I’m about to head out the door into one of the busiest times of the growing season for the agronomist – planting. The soil temperature is rising, the sandhill cranes are migrating north and the calendar says it times to go. For the farmers and supporting personnel, it’s always the highest pressure time of the year – the need to get over the acres as quickly as possible with as few mistakes as possible.
Generally speaking, there’s an ideal planting date. It’s around January 15th in the Rio Grande Valley; February 15th around Corpus Christi; March 1st around Waco, an so on to the north. Research shows that “early” plantings are usually associated with the highest yields. However, there’s risk associated with pushing the envelope and planting too early. Remember that thing called the last frost/freeze date for you area? About the time you get comfortable with warmer than normal winters, you’re quickly reminded that you’re not really in control when it freezes and kills all the emerged corn a day before this date.
Replanting can be expensive but it’s often times minimal compared to the lost yield associated with “late” planting. I get it. This lower yield potential is why growers often accept the risk associated with early planting dates. (And it surely helps when seed companies offer up generous replant support!). Ultimately you have to decide what level of risk you’re willing to accept for your operation. It’s often a conflict between the calendar date and soil moisture available for planting. That’s right, the decision is not easy and to wait is one of the hardest things for a grower to do!
Needless to say, we have one chance to get this right. Yes, once. It’s one thing to look at your garden and say, “I don’t like the way the pepper plants are looking. Let’s pull them and start over.” It’s an entirely different thing to pull up 2,000 acres, each filled with 24,000 plants and just start over. Rarely does the replanted crop yield up to expectations. So remember – you, your family, your neighbors and your landlords will have to look at this crop for the remainder of the year.
So be patient. Let the soil warm up. Let it dry out properly. Avoid the temptation to till when it’s a little too wet. Make sure the planter is ready, seed is in the barn, starter fertilizer tanks are full, and more importantly, make sure you have the mindset of getting it right.
I want you to do well. God, bless our farmers! ~PH
The Refined Woodworking Agronomist 