Considerations for Planting into Dry Conditions
Jenny Rees - Extension Educator
As of April 11, 2024, the Nebraska Drought Monitor shows 55% of Nebraska in moderate to exceptional drought (D1-D4), compared to 98% a year ago. Planting is critical for everything else that happens during the growing season. This article shares our UNL planting considerations and provides additional considerations when planting into dry conditions.
Agronomic Considerations
Soil Conditions
This is perhaps the most critical component to planting because soil conditions set the stage for the decisions we make regarding planter adjustments, which crop is planted and planting depth. Some areas of the state received some fall/winter/spring precipitation to help with replenishing soil moisture, while other areas continue to have a lack of subsoil moisture due to lack of precipitation events. When planting into drier conditions, increased down pressure is most likely necessary; however, be careful of causing any sidewall compaction.
Soil Moisture, Temperature and Planting Depth
Corn needs to absorb 35% of its weight in moisture to complete the imbibition (water uptake) phase of germination. When adequate soil moisture is available, this typically occurs within 48 hours. Soybean needs to absorb 50% of its weight in moisture to complete the imbibition process. When adequate soil moisture is available, recent research has shown imbibition can occur anywhere from eight to 24 hours. Once imbibition has occurred, soybean seeds enter an osmotic phase and are quite tolerant of soil temps as low as 35-40°F, although extended low soil temperatures can be expected to lengthen the germination to emergence timeframe.
In general, we’d recommend planting into soil temperatures as close to 50°F as possible and when the forecast is calling for warm temperatures the next few days, as that would also help increase the soil temperature. Avoid planting prior to a cold snap (cold rain/snow) within eight to 24 hours for soybean and 48 hours for corn. You can take soil temperatures using a thermometer or you can view soil temperatures on CropWatch. Also be aware that soil moisture can help buffer soil temperatures, reducing larger swings.
How does soil moisture impact planting depth? Research has consistently shown the need for corn to be planted at least 1.5 to two inches deep. UNL showed best soybean yields were obtained by planting at a 1.75-inch depth. So, the short answer — aiming for close to two inches is a good consideration for both corn and soybean. Planting shallower than 1.5 inches leads to more impacts on root development in corn, such as rootless corn syndrome. Proper seeding depth for soybean helps keep that seed in buffered soil moisture and temperature when planted early. It also aids that seedling from emerging too early.
Ensuring a good soil-seed contact is key to emergence success. When seeds fall into an air pocket or rows are not well closed, the imbibition phase can be interrupted or never occur. Digging up some seeds when starting planting to check for proper soil-seed contact and moisture around the seed and regulating the planter accordingly is advised.
Uniform emergence is more important for corn than soybean. Because of this, Rob Nielsen, emeritus extension agronomist at Purdue shares, “When seedbed conditions are dry, make sure you choose a seeding depth that ensures uniformly adequate soil moisture for (corn) germination and emergence. Even though a 1.5- to two-inch seeding depth is a good choice for many conditions, do not hesitate to increase seeding depth to 2.5 or three inches if that is the depth where uniform soil moisture is located.” When it comes to soybean, we wouldn’t recommend planting much deeper than 2.5 inches.
Seeding Rates
For corn seeding rates, it’s best to check with your local seed dealer as all our research shows that optimal corn population varies by hybrid. For those concerned about moisture in non-irrigated or limited-irrigated situations, one may consider using a hybrid with higher flex at a reduced seeding rate.
For soybean, our recommendation after 17 years of on-farm research studies (2006-2023) in heavier textured soils and 30-inch rows continues to be: plant 120,000 seeds/acre, aim for a final plant stand of 100,000 plants/acre and you’ll save money without reducing yields. If that’s too scary, try reducing your rate to 140,000 seeds/acre or try testing it for yourself via on-farm research!
Herbicide Considerations
PPO inhibitors are an effective chemistry often used for pre-emergence application in soybean. The different PPO-inhibiting active ingredients, products and timing restrictions can be reviewed in this article. Soybean injury can occur in situations where the seed/germinating seed comes in contact with the PPO-inhibiting herbicide and via water splash onto the emerged soybean hypocotyl and cotyledons.
Some considerations to reduce injury to soybean include:
Do NOT apply a PPO inhibitor herbicide if the seed vee is not closed, the soil is cracking along the seed trench or the soybean is beginning to emerge or has already emerged. Another option if one is concerned about PPO inhibitor injury is to consider using a Group 15 herbicide (such as acetochlor, pyroxasulfone, etc.) for residual in a post-emergence application once the soybean has emerged. Remember that residual herbicides applied post-emergence do not have foliar activity, so they will not control emerged weeds but would prevent the emergence of new weeds.
Do not plant soybean shallow (less than 1.5 inches), particularly if the soil at seeding depth is dry. If a PPO inhibitor is applied in these conditions, it can allow the soybean to imbibe water with the herbicide in it, particularly if a rain and/or irrigation event occurs after application.
If soybean is planted into moisture, herbicide can be applied within a few days and watered in as long as the seed vee is closed and no soil cracking of the trench is occurring.
Irrigation Considerations
Irrigating Prior to Crop Planting
In general, we would only suggest watering before planting if the planter needs higher soil moisture levels to work well. So, if the soil is too hard, too powdery or cloddy, it may be worth running the pivot. Another situation to consider pre-watering is if greater than 180 lb/ac anhydrous ammonia was applied in a strip with less than two inches of moisture received since application to help reduce ammonia burn to the corn. Otherwise, our recommendation is to run the pivot after you plant if needed.
Irrigation Considerations Early in the Year
Running center pivots early in the season do have some extra challenges. First, keep in mind cold nights. The usual recommendation is not to run a pivot when temperatures are below 40°F. The past few years, several pivots were operated below 40°F without problem, but keep in mind with low dewpoints the pivot can ice up when the actual air temperature is well above 32. So, if you do choose to run in these conditions, keep a close eye out for ice buildup.
Secondly, bare, powdery soils will seal over very easily from rain or irrigation, so keep an eye out for runoff problems even with fairly low application amounts. And thirdly, make sure if you do irrigate that you put on enough to get water down to the moist soil below. This is particularly a problem with tillage or where fertilizer knives have been used and dried the soil out.
Irrigating for Herbicide Activation
It’s important that herbicides are activated with 0.5- to 0.75-inch of rainfall or irrigation, preferentially within five to seven days after herbicide application. If moisture received is less than this amount, some herbicide products have the potential to remain on the soil for up to 14 days without being fully activated. We will have to see how the high winds blowing soil and removing soil particles containing herbicide impact future weed control.
Irrigating to Reduce Urea Loss
For those who applied dry or liquid urea on the soil surface, particularly without the use of an inhibitor, irrigation of 0.5-inch can help with incorporating the urea into the soil and minimize urea loss. If irrigation is not available, an inhibitor was not used and no rainfall has been received within seven days, monitor the corn crop to determine if nitrogen deficiency occurs due to nitrogen loss. The losses can occur early and be significant if there is high surface crop residue, high soil temperature (>70°F), moist soil, high soil pH (>7.0), or sandier soils while the losses can be lower with dry soil, cooler soil temperature (<70°F), low soil pH (<7.0), bare soil or clayey soils.
Irrigating in Strip-till
Regardless of whether anhydrous was applied in the fall or spring, and regardless of amount applied, ammonia burn may occur due to the dry conditions. Sometimes ammonia burn is seen early with seed germination and emergence. Most often, it is seen when roots get to four to eight inches long and hit the ammonia band. Irrigation can help alleviate the impacts of the ammonia injury.
Irrigating and Cold Water Impacts
John Mick, Pioneer agronomist, shared that water from irrigation wells in the southern part of the state often is around 50-53°F, with it slightly less in temperature as one moves north in the state. These temperatures are not a problem to be concerned with regarding any negative impacts to seeds imbibing water.
Each field situation will vary and we hope these considerations will help as you begin or continue this year’s planting season!
Free Farm and Ag Law Clinics Set for April
Free legal and financial clinics are being offered for farmers and ranchers across the state in April. The clinics are one-on-one in-person meetings with an agricultural law attorney and an agricultural financial counselor. These are not group sessions, and they are confidential.
The attorney and financial advisor specialize in legal and financial issues related to farming and ranching, including financial and business planning, transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, debt structure and cash flow, agricultural disaster programs, and other relevant matters. Here is an opportunity to obtain an independent, outside perspective on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch.
Clinic Dates
Wednesday, April 3 — Fairbury
Thursday, April 25 — Norfolk
Friday, April 26 — Greeley
To sign up for a free clinic or to get more information, call the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258. Funding for this work is provided by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska.
Grassley, Hoeven Work to Strengthen Crop Insurance
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in introducing legislation to strengthen crop insurance and make higher levels of coverage more affordable for producers.
“A strong crop insurance program is integral to the success of America’s farming operations. Yet, when disaster strikes, many farmers find themselves without adequate coverage,” Grassley said. “Our bill will allow existing farm safety nets to function as intended, ensuring farmers have access to the coverage they need, while alleviating the need for costly, future ad-hoc assistance.”
“Crop insurance is an essential piece of the farm safety net, providing farmers with their most important risk management tool as they work to continue providing Americans with the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world. I have heard from producers across North Dakota about the need to make this important program more affordable. As such, we’re working to not only defend crop insurance, but improve it. That’s how we’re going to keep the farm in the farm bill,” Hoeven said.
“Time and time again, it’s become painfully obvious that our farmers need improved access to high coverage crop insurance plans that adequately cover all the challenges in a growing season,” Ernst said. “To protect our ag community, I’m fighting to improve federal crop insurance and ensure that dollars in the Farm Bill actually go towards safeguarding our food and fields, not pie-in-the-sky climate change policies.”
The Federal Agriculture Risk Management Enhancement and Resilience (FARMER) Act would:
Increase premium support for higher levels of crop insurance coverage, which will enhance affordability and reduce the need for ad-hoc disaster assistance.
Improve the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) by increasing premium support and expanding the coverage level, which would provide producers an added level of protection.
Direct the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to conduct a study to improve the effectiveness of SCO in large counties.
Not require producers to choose between purchasing enhanced crop insurance coverage or participating in Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, giving them flexibility to make decisions that work best for their operations.
Unlike Senate Democrats’ proposal, the Grassley-backed FARMER Act would not require American producers to choose between enhanced crop insurance coverage and commodity support programs.
Grassley, Hoeven and Ernst are joined by Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).
The FARMER Act has garnered support from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa Corn Growers Association. National endorsers include the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association.
Iowa Dairy Farmers, Poultry Producers Encouraged to Remain Vigilant Against Threat of HPAI
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today provided an update on the continually evolving situation regarding the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle and poultry flocks in other states, strongly encouraged both dairy farmers and poultry producers to heighten their biosecurity protocols and practices, and reminded consumers that pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe to enjoy.
“Through our daily communications with federal partners and colleagues in other states, as well as with Iowa State University and industry stakeholders, we continue to seek and learn new information about this developing and evolving situation with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “There are still many questions that are not yet fully answered, so we will remain closely engaged as we carefully evaluate our response to these changing dynamics. Consumers can feel confident that pasteurized milk and dairy products and properly prepared poultry continue to be safe to enjoy.”
As of Friday, April 12, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is not aware of any cases of HPAI in dairy cattle or poultry in Iowa. Other states, including Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Idaho, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and South Dakota have all reported cases in recent days or weeks. Several states have recently reported cases of HPAI in commercial or backyard poultry. Iowa’s last case in a commercial poultry flock was reported on November 23, 2023. Iowa’s last case in a backyard poultry flock was reported on December 19, 2023. Though a recent case of HPAI was confirmed in a dairy work in Texas, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to believe the threat to humans remains low.
Heightened Biosecurity Protocols and Practices
With spring migration in full swing, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is strongly reminding Iowa poultry producers and dairy farmers to bolster their biosecurity practices and protocols to protect their flocks and herds. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has biosecurity recommendations for dairy herds to utilize. In addition, the Department has numerous other biosecurity resources for poultry producers and livestock farms to reference on its website.
“Heightened biosecurity on both poultry and cattle farms is critically important to keeping our livestock healthy. We would strongly recommend farmers work with their veterinarian and have a very good understanding of the health status of any herd that they are receiving any cattle from,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Jeff Kaisand. “Veterinarians, poultry producers with sick birds or dairy farmers seeing unusual or suspicious illnesses should report them to the Department at 515-281-5305.”
Report Sick Cattle and Sick Birds
We are strongly encouraging industry partners, farmers and veterinarians to report cattle illnesses quickly to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at 515-281-5305 so that we can monitor any potential cases. The list of symptoms in dairy cattle and poultry can be found on the Department’s website.
Food Safety
It is a longstanding practice that only milk from healthy animals may enter the food supply. The pasteurization process of heating milk to a high temperature ensures milk and dairy products can be safely enjoyed. There is no concern about the safety of pasteurized milk or dairy products. Pasteurization has continually proven to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. It also remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F.
Pork Producers Push Priorities with Members of Congress
About 100 pork producers from around the country participated in the National Pork Producers Councin's spring Legislative Action Conference in Washington, DC last week. They lobbied lawmakers on several issues important to the U.S. pork industry and received updates on other matters of concern.
NPPC staff also updated producers on the economic state of the pork industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) pilot program allowing faster processing line speeds at packing plants, the use of MRNA vaccine technology in livestock production, and efforts to enhance the industry’s live swine traceability system.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) — who serves on the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Nutrition — spoke to producers about Senate prospects for the next farm bill. Sandra Eskin, USDA’s deputy under secretary in the Office of Food Safety, discussed the agency’s line speeds pilot program.
Prior to the fly-in, NPPC President Lori Stevermer, President-elect Duane Stateler, Vice President Rob Brenneman, Past President Scott Hays, and CEO Bryan Humphreys hosted a media briefing that covered the state of the industry and a range of topics, including the farm bill, California Proposition 12, international trade, and labor.
During visits with their lawmakers, producers asked members of Congress to:
Include in the next Farm Bill a legislative fix to California Proposition 12, which bans the sale in the state of pork from hogs born to sows raised anywhere in housing that does not meet California’s arbitrary standards. Of note, Stevermer this week penned an op-ed on new USDA research data, showing increased prices — attributed to Prop. 12 — for bacon, ribs, and loins (the three most purchased products on a volume basis).
Renew and expand key Farm Bill programs that benefit U.S. agriculture, including ones that address foreign animal diseases:
National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program.
National Veterinary Stockpile.
National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank.
Reform the process for securing TN visas, which are widely used to staff hog farm jobs, and expand H-2A visas to year-round agricultural workers to address a farm labor shortage.
Add language in any appropriations bill to defund the promulgation, implementation, and enforcement of a series of pending new Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) rulemakings that could encourage frivolous litigation and change the requirement to show harm to competition.
Support the “Beagle Brigade Act” to provide congressional authority to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Detector Dog Training Center, which trains canines used at U.S. ports of entry to detect agricultural contraband.
Sign a congressional letter to the U.S. Trade Representative, urging them to engage counterparts and utilize all tools available to ensure South Africa provides fair market access for U.S. pork, as outlined in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). South Africa is failing to live up to the market access commitments it negotiated in 2016 when it was being considered for inclusion in AGOA, which allows eligible sub-Saharan African countries to export goods to the United States duty-free.
CHS/Growmark talks end with no action
CHS Statement
In early 2024, the CHS Cooperative and Growmark cooperatives entered into exploratory conversations. Those conversations have concluded and it was determined that no new opportunities will be pursued at this time. CHS and Growmark have had a long-standing relationship. In cooperative spirit, our teams have worked and will continue to work collaboratively on key strategic projects in ways that benefit our farmer-owners and customers across both cooperatives.
CHS refinery earns ENERGY STAR certification
The CHS refinery at McPherson, Kan., has earned ENERGY STAR certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is the first time the refinery has received the certification, which is awarded to industrial facilities that have demonstrated exceptional energy efficiency and environmental performance.
“We are proud to have achieved this milestone,” says Rhett Heflin, vice president of refining, who leads the McPherson team. “It’s a testament to our commitment to continued operational excellence, safety and ongoing efficiency efforts over time. We are committed to continuing our efforts to improve energy efficiency at the refinery and celebrate this achievement while maintaining our focus on providing value for our farmer-owners.”
The McPherson refinery earned ENERGY STAR certification by scoring in the top 25% of comparably sized refiners for energy efficiency (using the Energy Intensity Index). The certification comes with several benefits, including use of the ENERGY STAR plant certification mark and listing in a national registry of certified facilities. To qualify for the one-year certification, the refinery participated in a Solomon study, which analyzes the refinery to measure performance. The survey data was verified by a professional engineer and submitted to the EPA.
“This designation speaks to our efforts across CHS to continue on our sustainability journey,” says Heflin. “I expect our work in this area to grow.”
U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action Elects New Board Officers
U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA), a 501(c)(3) organization with membership including more than 700,000 farmers and ranchers and leading agriculture organizations, has elected two new officers on its Board of Directors. Michael Crinion, farmer and member of the board of directors of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, has been elected chair, and Pamela Edwards, senior director of sourcing strategy at McDonald’s Corporation, was elected to the combined role of secretary/treasurer.
Crinion replaces Marilyn Hershey, farmer and chair of Dairy Management Inc., who remains on the board as immediate past chair.
“It is a privilege to serve as chair of USFRA,” Crinion said. “I hope to carry on Marilyn’s leadership as the organization brings all of American agriculture together, with farmers and ranchers at the center, to tackle critical, long-term issues impacting U.S. agriculture.”
Edwards replaces Crinion as secretary and Steve George, farmer and former chair of American Egg Board, who was treasurer.
“I am pleased to represent McDonald’s on the board of USFRA, where I work with farmers, ranchers and leading organizations to create better understanding of how U.S. agriculture is helping solve some of the world’s greatest challenges,” Edwards said.
Farmer Chip Bowling of Maryland Grain Producers Association remains in his role as vice chair.
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