Producers Blog

Jerry Mathis (Sales Agronomist, Region 1 – South Dakota)

As I sit down to write this article on Monday afternoon, it is snowing across most of South Dakota with a winter weather advisory across the southern half of the state. The month of April has been a lot more like a typical March. While the white stuff isn’t exactly what we had in mind, the moisture has been very much welcomed.  With temperatures going from a high of 34° on Monday to an expected 71° on Sunday for southeast South Dakota, there’ll be a lot of anxious people waiting to get into the field with more normal temperatures. The snow has been melting quickly and with the power that the sun has, soil temps will rise quickly as well.

With the planting dates that we will experience, there will be a rapid push to get as much corn planted as quickly as possible. We will not be having an early start to planting, but at this time we are not late.  The one thing I recommend while everyone is busy planting is to stick to your plan. There are times when you may have a hybrid loaded up and don’t want to take the time to change the variety for the field you are going to plant next, which may end up costing you yield in the end. It’s usually worth the time to make the switch.  Getting the right variety on the right soil type can be a big factor when it comes to maximizing yields. Remember, you only have one time to do it right.

With the equipment that we farm with it doesn’t take too much time to cover a lot of acres. With that in mind, remember these four things:

1).   Stick with the original plan and match the right variety to the soil.

2).  Make sure all planting equipment is ready.

3).  Keep planter speeds at optimum speed for accurate planting.  You don’t get a second chance.

4).  Stay safe and keep out of the mud.

If you have questions or seed needs contact your local dealer or sales representative.