(IARN) — Midwest farmers anticipate the return of spring. Excitement surrounds moving farm machinery and working the land.
Planting is top-of-mind, especially for crop specialists. An Iowa-based technical agronomist offers his suggestions for the upcoming crop season.
Matt Nelson, Channel technical agronomist for southwest Iowa, suggests planting soybeans early. Nelson says, “Early soybeans are a good idea,” based on tumultuous weather of springs past.
Early maturities allow farmers to plant beans sooner. However, “Planting out-of-zone soybeans involves risk,” according to Nelson.
“The biggest issues (are) at harvest time,” Nelson said. “Growers are planting earlier soybean varieties to harvest them early and harvest corn in a better fashion. But if you have weather delays and are a few weeks late in getting to those soybeans, a lot of times we start to see head loss and beans getting picked at an eight- or nine-percent moisture versus a more optimal 12- to 13-percent moisture. If you plant beans early, you need to be prepared to take them out early. If the weather doesn’t allow for that, that’s a risk you have to manage.”
Nelson recommends having a backup plan, in case things do not go as planned.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
Photo from KIWA Image Archive
