Are you ready with a detailed plan and a mindset to match?

By Cutting Edge Consulting, a team of agronomists contracted by AgVenture, Inc.

“A goal without a plan is only a dream.” This quote resonates with preparing and carrying out a detailed cropping plan each year to reach higher and more challenging goals that you set for the operation. Without a plan in place of not only what is going to be done, but also HOW and by what standards things should be done, it will be nearly impossible to push your operation to new heights each year. EVERY day you must think like a 300 bpa corn farmer and a 150 bpa soybean farmer if you have any aspirations to reach those milestones. A planter can be mechanically sound and conditions can be fit, but without an operator who plants at the highest of standards, that crop is off to a tougher start before it even emerges. We have prepared this article to not only inspire higher goals and standards, but to also provide some guidelines and information as to what we believe are key insights to having a great stand following planting for both corn and soybeans.

Within the cropping plan, there are numerous subsections to ensure all steps are completed in a timely manner, and at the highest of standards. All corn and soybean seed should be ordered with placement and populations laid out by farm, matching up with soil types, management practices, and proximity in mind to have a timely and efficient harvest. Another key part of this plan is to inspect and do maintenance to equipment, paying special mind to the planter. The planter MUST be gone through in plenty of time before planting season arrives. If you have not gotten your planter out of the back of the barn and gone through it, you’re simply behind. Running through the disc openers, springs, chains, bearings, etc. to check for wear should be an annual item on your checklist. Planters with brushes as part of the seed meters oftentimes need replaced at the start and again during the planting season if there is a significant amount of acres running through those meters. Having extra closing wheels on hand is a good practice as well. A functioning planter ensures that we are not waiting on parts or breaking down during key and opportune planting days.

Planting accuracy is important for BOTH corn and soybeans. Some believe that soybeans will “adapt”, but our history is that they will adapt right to AVERAGE! At $14.00 soybeans, we want to strive for exceptional, not average.

For corn, the goal is to plant into very fit conditions where there is no smearing of sidewalls from the disc openers and a closing system that maintains or improves seed-to-soil contact. Some spoked closing wheels alter seed that has been placed. Floating row cleaners clear the path for the disc openers by subtly moving residue, clods, etc. Target depth for corn should be between   2 ¼” and 2 ⅜” to the top of the seed for most soils and closer to 2 ½” for sandier soils or where more aggressive tillage was done. EVERY seed needs to be the same depth and only digging behind all rows of the planter will ensure that. Digging behind the planter and exposing 3-5 seeds in a row will help you determine spacing/population that is actually being dropped, if any sidewalls are being smeared/if it’s fit to be planted, if residue is being hair pinned into the trench, etc. Going from a firm environment (no-till, vertical tilled) to a field that has the top four inches fluffed up from using a field cultivator or soil finisher will most likely require some depth adjustments. We adamantly believe modern-day planters prefer a firm, level seed bed with the enhanced down pressure systems now available. These down pressure systems must be watched however, especially at higher speeds some planters may require more pressure to keep the planter in the ground, creating an opportunity for compaction and mohawk roots. Aggressive spring tillage will also place residue where seeds will be placed which leads to uneven emergence.

The top reasons for delayed emergence in corn are:

1. Residue next to the seed
2. Too shallow planting depth
3. Uneven planting depth
4. Harsh/Unsafe herbicides
5. Weak seed

On some of these high-speed planters, a tongue slightly up is not the worst thing.

It is common to gain an additional 20-24 bpa by having a qualified individual check and dig behind your planter on a regular basis to help you make the necessary adjustments for depth control, row cleaners running properly, making sure the planter and units are running level, and to confirm it is FIT to be in that field planting. Once planting is complete, be sure to schedule a time with this qualified individual to then analyze the stand for both quantity and quality of stand after emergence. This will be your report card for the planting process.

For soybeans we believe row units that meter seed is paramount to planting accuracy. Having depth control with the ability to close the trench and keep it closed are all important steps in establishing a uniform soybean stand. Stand quality matters in soybeans too. Premium seed treatments will also help you obtain better stand early on.

In summary here are some key things to consider as planters are preparing to roll:

1. Early and safe weed control is very important for both corn and soybeans.
2. Think firm, level, and warm seed bed as the ideal environment for planting.
3. Have a trained individual scheduled and on speed dial to check your planter for details and adjustments.
4. A uniform FINAL seed depth of 2” after settling creates a more consistent environment, both for temperature and moisture which leads to a more uniform emergence. We believe uniform depth trumps perfect spacing within the row.
5. Take advantage of state-of-the-art seed treatments.
6. Early nutrition can enhance root development and early growth to help build a better factory (this should be the time to target your first application for an early source of Nitrogen and Sulfur).
7. Attention to detail during planting will lead to a tight ratio of planting population to plant count, and a tight ratio of plant count to the final full ear count.
8. We believe 75% of your corn yield potential is determined by the time the planter leaves the field, therefore we need to give the planting process the time and attention it demands.

Have a safe and happy planting season!