Time to Plant? Stop, Go, Think Again.

In a spring that’s on-again, off-again, knowing when it’s time to plant is a shaky proposition.
 
“It takes 150 growing degree units to get corn out of the ground,” said Kevin Carlson, Federated’s agronomy sales manager, adding, you need to look for “a stable [planting] environment.”
 
And when do you find that environment?
 

• When soil temperatures in the morning are steadily at 50 degrees F or higher.
• When nighttime air temperatures aren’t dipping below the 40s.
• When weather conditions for the 48 hours following planting look favorable.
  • No dramatic dips in temps. (This past week in east-central MN and western WI was pretty “normal” in that regard.)
  • No cold precipitation; it cools soil quickly. (A warm rain event is ok, even good.)

 
You can plant with good soil temps and a good short-range forecast and avoid “the chilling effect,” said Carlson.
 
The environments across Federated’s growing areas vary:

• Some beans were planted in Albertville just before April 15.
  • True pre-emerge herbicide application will have a slightly bigger window due to the lower temps and cool rains last week.
• The soil temp in Isanti, in heavy soil, was at 45 degrees F last week. 
• The soil temp in North Branch sandy soil on April 23 was 54 degrees F; the week prior those soils were right at 50 degrees F. 

 
“Most growers know when it’s go time,” said Carlson. But if you have questions, contact your Federated Agronomist.