Agronomy Zone 10

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• Stine Seed (21)
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Now that most 2012 seed decisions have been finalized, it’s time to start thinking about planting season. While there are many things you can do to your fields to prepare, here are a few key steps to ensure a successful bean crop.

·Use the best genetics and traits

Stine® LibertyLink® and Stine® Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® are superior varieties.

·Fertilize well

With higher overall corn yields lately, more of the P and K have been removed from the soil, which hurts the soybean yield.

Properly fertilizing your soybean crop will give you top yield.

·Use seed treatments and fungicides, as they are proven yield enhancers

·Try something new

Soybeans need more intensive management to increase the yields, and each layer of management tends to add to the final yield.

Why should I go to a field day? Note, I said field day, not a plot day. At a Stine Seed field day, we offer more than just looking at corn and soybean seed plots. Stine field days have seed treatments, population, traits information, fungicides studies and more. We try and make it an agronomy-filled educational day for you to learn the latest information. Of course, the newest Stine genetics will be on display for you to get an advance look.

What should I look at in the field? I would look at how each hybrid and/or variety handles the stress of this year. Compare how treatments, traits, population and genetics are handling the extremes of the 2011 growing season.

With all the changes in the seed you purchase, Stine field days can help you make good decisions for 2012.  

Today I was scouting fields and I saw the first signs of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in my region. So once again, we have to deal with this unwanted virus in our fields. The end rows and low spots of the field were most affected by SDS, which wasn’t surprising. Compacted and poor drainage areas are most susceptible to SDS.

What can we do? Nothing this year, but we should make notes so we can try to prevent the problem from re-occurring the next time we plant soybeans in this field. For example, if you have a history of SDS in certain areas—don’t plant early—plant those fields last; use a seed with proven resistance; and try to reduce soil compaction. I really believe that drainage and compaction are the two main risk factors for SDS. I also suggest that you plant varieties with higher Cyst Nematode resistance. Finally, try to maintain optimum levels of PH and soil fertility because this helps to reduce stress on the plant.  

It's the age-old question: do we start planting now, or wait for warmer weather? I've already fielded several such calls this season. While we have seen some pretty nice temps lately, the fact that we haven't yet been able to put together a consistent stretch of warm weather makes this question more difficult than usual to answer.

So, how do you decide? I like to look not just at where the temps are currently, but also at the direction that temps are going. If the current soil temperature is above 50 degrees F and the 5-7 day weather forecast trend is toward increasing temps, then go ahead and plant; if not, it would probably be best to wait. Corn needs soil temperatures exceeding 50 degrees in order to germinate properly; for soybeans, temps should be closer to 60. With soybeans it is especially critical to have soil temps going up, as a drop in temperatures in the first 48 hours after planting really hurts soybean germination.

One last thing: always remember soil conditions are just as important as soil temps, especially when planting before May 1. If the soil is wet then wait until conditions are favorable, otherwise your stand will be uneven at best.

Click here to view a map of soil temps across Iowa. Good luck, and hopefully warmer weather will come and stay.