Examine emergence through the year

TREMONT – One of the most important factors of the crop year is emergence, which means it is never too early to start thinking about the next season.

As harvest is underway, it is a good time to examine conditions out in the field.

“We really look at how big of an impact emergence has on the crop,” said Andrew Feucht, product marketing specialist for Precision Planting. “It’s right at the beginning of the crop growth stage and we just think it’s one of the most important things for growers to focus on.”

Harvest season allows producers to evaluate the consistency of plant stands and examine stalk size. Once crops are planted, farmers should consider whether or not they really have uniform emergence.

“Are we really getting out and walking the fields?” asked Feucht.

Three factors Precision Planting suggests considering include: uniform emergence, understanding why emergence matters and the causes of uneven emergence and what can be done about it. The company believes in educating growers on some of the basics to improve that planter pass and the overall operation.

Main causes of uneven emergence include poor seed to soil contact, inconsistent moisture availability which involves depth and residue in the furrow.

“We do have a number of different products that focus on those and address those issues.”

Precision Planting recently released a new product for residue management called Reveal, which is a new row cleaner.

“That’s one of the things we are selling right now and we had a great year last year with it,” noted Feucht.

Customers are excited about the control Reveal gives them to ensure residue is properly managed in the furrow. Another product known as SmartFirmer allows farmers to learn what is going on in the furrow. A number of different products are available as well.

A good information resource is the website www.precisionplanting.com/emergence. Plenty of company experts are also available by calling the corporate line: 309-925-5050. Precision Planting Premier dealers are located throughout the United States and around the world that can assist farmers.