When Late Planting is the Only Option

Mother Nature surprised much of the country with a great spring so far, allowing for early planting in many parts of the U.S. However, some growers are dealing with low soil temps, flooded fields or planting delays. Stine Seed offers these tips for growers just getting started with their 2010 planting.

Patience is a virtue. Growers are eager to get back into the fields when flooding subsides, but planting when the soil is too wet can lead to sidewall compaction and poor root depth, impacting crops for the entire year. 

Go deep! For corn, this is usually 1.5 to 2 inches deep. For soybeans, 1 to 1.5 inches is optimal. However, check your seed to determine what works best for that hybrid or variety. Some growers plant too shallow on wet fields just to get the crops in, but that can lead to bad roots or erosion. If in doubt, it’s often best to plant on the deep side.

Measure twice, cut once. When it comes to planting, it pays to do it right the first time.  Double check the planter settings, seed spacing, population, depth and soil conditions for optimal seed performance. Ensuring these settings are correct will make your planting season run smoothly and get your crops started on a happy road to high yields.

Choose the force. Choosing the right seed for your farming operation will do wonders for your bottom line.

At Stine, we’re committed to helping our growers reach their maximum yield potential. Whether planting early, late or right on time, our team is available to help answer any questions you might have specific to your farm operation. Please visit our agronomy resources page for information specific to your region.