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Nebraska agronomist expects significant planting progress next week

A Nebraska agronomist is encouraging farmers to wait until field conditions improve before getting in the field.  Steven Johnson with DEKALB Asgrow tells Brownfield farmers really have one shot to get it right.  “In today’s day and age, we can get a lot of things done in a hurry,” he says.  “But it also means that we can make a lot of mistakes in a hurry.  So it’s pretty important to stall if you can when conditions aren’t favorable.”

He tells Brownfield planting conditions were decent to start the month.  “But now we’re seeing a little bit of a cool down here in Nebraska,” he says.  “We’re anticipating a low of 28°,” he says. “I’m going to tell you that’s probably not the best conditions to be planting in. So we’re waiting for the race to start.”

Johnson says a lot of farmers in his area have implemented a fall burndown program and that’s providing growers a head start. “It’s sometimes a challenge to get that spring burndown to be effective,” he says.  “Just because weeds aren’t actively growing when you see fluctuating temperatures, cloudy days, and things of that nature. So it’s been beneficial to put that fall plan in place.”

He says as long as the weather cooperates, he expects planting to start in earnest Monday.

AUDIO: DEKALB/Asgrow agronomist Steven Johnson, Nebraska