Farmers, who are concerned with getting their crops planted early, don’t need to panic yet!  We’re still well within the window of opportunity to achieve optimal yields.

“Early planting” is really a subjective term.  Some farmers define it as getting corn in the ground on April 15; others define it as getting corn planted by April 30.  However, during my 32 years as an agronomist, I’ve learned that the date on the calendar isn’t nearly as important as the seedbed conditions at the time of planting and the short-term forecast that follows.

The years when farmers have achieved the best yields are when they had the best planting conditions and the best weather in the days that followed.  Soil need only reach 50 degrees for corn to germinate, but it must be able to maintain that 50 plus-degree temperature for an extended period to encourage proper seed growth and plant development.

The unseasonably cold weather that we’ve experienced over the past two weeks has caused most soil temperatures to actually decrease.  That’s why corn planted on April 15, 2011, isn’t guaranteed to out-yield corn that will be planted on May 5.

Waiting for soil conditions to reach – and maintain – 50 degrees Fahrenheit for corn and 55-60 degrees for soybeans will help with emergence and will contribute to better seedling development and overall plant health.  For these reasons and more, it pays to plant when conditions are better suited.

Shannon Latham was recently interviewed by Mark Pearson for The Big Show regarding planting dates and the best steps growers can take now to help achieve optimal yield. Click the link below to listen to the interview.

Shannon Latham Discusses Planting Dates with WHO Big Show

As Shannon said, patience is key this season. At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we know first-hand that waiting is easier said than done.  We’re still waiting to plant, too!

There has been much talk recently about the wet, cold planting conditions throughout the country.  On Saturday, a TV reporter said that only 2% of Iowa’s corn crop was planted as compared to the 16% that had been planted by the same time last year.

The percentage of corn in the ground by April 22 doesn’t mean the 2011 corn crop won’t be another bin-buster.  Keep in mind that last spring’s soil and weather conditions allowed farmers to plant more acres much earlier than the norm.  On average, only about 7% of Iowa’s corn acres has been planted at this time of year.

It’s easy to compare present conditions to just one year ago, so let’s take a minute to reflect on what happened in 2008.  Spring rains in Iowa that year resulted in saturated soils, cool soil temperatures and soil conditions that were less than ideal for planting.  Iowa State University Extension Corn Specialist Roger Elmore said, “Many farmers were guilty of ‘mudding in’ some corn that year.  The penalty: reduced yields.”  Click here to read Iowa State’s Integrated Crop Management NEWS from May 2008.

It’s documented:  Reduced yields result from planting under conditions that are too wet and too cold. Keep this in mind the next time someone says, “It pays to plant early.” And then chides you because your planter isn’t yet rolling.

“Regardless of calendar date, producers should wait for suitable seedbed conditions and the short-term forecast calls for pleasant weather,” advises Elmore.

Remember that although you may not have your corn planted as early as last year, it’s still “early.”  There are literally weeks of optimal planting dates left, and on average, farmers need only one week or less to get all of their corn acres planted.

You can afford to take the extra time to wait for seedbed conditions to improve.  In fact, exercising patience now will mostly likely pay dividends this fall.  When conditions are far less than ideal, it pays more to wait!

Like any other soybean farmer, Chris Gaesser is watching the soil temperatures and waiting patiently for planting conditions to improve.  Unlike most other soybean farmers, however, he’ll be planting edamame in his plot.

“Growing edamame is a lot like growing any other type of soybeans.  We’re shooting for soil temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees with a target planting date of May 10,” says Chris, who farms in southwest Iowa near Corning, with his father, Ray.

Last year the Gaessers planted a garden plot of edamame that was three rows wide, 22 inches apart and 100 feet long.  This year they’re planning to do the same.  The Gaesser’s plot will be showcased by The Soyfoods Council later this summer.  Food editors and top chefs from across the nation will be invited to pick fresh edamame and to create new dishes.

“We enjoy trying to new things to promote agriculture, food production and soybeans in general,” says Chris.  “It’s fun to meet new people.  And who knows, maybe we’ll even help create a niche market.”

Photos are courtesy of the Soyfoods Council.

There are 1,000 variables each growing season that will determine how much grain gets produced.  Seed selection, planting conditions, tillage choice, nutrient management, as well as the amount and timing of precipitation top the list.

While the weather is out of your control, there are many things you can control in order to position yourself for a successful growing season.  The following four variables could have more impact on your crop’s performance than anything else this year:

Planting Date Iowa State University research shows very little yield difference between crop planted April 20 and May 20.  For example, corn planted between April 20 and May 5 resulted in 100 percent yield potential.  However, 99 percent yield potential could still be achieved with a planting date up to May 20.

Soil Temperature Soil temperatures yesterday, according to Iowa State University’s four-inch soil temperature maps ranged from 40 degrees in the northwest and southeast corners of Iowa to 45 degrees in the south central part of the state.  We recommend waiting until soil temperatures in a region reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit before you plant corn and between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit before you plant soybeans.

Soil Compaction The ability to compact a soil increases as the soil water content increases, so soils that are at or near field capacity this spring are more susceptible to compaction.  Delay fieldwork when soils are wet to avoid unnecessary compaction.

Planting Speed As farmers continue to increase their acres, the tendency is to use bigger equipment and to go faster.  This University of Wisconsin study shows that planting at higher speeds will decrease the accuracy of seed placement and thereby decrease yields.  I recommend planting between 4½ – 5½ miles per hour to optimize seed placement which should allow for better stands and higher yields.

The great news is that farmers are in the driver’s seat!  Avoid planting in subpar conditions, when soils are too wet or too cold to provide optimal growing conditions for seed.  Although new seed technologies can work wonders, there isn’t a one that can work a miracle!  Patience now will pay off with bigger yields this fall.

The temperature has started heating up, and the anticipation of spring planting is around the corner has arrived.  To help ensure you get the best from your crop this year, I wanted to provide a few tips to consider both for planting preparation and for plant health as you head into the field this spring.

Soil Testing: The first step to ensure a successful season is to make sure your field has the proper nutrients. If you didn’t have a soil test done in the fall, there’s still time to have one done yet this spring. Remember, the benefits of soil testing far outweigh the costs. Lack of fertilizer, or applying inadequate amounts of nutrients can cause fertility levels to drop when hungry crops are feeding. The best practice is to sample every field, every year, to establish consistency and trim overall fertilizer costs.  If you grid sample, the higher costs and greater accuracy of that system allow for less frequent sampling – most recommend every 3 or 4 years.

Planting Date/Soil Conditions: Remember to base your planting date on the readiness of the soil versus the date on the calendar. Ideal soil temperature is no less than 50 degrees for corn.   Wet soils cause trouble from the beginning; compaction resulting from wet soil can kill root growth. For soybeans, fungicide-treated seed is a must to prevent damping off from Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytopthora and Fusarium. For corn, treated seed is a must for Pythium, seed corn maggots, wireworm and no-till. Click here for additional planting date tips.

Fertility: I recently posted some tips for managing nutrients in your soybean crop, including N, P and K, and secondary nutrients like Calcium and Sulfur. You can read those posts at the links below to learn more about how to balance nutrient levels in your soybean crop to help ensure plant health.

Fertility Levels Key to Raising Top Soybeans

Fertility Levels Key to Raising Top Soybeans Part 2

You know better than anyone that there are an incredible number of variables that can affect plant health and overall yields.  Addressing what challenges may come now versus down the road will help ensure a successful season in a year that holds the promise of record returns.

Please feel free to comment if you have any questions that we may be able to help answer as planting nears.