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Starting planting season off right

As farmers prepare for the spring planting season, an agronomist says there are a few things they can do to set themselves up for a successful growing season.

Even with lower commodity prices, Robert Mullen, agronomic contributor for PotashCorp, says fertilizer should be part of that plan.  “Use a starter, position yourself for success within your fertilization program, and don’t rush into fields that aren’t quite fit for planting,” he says.

Mullen tells Brownfield when it comes to making a spring fertilizer application, farmers shouldn’t discount their prior growing seasons.  “If you have a history of seeing things like phosphorus stress early in the growing season or is there a history of seeing potassium stress as that crop approaches pollination,” he says.  “Is there nitrogen stress even before the corn pops its tassel?”

Mullen also says it’s important not to get too anxious to start planting.  “The easiest way to decrease yield potential is to do something to hurt the root development of that crop,” he says.  “If we get in when it’s too wet, we create sidewall compaction.”

Mullen says creating a weaker root system can also reduce yield potential – especially if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate later in the growing season.