News

A slow and steady approach for spring planting

An agronomist from central Minnesota says planting slowly in the right soil conditions is better than planting quickly in mud.

Peterson Farms Seed Lead Agronomist Rick Swenson tells Brownfield it’s all about giving the crop a good start, which means farmers may have to wait a few weeks before planting.

“To mud it in, you’re still costing yourself half of your yield at times. Make sure conditions are right, especially with soil temperatures at 50 degrees.”

And when it’s time to plant, Swenson says double check behind the planter for good seed to soil contact.

“The planter may say this is at a proper depth, but we’ve seen too many fields in the last few years planted too shallow.”

USDA says there were fewer than three days suitable for fieldwork in the last week in Minnesota and South Dakota.