Four tips for planting in unpredictable conditions this spring

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Planting season is quickly approaching, and much of the country is experiencing erratic weather patterns.

Dry weather one week and heavy rain the next make it hard to determine the best planting strategy.

Ryan Peterson, WinField United crop protection product manager, shares four tips to help growers navigate early-season planting challenges expected this spring.

1. Closely monitor soil conditions.

Determining planting dates comes down to two primary factors — soil moisture and temperature. If growers plant when the soil is too wet, they risk compaction, smearing the sidewall of the seed trench or seedling death from soil pathogens.

“Moisture consistency is equally as important as moisture presence to seedling emergence,” Peterson said. “If growers aren’t consistent with planting depth, this can cause uneven germination and emergence.”

Temperature is another factor to watch closely. For corn, planting at the right temperature is critical.

Growers should aim for soil temperatures that reach at least 50 degrees to avoid imbibitional chilling, which can lead to reduced seedling vigor or even death. Planting soybeans in soils that are too cold could also result in frost damage.

2. Planting early? Reduce seedling stress.

“Growers have pushed their planting dates earlier in hopes of higher yields, but this doesn’t come without risks,” Peterson said. “Seed treatments can help safeguard seedlings against early season planting challenges.”

Quality soybean seed treatments such as Warden CX II seed treatment helps protect against soil diseases and insects.

An early-season biological option is Dash PBS planter box seed treatment, found to provide lubricity and improve early-season growth.

“Growers pushing for earlier planting on corn should give their crop some extra support as well,” Peterson said.

“A chelated zinc and a plant growth regulator like Ascend2 plant growth regulator is great for promoting early season growth and more even emergence.”

3. Give crops a clean start with early-season weed control.

Weed control can often make or break a crop yield, so starting clean and staying clean throughout the season is essential.

If you’re facing winter annual weeds, a spring burndown application is smart. Then, when making that first post-emergence application, it’s important to maximize its effectiveness.

“With cooler temperatures in early spring, a plant’s cuticle layer thickens, and it can’t translocate herbicides as efficiently,” Peterson said. “An adjuvant, such as StrikeLock adjuvant, can help infiltrate the waxy cuticle.”

For that first post-emergence mix, many growers will use Enlist One herbicide plus glyphosate.

Peterson said the most important adjuvant to include with Enlist One herbicide is a water conditioner because it is a weak acid herbicide.

He recommends using Class Act NG adjuvant as it contains AMS, which helps maximize the effectiveness of Enlist One.

Effective early-season weed management helps optimize herbicide performance throughout the season by taking the pressure off postemergence applications when managing larger weeds.

4. Adjust to the weather when necessary.

It’s hard to predict what spring weather will have in store. If colder and wetter than expected weather is predicted, growers may need to adjust corn maturities to help avoid any frost damage come fall. For soybeans, Peterson recommends sticking to their original maturity selections.

“Because flower initiation is controlled by day length, soybeans will always flower around the summer equinox no matter the maturity,” Peterson said.

“When planting gets delayed, the plant has less time to develop and put on vegetative growth after flowering. These delays can result in stunted beans and lower pod counts.”