Del Massey, Case IH Crop Production Product Specialist who covers parts of Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and the Bootheel region of Missouri, kicks off our 2014 planting reports. Del grew up on a farm in northeast Arkansas, growing corn, rice and soybeans. The farm is still in operation today. He’s been with Case IH for four years – the past two years as a Crop Production Product Specialist.
Read his report below and let us know if planting has started in your area. We want to hear from you!
Farmers in southern Texas try to start planting in February to beat the hot weather, so the corn crop there is already mostly planted. Texas rice growers were held up a bit by rain but have got 40-50 percent of rice planted so far. Some milo also is being planted.
Producers in Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee are starting to plant corn, popcorn and rice. Soybean planting is expected to start in late April or early May.
In some parts of Texas water is being rationed, so that’s having an impact on what crops farmers are choosing to plant, especially in areas where rice is usually grown.
Crop prices also are having an impact on what’s being planted. For example, in the Delta region, it’s anticipated not as much corn will be planted as in previous years. Instead, growers will likely shift back to growing cotton and rice, whose prices have held their own.
I enjoy facilitating a half dozen “jump-start” meetings each spring. These half-day, informal meetings cover a wide variety of topics to help producers maximize their equipment. We include a walk-around of the Case IH Early Riser® 5 series planter and Precision DiskTM 500/500T air drill. These are great opportunities for new operators and experienced professionals to ask questions of Case IH product specialists. A series of videos helping you make sure your Early Riser planter is ready to perform its best can be found here.
A Case IH Early Riser planter can help achieve earlier emergence. Those extra days give a longer growing season and accelerate the entire plant growth process. Early Riser planters also are excellent at helping seeds use every bit of moisture, which is really important for producers who may experience dry conditions. To find out more about how Case IH Early Riser planters can help you achieve photocopy plants in your field, watch this video.
Customers are raving about the Precision Disk 500 air drills. They like the flotation and how quickly they can get in the field, even in softer soils, helping them maximize the time between rains. These drills provide accurate seed placement, while section control allows growers not to double-plant, saving them money.
To learn more about agronomic considerations at planting and photocopy plants, click here to request the new Agronomic Design Insights report on seed placement accuracy.