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Agronomist says choose 2023 seed carefully

An agronomist says farmers should do their homework before selecting seed varieties for the 2023 growing season.

Scott Rowntree with Pioneer tells Brownfield farmers shouldn’t choose a variety based on observations in one or two fields. “If we can get variety comparisons, 20 to 30 comparisons versus just a local seed seller dropping one plot result off from one year, it’s much better to make decisions based on a lot of comparisons across a wider geography and make sure that that decision is repeatable and the hybrid you’re selecting has the best chance of performing.”

Rowntree says farmers should try to select seeds that perform well in different soil types. “Light ground in the field over a knoll and then down into some heavier and wetter ground as well, so it’s good to evaluate that and evaluate performance across different soil types.”

Rowntree says farmers should know their cost of production, and look for seed, chemical, and fertilizer discounts that can save farmers up to about 20% while ensuring delivery of desired products.