This time of year, I encourage growers to have a planting plan in place. Getting as much information gathered and work done ahead of time will allow for a more pleasant planting season this spring. Here are a few recommendations to get started:
- Have a conversation with your seed reps about placing the appropriate corn hybrid or soybean variety on each acre. Coupling the right genetics with each field a grower farms has shown to promote very positive movement in yield.
- Consider the order you plan to plant. I typically encourage growers to start out with a corn hybrid that has a good cold emergence score. This will give them a better shot at getting a consistent stand on the first acres planted, as these acres will typically have the coolest soil temps at planting.
- At this point, hopefully you’ve already taken care of soil testing and have a good idea of where your starting point is. You should have a fertility plan in place that will allow you to achieve your yield goals for the year. If you have not already done so, I recommend doing it now. There is still time to get this addressed before planting time. Even if it can’t be taken care of before planting, there are ways to address fertility needs throughout the season. You can’t, however, address a need if you don’t know what the need is to begin with.
- As it gets closer to the actual day you head out to the field, soil temperatures and moisture levels are two incredibly important things to watch. A cool, wet soil will lead to issues such as side wall compaction, poor seed/soil contact, poor germination and inconsistent stands, just to name a few. Wait until the ground is consistently reaching 50 degrees. I like to see soil temps at 50 degrees for three days or so before I really begin planting, all hands on deck.
- Lastly, make sure the planter is in good shape and ready to hit the field. Run through your planter check list. Check bearings, seals, openers, row cleaners, closing wheels, vacuum/air lines. If you run any type of precision planting or field-mapping software, make sure it is updated and ready to go.
For more information on developing a full planting plan, feel free to reach out to your local Stine sales rep.