DON’T TOSS THE BAG BEFORE SAVING THE TAG

If you’re one of many growers who describe spring planting as “the most exciting time of the year," don’t miss one important “save” in the excitement of loading the planter.

Save the seed tag.

Planting may sound “simple and exciting,” but it’s only through a series of not-so-simple, proper steps that you “ensure perfect plant stands,” said Craig Gustafson,  Federated’s VP of agronomy operations. “This is the starting point of anchoring maximum yield,” he said.

And those seed tags can save Federated – and you – from “excitement” of another sort: spraying herbicide-tolerant traited crops with the wrong herbicide.

Gustafson offered these suggestions to help avoid an accidental spraying mistake on herbicide-tolerant traited crops:

• - Keep good planting records (field maps, variety/herbicide-tolerant trait, planting dates, acres, etc.). Make notes as you go – don’t rely on your memory to know what seed you planted in any given field.
• - Save the seed tags. You can save the bags, cut off and save the edge where the seed info is marked, or take photos of the tags before tossing the bags.
• - Plant an entire field with only one herbicide-tolerant traited variety (even if it’s inconvenient, or if you run out of one type of seed), and avoid mixing herbicide-tolerant traited seed in the planter.
• - Share planting records with your local Federated Agronomist, along with seed tag info, prior to any herbicide application.

“Planting is an exciting time of the year,” said Gustafson, and saving those seed tags will keep the excitement focused on good crop stands and great yields!

Work safely and keep in touch with your Federated Agronomist this spring.