Determining ‘Fit’ Planting Conditions

It was a busy weekend for field activity. DuPont Pioneer field agronomist Martin Johnson, who covers portion of southern North Dakota and northern South Dakota, says a lot of planting has taken place, but not every field is fit to go. “The top is really starting to dry off in some areas. However, we’re seeing some sidewall smearing that has been going on with the planters,” says Johnson. “If we see sidewall smearing, that means we should pull back out of that field to make sure we don’t have a detrimental start right out of the gate.” Planting depth is also critical. The recommended rate for corn is 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 inches.