In Indiana the pace of planting is behind after a very eventful winter and spring weather wise. In the southern part of the state where planters would normally be in high gear, Glen Murphy, Technical Agronomist for Asgrow and DEKALB says farmers are about 2 weeks behind the norm.
“But I do like the overall demeanor of our farmer customers in terms of not getting out there and forcing things before they need to take place,” he told HAT.
And that demeanor, avoiding planting before the soil is ready, leads to better seed beds.
“There is plenty of data to support that you can plant corn in June,” Murphy added, “and have an exception year of corn yields. A lot of that is out of our hands, but what is in our hands is good common sense, patience that we’re not getting out there too soon because a good seed bed is critical for uniform emergence, and uniform emergence of any row crop is one of those critical steps for optimal yield potential.”
Friday Murphy told HAT field work was in full swing in Kentucky and the very southern tip of Indiana. With 7-10 forecasts projecting warmer temperatures he expects a flurry of activity in the southern half of Indiana this week, especially where they missed any Easter weekend rains.
“In fact, I would expect planters will be rolling all over Indiana if we can just miss the rains through Easter weekend.
He hasn’t noticed anything different with spring weeds, other than a delay in their emergence, and now that they’re coming up he figures to see a lot of sprayers this week. Murphy strongly encourages farmers to get a pre-emergence residual weed program in place if they haven’t already.
“With the exception of those individuals who are going strictly post-emergence programs for very unique reasons, every farmer ought to be considering a pre-emergent herbicide. It’s just a great way to get the crop a head start on the weeds and that goes for both corn and soybean.”
A check around the state over the weekend confirms that farmers in most sections of the state are close to getting into the fields, so rural motorists are encouraged to be prepared to slow down as the big farm machines again roll out.