XtremeAg farmers, Kelly Garrett, Matt Miles and Kevin Matthews weigh their early planting choices versus the chance of elevated plant stress.
KELLY GARRETT – ARION, IOWA
A fifth-generation farmer, Kelly Garrett farms corn, soybeans, and winter wheat in western Iowa.
We obtained 0.2 inches of rain this previous week. Not loads, however we want all the assistance we are able to get with regards to soil moisture at this level. We introduced the cows in off the corn stalk fields final week so we are able to get able to get within the fields with the planter. I’m very enthusiastic about this upcoming season due to every part we’ve discovered via our XtremeAg trials. My focus this 12 months goes to be on lowering stress ranges on the plant. As I’ve mentioned earlier than, I imagine that we’re in an excellent place with regards to our fertility program, and most of our yield loss is a results of in-season stress.
Picture credit score: Iowa Environmental Mesonet
I hope to have the ability to plant beans over the last week of March. That will be thought-about very early for our farm. We’re planning on utilizing merchandise kind Agricen and AgXplore in-furrow to assist cut back stress attributable to the potential for colder climate that comes with an early planting. If the beans are up and we see the circumstances are proper for a freeze then we are going to do an software of Protect from Built-in Ag Options to mitigate the results. We imagine that earlier planted beans have a better yield potential, however additionally they have a better danger of elevated stress in cooler soils and erratic spring climate.
We’re working with Iowa State, Netafim, Nutradrip, and Agricen to run a trial on stress mitigation via our drip irrigation utilizing Agricen’s stress mitigation. We predict this analysis could possibly be ground-breaking for farmers.
MATT MILES – MCGEHEE, ARKANSAS
Matt Miles is a fourth-generation farmer in southeast Arkansas who grows corn, soybeans, rice, and cotton.
It’s been 15 days since we planted our first area of beans and imagine it or not, the beans look fairly good! Solely downside is they’re nonetheless staying beneath the bottom. Are you able to blame them actually? It’s been chilly and moist since they first began to indicate life. Surprisingly, they’re simply as wholesome as if it was the month of Could. They’re about three-quarters of an inch from breaking via the soil. We’ve got some antagonistic climate predicted within the subsequent few weeks, so solely time will inform if this experiment is a failure or success. Then in fact we should get them via the season.
Picture credit score: XtremeAg
My spouse says I’m a pessimist, however I say I’m a realist. I’ll smile both method understanding that I probably helped somebody both hold from planting too early or exhibiting them that it may be executed. At XtremeAg we attempt various things, and win or lose, if the outcomes assist even one farmer succeed then we’ve succeeded. Hope to see you all on the Commodity Traditional and we are able to speak. Seems to be like we gained’t be within the area subsequent week.
KEVIN MATTHEWS – EAST BEND, NORTH CAROLINA
Kevin and his spouse, Cindy, personal and function Matthews Household Farms of North Carolina, Inc., Precision Nutrient Administration, Inc., and Deep Creek Grain, Inc. in East Bend and Yadkinville.
March has introduced some good climate to this point. It has allowed us to get some area work executed sooner than anticipated. We’re placing fertilizer on our corn land and our wheat received one other shot of fertilizer as properly. Every thing is trying fairly good at this level, however we’re trying slightly nearer and contemplating spending a number of further {dollars} to push that yield up. We’re already planning to make use of merchandise like Nachur’s End Line and Idea Agritek’s Candy Success.
Picture credit score: XtremeAg
It has been an actual problem this 12 months to rebuild our planters this 12 months with all the availability chain points. Fortunately, the components are exhibiting up, nevertheless it usually takes two months to get the whole product. These delays make me nervous contemplating our aim is to be planting by the tip of March.
We’ll see you all on the Commodity Traditional!
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