See national chem pricing trends in the FBN Research report
With spring snow and heavy rain in parts of the United States and Canada, you may be considering starting planting in less than desirable planting conditions because of what the date on the calendar reads. But, be patient. Getting off to a good start with proper field conditions is critical to maximizing yield potential. In most cases, planting in less-than-desirable conditions cannot be made up later in the year.
Below we discuss four things to consider when there is excessive moisture during planting season:
Nutrient availability
Seeding diseases
Early insects
Equipment usage
It is important to consider how environmental conditions could affect crops' nutrient dynamics throughout the growing season.
For example, in cold soils in the spring, zinc is less available to the crop. However, zinc is a critical nutrient for early root development.
Canada: Crop Aid Plus
In dry conditions, crops can benefit greatly from higher potassium levels, however this nutrient is taken up in smaller quantities in dry soils. In saturated soil, root growth slows or even stops altogether and, as a consequence, crops generally take up less nutrition from the soil, hindering overall growth and yield production.
If you’ve ever dealt with a soil-borne pathogen on your farm, your best bet is to consider it the new normal. When rotten seed is found in the soil with no insect presence, chances are good that it may be from disease.
Phytophthora and rhizoctonia are two diseases that like wet, warm soils. Pythium and fusarium prefer wet and cool soils. While these diseases are all different, taking advantage of a fungicide seed treatment can keep them at bay while your crop emerges and gets ready to begin the growth process.
Learn how to spot and manage diseases in the FBN® Pest Solutions pages.
Insects can overwinter in crop residue, surrounding fields and nearby tree lines. Subsurface insect pests are notorious for causing stand reduction. In corn or soybeans, this could include wireworms, seedcorn maggots. and white grubs. There are no rescue treatments for subsurface insects, so use an insecticide treated seed or an in-furrow insecticide to ward off an insect-related replant.
Conduct spring equipment maintenance before you use any farm machinery this year to ensure safety, minimize downtime, and reduce costs. During wet conditions, it’s particularly important to follow proper protocols and to be aware of the impact of equipment on soil and seed.
Residue in the trench can greatly impact the emergence of germinating seeds. That’s why row cleaners can be an important part of planting, especially in corn on corn and minimum tillage situations. Row cleaners should consistently ride on top of the soil, and should only disturb debris on and just below the soil surface. Any deeper and they can push soil to the side of the row, leading to uneven planting depth.
Whether you have a 3 pt. planter or a pull-type planter, ensuring levelness from left to right and front to back is very important.
Left to right levelness ensures that all units are planting at the same relative depth. Unlevelness from left to right can cause uneven seeding depth, seed skips, and issues with the furrow not closing, exposing the seed or closing too firmly, which may cause surface compaction.
Levelness from front to back ensures that furrow opens, row cleaners, press wheels, and other attachments are working correctly. Improper pitch can put unwanted down pressure on furrow openers and/or row cleaners.
Most planters today have springs or air bags which improve planting depth uniformity and help to limit the bounce of the planter while planting. Monitoring and adjusting down force if significant change occurs in soil conditions — for example, going from very wet soil to very dry soils — must be considered.
Row units that follow tractor tire tracks may require more adjustments. Inadequate down force can amplify bounce resulting in shallow seed placement. Excessive down force may accelerate wear on the ground-engaging components which may adversely impact early plant development.
Ground-driven planters with pneumatic tires should have the pressure checked daily. The tires control the seed, fertilizer, and chemical metering systems. All tires need to be inflated to the recommended ratings to ensure proper metering. Low tire pressure may lead to a higher metering rate due to the tire making more rotations on each pass. Likewise, high tire pressure may lead to lower metering.
Seed-to-soil contact is important for germination and getting plants off to a strong start. Closing wheels and press wheels on your planter can be adjusted to provide varying amounts of firmness and seed-to-soil contact.
When planting in wet soil, furrow openers can cause sidewall compaction (sidewall smear) that restricts root growth and often leaves the seed furrow open, exposing the seed. If the soil is too dry at planting, the seed will not germinate properly.
Alternatively, if the soil is too loose, air can dry out the soil and make it difficult for roots to grow properly. If your seed-to-soil contact is too firm, it can cause seedlings to have difficulty in emergence and growth.
Prepare Your Farm for a Wet Spring
By being prepared for wet weather conditions, you can better position your farm’s productivity. FBN offers a wide variety of products and solutions to help you no matter the weather conditions this spring.
US farmers:
Canadian farmers:
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FBN Direct products and services and other products distributed by FBN Direct are offered by Farmer's Business Network Canada, Inc. and are available only in provinces where Farmer's Business Network Canada, Inc. is licensed and where those products are registered for sale or use, if applicable. Not available in Quebec. Nothing contained on this page, including the prices listed should be construed as an offer for sale, or a sale of products. All products and prices are subject to change at any time and without notice. Terms and conditions apply.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and provincial law to use any pest control product other than in accordance with its label. The distribution, sale and use of an unregistered pest control product is a violation of federal and/or provincial law and is strictly prohibited. We do not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided on this page or which is provided by us in any form. It is your responsibility to confirm prior to purchase and use that a product is labeled for your specific purposes, including, but not limited to, your target crop or pest and its compatibility with other products in a tank mix and that the usage of a product is otherwise consistent with federal, provincial and local laws. We reserve the right to restrict sales on a geographic basis in our sole discretion. You must have a valid applicator license and/or be a certified farmer, to use restricted and commercial pest control products (exceptions may apply based on province). Please consult your applicable provincial authority for complete rules and regulations on licensing, use, and recording keeping requirements of restricted and commercial pest control products.
All product recommendations and other information provided is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for consulting the product label or for specific agronomic, business,or professional advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, consult with a qualified advisor. Neither Farmer's Business Network Canada, Inc. nor any of its affiliates makes any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or any information contained in the material and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.