Every farmer will tell you how important good crop yield is. Yield is how much crop gets produced on a plot of land during its growing season. The yield is often considered to be an indicator of both farmer efficiency and overall farm health.
Whether you are growing a large garden for the farmer’s market or raising hundreds of acres of potatoes, producing the most from your land is key to a good bottom-line.
There are many ways to increase your farm production.
Here are our 5 recommended ways to increase crop yields on your Klamath Falls farm.
1. Test Your Soil
One of the most important steps is often the most overlooked; test your soil. Testing can show you various things such as the phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen and organic matter levels within your soil. All of these are critical in getting your seed to germinate, grow, and produce abundantly. Too much or too little of even one nutrient can cause poor growth or low yield; both of which are the farmer’s enemy. Additionally, soil that is low in organic matter may cause your seedling to have trouble rooting.
While testing your soil for nutrients, you also want to test for temperature. Soil that is too cold many not allow seeds to germinate. Temps that are too warm can sometimes cause crops to grow too quickly, resulting in plants that are too leggy and weak.
Once you have a soil test done and you’ve reviewed it, you can make informed decisions about amendments, planting times and the varieties you want to grow. Even the best of seeds will yield poor results in less than optimal conditions.
If you are interested in testing your soil, here are some options of analytical soil labs serving Klamath County
2. Plant Early and Effectively by Choosing the Right Seed Varieties
After testing your soil, knowing when to plant is the next crucial step to getting a good yield. You want to be able to get your seeds in and started as early as possible to give the plants the longest growing season, but too early or a variety that doesn’t match your growing conditions can be disastrous.
With your soil data in hand, you can determine which plant varieties are most likely to give you the best performance. If your spring has been too wet, you can look into more rot resistance seeds. Too dry? Look for strains that are more drought tolerant. Always make sure that the seeds you select are of good quality, as cheap seeds will often have poor germination rates.
For more information on seed, visit or call D&D Seeds in Klamath Falls
3. Have an Effective Water Management Plan
Once you have determined your soil conditions and picked out the perfect seed, it’s time to take a good look at your plan for water management.
Water is absolutely the stuff of life when it comes to growing crops. You want to ensure your plants are getting the water they need without being over-watered. Good drainage in your fields is vital to good yield. You want to plan for drainage that keeps your crops from flooding, but not such extreme drainage that the water drains away before plants can utilize it.
4. Practice Crop Rotation Whenever Possible
Whether you are planting a crop annually or season-by-season, crop rotation is important for many reasons. Changing the type of plants grown in a particular area can reduce the risk of pests, insects, diseases and some weeds. It also varies the demands being made on your soil and can prevent it from being too heavy or too weak in different minerals.
Studies have shown that crops grown in the same plots in successive years or growing seasons often have lower yields and deal with more problems, whereas rotating crops and in certain series can improve yields by allowing for better overall growth. A local extension service agent can help you with determining which crops do best in what order of succession for your area.
To get a better idea of the type of crops grown in Klamath County and to discuss with local farmers, check out local farmers growing crops.
5. Visit Your Crops Regularly
Keeping a close eye on your crops gives you a chance to spot potential problems and make effective management decisions. Walking through and examining your plants allows you time to check for insect damage, watch for disease, check on both water drainage and water retention, and keep an eye out for weeds which may be competing with your plants for nutrients. These checks can be critical in providing you with the information needed to make decisions about fertilization, pesticide application, changes to watering schedules and more. You’ll be more likely to avoid potential crisis and possibly boost production with a steady, hands-on approach.
While producing a good crop yield may seem like a complicated endeavor, these tips should help you increase your production. Remember that every change you make can impact your yield, so don’t be afraid to take things one step at a time.
Let us connect you in Klamath Falls, Oregon
Part of our mission as a Klamath Falls real estate company is to make sure our clients have the proper resources to be successful in their ranch or farm ventures. Let us help connect you in the community as part of our farm and ranch real estate services.
Contact a professional real estate agent or call us today at 541-884-1343. Or stop by our offices at 3815 S 6th St #110, Klamath Falls, OR 97603.
