News

Work to do before planting begins

There’s work to do BEFORE planting begins.

Shaun Casteel, Extension soybean specialist at Purdue University says work begins by looking back at where things ended in 2014.

“Corn yields were great, exceptional, harvest was later than normal, we got frozen soils so we didn’t get fertilizer applied and we didn’t get tillage on a lot of this ground,” Casteel said. “So, that’s at the top of my mind as we enter spring, what can we do to prep this ground for a good soybean crop.”

And with lower commodity prices, farmers are paying close attention to the bottom line, but Casteel says you might want to think twice before cutting corners when it comes to fertilizer.

“We need to make sure we have enough soil fertility to make that decision,” the Extension soybean specialist said. “Most cases I’d say you still need to apply it, I know windows are tight in the spring, but boy if you’re short on phosphorus and potassium in beans you’re going to be short on yield.”

Casteel was on the program at the Conservation Tillage Expo held at Ohio Northern University.

Audio: Shaun Casteel, Extension soybean specialist, Purdue University