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With planting anticipation high, agronomist stresses soil conditions

A western Illinois agronomist says he expects this weekend’s forecasted warmup to bring some planters out of the shed. 

Lance Tarochione, with Bayer, tells Brownfield…

“By this time last year, there was quite a few acres planted already, so I think, depending on what forecast you look at, looks like we’ll be relatively dry over the next week or 10 days and there’ll probably be some people that are hoping to get in the field,” he says.

He says the calendar might suggest it’s time to start planting, but…

“I like to give soil conditions top priority.”  He says, “Now that it’s April, you know, as long as the soil conditions are good and the weather forecast after planting is good, which tends to be a really important thing. Those first five to seven days after planting.”

Tarochione says farmers should also factor in the size of their operation…

“If you can plant all your corn in three days, and you can plant all your soybeans in three days, you know, then to me it’s too early.”  He says, “If you need two months to plant all of your corn and soybeans, then you gotta start at some point.”

According to the latest crop report from the USDA, 2% of both corn and soybeans have been planted in Illinois. 

AUDIO: Lance Tarochione – Bayer agronomist