We were happy to see a conversation started on Farmers for the Future recently surrounding people who have been able to get out into the field to start planting or preparing their fields. Finally – warm weather!

We recently spoke with Mark Grundmeier, Latham Seed Product Manager, who provided us with 5 tips to maximize your yields this season.

#5 – Planting Date: The trend has been to plant earlier and earlier over the past decade. While this practice has, in general, increased yields, there are some pitfalls to watch for and avoid. Avoid planting into soils that are too wet. This practice ALWAYS causes problems later due to side-wall compaction and/or uneven emergence. When planting soybeans into cool soils, consider the use of a fungicide seed treatment such as Latham® SoyShield to prevent the advent of seedling diseases.

#4 – Planting Depth: Ideal planting depth for corn is 2 inches and for soybeans it is 1½ inches. Some may still tell you to “plant to moisture” but this is seldom a good practice. If the soil moisture level is too deep, planting to that depth can cause delayed emergence, uneven stands and possibly even stands that are crusted over if you would receive a hard, pounding rain right after planting. Planting too shallow will often result in poor root development and may affect the crop all the way to harvest.

#3 – Row Spacing: There has been and will continue to be much debate on which row spacing provides the optimum yields for both corn and soybean. In general, soybeans seem to respond most favorably to spacings between 15 inches to 20 inches. If you are planting in rows that are wider or even narrower than this, consider running some side-by-side comparisons on your fields to see which spacing might be best for your farming operation. For corn, 30-inch row spacings is still the most popular, but there are many farmers experimenting with 20-inch rows and also twin-row systems. Again, running trials on your own fields will help determine what is right for you.

#2 – Weed Control: Before planting, always start with a clean field. Even in years when planting might be delayed due to wet conditions, allowing weeds to get ahead of the crop is not a good practice. Remember that the objective of herbicide applications is to save yield, not just to kill weeds!

#1 – Hybrid/Variety Selection: Choosing the right corn hybrid or soybean variety is the most important decision you make year in and year out. Selection should be based on past yield performance (in multiple trials conducted in like field conditions and comparing like maturities), past disease or pest problems that have been identified and taking into consideration farming practices used (e.g. early planting, narrow rows, no-till, etc.). Seed selection should not be based strictly on cost of the seed, seed size or what may have worked well for a neighbor/friend. 

If you have any questions we can help answer regarding planting, just type it in to the field below and we’ll reply shortly!

There are many things that require your attention as you prepare to head back into the fields, but one of the more important things you can do is get your planter well prepared for planting.

Below is a check list of important steps to take when preparing your planter for the field:

1. Check the drive trains; make sure they are not rusted or stiff.
2. Check the shaft bearings and sprocket bearings for their shape and condition. They should be well lubricated.
3. Clean and inspect the chemical meters used for seed treatments on the planter.
4. Check the opener blades; make sure they are not worn.
5. Check the sprocket teeth for wear.
6. If equipped, make sure the vacuum meter system is clean and seals are not worn to ensure proper metering.
7. Use the owner’s manual extensively for calibration.
8. Follow all hourly service requirements and greasing requirements.
9. Stop by the dealer or visit the equipment manufacturer’s web site to learn what is new.
10. In the field, dig to expose seeds in the row to be sure the planter is operating correctly. This may help avoid an erratic stand after emergence. Confirm desired seed depth and seed-to-soil contact.

For other important tips as you prepare for planting, see our blog, Planting Preparation, (you’ll need to scroll down a bit) and as always, please post any questions you might have that we can help with in the field below.

Latham Hi-Tech Seeds was a proud sponsor of the recent Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development Program’s (I-LEAD) international mission study to Korea and Vietnam. The delegation arrived March 12 in Seoul,

South Korea, and left Vietnam on March 21.

The purpose of this mission was to help develop export markets for four of Iowa’s agricultural products: corn, soybeans, pork, and beef.

Members of I-LEAD blogged about their experiences through each leg of the journey. Here are just a few of the many experiences they shared with blog readers:

* Our first stop: the Agricultural Exhibition Hall. This impressive museum tells the story through the eyes of Korea’s Rural Development Agency. The Hall covered everything from high-density fruit culture to natural antibiotics for livestock and from bee venom to chemical fertilizer reduction technology.

* On Monday we met with officials from the Ag Trade Office of Korea to get a general overview of Korea’s agricultural markets. Then we headed off to meet with the Korean Feed Association and Nonghyup Feed Inc. (NOFI). These grain buyers and grain industry leaders had a lively dialogue with us about the quality of the 2009 corn crop, and we tried to learn more about their grain needs.

*Saturday was spent on the countryside visiting with Vietnamese corn and hog farmers. The Class enjoyed being able to take time to meet with them and see production practices. An average corn farmer owns about 1-2 acres of land and all the fieldwork is still done by hand. The Class was also able to view a 200-sow, farrow-to-finish hog operation and talk with the farmer. On Saturday, the class was also able to visit a local wet market. 

Congratulations to the members on a trip full of great experiences! Thank you so much for sharing your stories with us. Click here to read the I-LEAD blog.