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Know your population “sweet spot”

An agronomist says growers need to know what their “population sweet spot” is heading into planting.

Rob Wentz, who covers east central Minnesota for Peterson Farms Seed, tells Brownfield there’s been a big push in recent years to increase seed populations.

“I’ve seen several examples where growers have either tried to take too much advice or just forgot what their sweet spot is.  So finding that sweet spot is really important.”

With growers continuously changing seed technologies, he says optimum planting populations could vary from one product to the next.

“So they need to make sure they’re getting the best advice from their seed advisor and seed dealer, making sure that they’re at the proper population.”

He says there are other considerations too, like row width, soil type and fertility management.

Generally, the farmers Wentz works with plant corn between 26,000 and 38,000 seeds per acre.

The seeding rate for soybeans is typically 120,000 to 180,000.

 

 

 

 

 

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