Ask the Expert

[Jessie_Scott_SF]

Does down force become more critical when you start to plant at higher speeds?

[Jessie_Scott_SF]

Ryan, how about we switch gears and talk a little about planting dates and populations?

• What recommendations do you have for planting populations? How does this vary by soil type?
• Planting windows have been shrinking, thanks to the unpredictable Mother Nature. What can farmers do to get their crop planted during the optimum planting window?

[houghryan]

Next Question "Can I tell much about emergence form my monitor or do I need to get out on my knees and dig up kernels with a putty knife?"

Today's planter monitors allow for outstanding visibility of what is going on within the planting operation.  They've advanced to a point of row-by-row visibility on the go where almost nothing is missed.  But even with these modern technology monitors, they do not replace the need to still get out of the tractor, get down on your knees and dig up seeds to verify everything the monitor is telling you.  Perhaps the putty knife is the only item not required as I prefer a pocket knife....

The advantage is that once the grower is confident and has verified by digging up seeds to check for themselves, he can move forward with a high level of confidence and that if something does occur, they will be quickly alerted and able to address it.

[houghryan]

I usually stay away from giving population recommendations.  That is a complex answer that varies from grower to grower, field to field, and practice to practice.  The fundamentals of understanding what one is hoping to achieve, getting expert advice from trusted advisers, and finally relying on the insights of the grower always apply. 

As far as planting windows, the general consensus is they have been shrinking.  Whether you take a scientific approach to this debate or simply agree, today's growers face many challenges, including mother nature and hitting the optimum planting window. Growers have to balance waiting for the proper soil temperatures and the right moisture conditions with how much "planting" they have to accomplish.  The un-predictability of mother nature and the yield impact of planting seeds too late in the Spring often push growers to increasing their planter sizes or speeding up.  Bigger is straight forward, but can be a challenge in itself to obtain and effectively implement with matching overall operation size.  Bulk fill, combine size, field size, transport, tractor compatibility, etc.

Increasing planter speed in the past often meant sacrificing planting accuracy (spacing, depth control, etc...), but newer technologies such as Deere's ExactEmerge with BrushBelt have helped to break that link between going faster yet maintaining planting accuracy.  Other steps such as proper residue management that starts with the combine, fall and spring tillage practices to ensure proper seedbed prep, and others are also important aspects not to overlook to ensure the optimum planting window.  Mother nature will always be in control, but preparation and planning can sure help.  Stay tuned as Deere is looking towards the future on planting technologies that will further drive quicker planter setup and interactive in-cab adjustments.

[houghryan]

Signing off, but thanks for the all the great questions this morning.  Doug Felter from John Deere will be back tomorrow from 8-10 a.m. to discuss Nutrient Management. 

We will be monitoring this forum in the days to come also, be sure to join in and ask new questions or post your own replies.

Thanks again,

Ryan Hough 

[kaceybirchmier]

I have a few questions from talking to farmers at recent conferences.

- When do rescue nitrogen applications pay? How do you increase the odds of success?

- If you're looking to cut costs from your fertilizer program, what can be slashed without having consequences in following years?

- Do split applications really pay?

- How can cover crops be utilized within a nutrient management plan? What cover crop/mix would you recommend using to increase nutrient efficiency?

[felterdouglasg]

Tomorow morning I will be online to discuss Nutrient Management topics. We hope that the conversations will be thought provoking, and give you ideas to consider for your operations.It is important to note that we are not here to make specific agronomic recommendations for your operation - there are simply too many variables to consider, and it is best to seek local expertise to implement these plans and fully understand their impact. We do hope that the conversations will be thought provoking, and give you ideas to consider for your operations. Some of the things at the forefront in our minds:

• With nutrients being your largest variable cost in corn production, how do you save costs or improve utilization of those inputs?
• Nitrogen makes up the majority of your nutrient costs. You have a choice of nitrogen form, and utilizing anhydrous ammonia could represent a savings of $28/acre versus UAN for the same rate.
• Managing the placement of nitrogen and the proximity to the planted crop row consistently offers equal nutrient access to every plant. This leads to more consistent plants, and potentially more yield overall through these consistent plants.
• Banding P&K has generated a lot of attention, but where should the band be placed? Studies indicate that to improve yield that band needs to be within 0-3" of the row; if the band is further away, broadcast application yields as good or better than banded.
• Improving your data sharing with partners can improve your agronomic insights, and greatly reduce the complexity of data transfer via cards and flash drives.

I look forward to the conversations!

Doug Felter

Product Marketing Manager

John Deere

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

Not counting application costs, is there a benefit to applying P&K to soybean and corn separately each year? Many of us are used to putting it all on the corn year and letting soybeans eat what's left over.

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

Does the ability to apply liquid N closer to the time the plant uses it make up for the higher expense of the product? In a normal year, how much fall-applied NH3 is still available to the plant vice the amount of 32% available in a split application in the spring?

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

From the fertilizer point of view, is there any downside to using liquid N as a carrier in burndown herbicides? Is there any reduction to the effectiveness and efficiency of the nitrogen?