From planning your yield goal to weed management strategies, these agronomic expert tips will keep you on track during planting season.
Choosing excellent farm tractors and implements would be a great help. Tractors in the economic range, like a Preet Tractor Price, start from just 4 lakhs; such tractors would be a good deal!
So, without wasting much time, let’s get started.
12 Expert Tips For Planting Season Success
1. Create a plan for a progressive yield goal
The first and foremost thing farmers must determine is: creating a yield goal and forming a detailed plan to reach it.
In addition, soil tests are extremely important to know productivity and fertility and learn where to improve. Ideally speaking, this should be done over the fall and winter.
In addition, the plant must be fed no matter how good its genetics are. Finally, you must stick to a plan to help crops succeed, which requires soil health and feeding the plant throughout the growing season.
2. Prepare your planting equipment
Agronomists say approximately 50% to 60% of your yield is determined at planting time. So ensure you have a well-prepared seedbed and start through chemical applications and tillage practices.
To be ready when it’s the “go time,” ensure your planter is prepared and that the weather and field conditions are ideal. Also, make the right adjustments to your equipment for good seed placement.
3. Quality tires translate to savings
Agronomists emphasize having quality tires on when doing fieldwork to avoid a flat or a need to repair. Because during planting season, the last thing we want to do is repair.
We want to focus on preventive maintenance upfront to use our money effectively.
4. Keep timing and weed maintenance upfront
Weather is the biggest challenge. So, always note the short and long-term forecast, no matter what your neighbour does.
Agronomists also recommend keeping weeding in mind. Knowing weed profiles and learning how to tackle them is crucial. Be aware of the possible resistance and work accordingly.
The earlier you sow, the longer the window weeds have to grow.
5. Always treat your seed
Think critically about seed treatments and be mindful of their benefits. Farmers can cut costs by treating seeds themselves and using effective measures while tailoring them to their operation.
Treatments protect genetics, but they don’t necessarily improve them. Therefore, genetics is very important, an enhancer we must take advantage of.
6. Check your equipment thrice a day
Farmers must get out and check their equipment at least thrice daily.
No matter how high-end Technology you’re using, perform a cross-section dig to ensure depth, down pressure, and singulation work effectively.
Also, look if the row units are straight and your opening discs are within the specifications. Finally, Technology comes at a cost; for instance, a Kubota Tractor price is above 10 lakhs!
7. Know the cost of poor weeding
In managing cost vs yield, understand that spending less on weeding is much more expensive.
A general rule of thumb is a 2% potential yield loss for every stage of delayed weed control.
8. Apply post-emergent products to control weed growth
Overlapping residuals can help prevent weed escapes! Ideally, use postemergence before a new weed pops up.
9. Leverage Technology
A of technology can help advance your skills and management of your operation:
- Excel is a great way to track throughout the planting season.
- With the increase in online training, there is greater access to experts and new technologies.
- Contact seed salesperson and local agronomist for recommendations.
10. Get on the ground and Scout!
Step out of the tractor and walk fields regularly during planting season while doing root digs to look for signs of feeding.
Also, understanding past history will help determine what trait platform is needed for plants.
11. Consider other eco-friendly options too
Try incorporating other environmentally – and economically friendly – alternatives into farms, such as harnessing solar energy.
Using sustainable resources is a great way to further your organic endeavours. Sharing equipment with other local farmers can also be beneficial.
By splitting the costs and sharing the tools with your neighbours, you will reduce investment costs and enjoy higher profit margins.
12. Introduce Friendly Insects
Depending on your plants, some insects will help them thrive and protect your plants from other harmful insects.
It’s all part of a balanced planting ecosystem. For example, Ladybugs are important when protecting your farm from aphids, mites, mealybugs and other pests.
Final Thoughts
Agronomists’ best advice is to prevent things from running out of hand because once the plants are damaged, they’re damaged. A fungicide is only meant to protect, not cure.