achieve the best crop ever while keeping in mind the limits of our control. So far, so good. 

Jim