(Worthington, Mn.)– Area producers are making preparations for spring planting and getting equipment ready to go. And while some may be tempted get an early start on planting, a local ag expert says you need to think twice. Liz Stahl of the University of Minnesota Extension Service in Worthington says a number of factors need to be considered ahead of time…
“You really want to look at what are those conditions going to be like right after planting. If the prediction is for cold and wet weather like right after you’d be planting, you’re probably better off to hold off on planting just because you don’t want those seeds to survive really cold water and you know, they can sit there for awhile, especially corn. You could set yourself up for some pathogens to come in there, too, but yeah, it’s pretty amazing. There’s pretty good seed treatments right now. We’ve been breeding for planting in colder conditions, too, so. Like I say, look at the conditions, look at the immediate forecast, look at the calendar. You want to be planting into some nice soil conditions, not creating compaction out there in the field. All those things help set you up for the most optimal yields in the end.”
Stahl also has some advice when it comes to spring tillage…
“Right now in southwest Minnesota we’ve got areas that are severe drought, a lot of us are moderate drought right now. This is not the time where I would be doing extra tillage, not that people want to do extra tillage, but hey, every time you work that soil you’re losing moisture. So it’s just something to think about too. You don’t want to be getting real aggressive right now as we are going into the season pretty dry right now.”
Stahl says most of the field work she’s seen in the region so far has been limited to things such as putting on anhydrous.
