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Agronomist says don’t rush to plant

An agronomist with Ohio-based Seed Consultants says many farmers in the eastern Corn Belt should be able to get started planting as early as Monday.

Bill McDonald says although farmers are anxious to get in the fields, there is still plenty of time.

“We don’t have to have quite as big of a window as we used to have,” he says.  “Most people are equipped to get their planting done in a week to 10 days  for corn and then another week to 10 days and their soybeans are in.”

He tells Brownfield farmers should maintain planting intentions until at least June.

“Keep your plan through the month of May and then in June maybe we’ll revisit that and decide to go with a shorter-season variety,” he says. “I’d like to have that corn in by May 20.”

McDonald says planting depth will also be important as the season continues and farmers should stick to an inch and-a-half to two and-a-half inches for corn and one to two inches for soybeans.

Audio: Bill McDonald, Seed Consultants