Tornado warnings, winter storm warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings – these weather events are familiar to all of us. But have you ever heard of a ‘drought’ warning? Drought is sneaky. You know it’s going to happen; you just don’t know when. All is going well; you have a little dry period; and before you know it and without warning, you’re in a drought.

The basis for high crop yields comes from a proper crop nutrition program and fundamental soil testing. Recent surveys indicate that 20 percent of the fields in Pennsylvania do not have a current soil test. With high crop yields, the plant food contained in the soil is depleted more rapidly.

The purpose of this article is to discuss how producers should view forage trial data and what to look for when studying the numbers. Some trials are useful and some aren’t; the question is how to tell the difference.

Have you ever heard any of these thoughts expressed, or maybe they crossed your own mind?

• “If Dad would just give up some power ….”
• “If Mom would just say what’s on her mind ….”
• “If the kids just had a work ethic ….”
• “If he hadn’t married her, we’d be fine.”