This week’s planting report comes from C.J. Parker, Case IH Crop Production Specialist covering Michigan, northwest Ohio and the northern half of Indiana. C.J. grew up on a corn and soybean farm in Dwight, Ill., about 80 miles south of Chicago. His dad, uncle and cousin still operate the farm. At Case IH for more than two years, C.J. spent the previous five years as a seed production agronomist. Read his report and let us know if you’re dealing with weeds in any of your fields and how you’re getting rid of them.
Planting is finally underway and going strong. The majority of farmers will be finishing up corn by the end of this week and the first part of next week, depending on the weather. Farmers started planting about May 1 and have been working long hours to get the ground tilled and crops planted.
Like most other locations, weather has caused delays. From an agronomical perspective, the prime opportunity to get the highest yield is to get corn planted by the last week of April. While it’s not abnormal to start planting the first week of May, it’s made a lot of farmers anxious.
If growers were able to get their corn in, they’re moving on to soybeans right away. If they have the manpower, some growers have even been planting both crops at the same time. There are quite a few seed corn producers in my area, and they’re getting started now, too. They usually get a later start anyway, so the weather hasn’t delayed them as much. In Michigan, sugar beets are in the ground.
Because we got a later start, the weeds have already set in in many fields. Growers have been using the Case IH True-Tandem™ 330 Turbo to help control those weeds and level out the soil. It costs a lot less to use the 330 Turbo than it does to spray for weeds. There’s another advantage to getting rid of the weeds yourself: if a co-op sprays, farmers have to wait a few days before planting beans. If a producer uses the 330 Turbo, he can clear the seed bed and get in the field right away.
The Case IH Early Riser® planter has been performing well this spring, leaving much less sidewall compaction. This will offer benefits later in the season, especially if it turns up dry.
Case IH equipment’s Agronomic Design is helping farmers ensure consistent seed depth, which will lead to more uniform and earlier emergence.
Because of the late start due to weather, I’m hearing that a lot of growers are not fertilizing the ground before they’re planting. They plan to go back and sidedress later.
I have enjoyed reading these reports this spring. Keep up the great job that all involved are doing.
1200 Planter was great this year again, will plant into some no-till places you wouldn’t think possible.