Precision Planting: As we’ve seen in other studies, like our soybean planting date study, hitting this window is vital to achieving your maximum yields and profit.
When the goal is to maximize cover crop biomass ahead of soybean planting, producers are sometimes faced with the dilemma between allowing the cover crop more time to grow and the desire to plant soybeans as early as possible within the recommended planting window.
Some 81% of corn was reported emerged, above both the 76% emerged last year and the 64% emerged in the week prior. The 5-year average emergence rate for this week was 70%.
According to the latest USDA Crop Progress report, some 3% of corn has emerged in the week ended April 25, in line with the 3% emerged in the same week last year but below the 5-year average of 4%.
Soybean planting is well ahead of the five-year average through mid-May and provides an opportunity to consider cover crops. John Pike, agronomic consultant and researcher at Pike Ag, Marion, spoke of developing a system to successfully manage soybeans and cover crops in a breakout sessions at the Illinois Soybean Association’s Soybean Summit. Read more in this article from AgriNews.
The National No-Tillage Conference returns January 6-9, 2026!Build and refine your no-till system with dozens of new ideas and connections at the 34th Annual National No-Tillage Conference in St. Louis, Jan. 6-9, 2026. Experience an energizing 4-day agenda featuring inspiring general session speakers, expert-led No-Till Classrooms and collaborative No-Till Roundtables. Plus, Certified Crop Adviser credits will be offered.
We are in Carroll, Ohio at Walnut Creek Seeds Farm, home of the legendary Dave Brandt and we are going to toss it off to our cover crop segment here with Dave Brandt’s grandson — Chris.