The drought monitor report as of Tuesday, April 8th shows a slight improvement across the state. Our entire area is in moderate drought. The six to ten-day outlook (April 15 to 19) indicates a 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures and a 33 to 40% of leaning above normal for precipitation. The eight to 14-day outlook (April 17 to 23) indicates a 40 to 50% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures and a continued 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation. Above normal precipitation would matter as we are entering the time of year with three plus inches per month.
Today, we are almost to mid-April. Most producers are either done or in the middle of prepping planters and/or drills to plant row crops for 2025. Seed has been ordered. Preplant fertilizers applied. Weed control determined. Maybe a producer has strip tilled, performed other tillage or is going no-till. Next comes deciding when to plant. What conditions should a producer be looking for?
• Most have already decided on seeding rates. Under irrigation, producers are likely set on their seed drop. However, it doesn’t hurt to look at the temperature and precipitation outlooks for the summer. Even with irrigation, extreme heat and drought can hurt irrigated yields significantly. Under dryland conditions, it pays to evaluate soil moisture at planting as well as the long-term outlook.
• A general rule for planting dates is earlier is better than later almost every year. There naturally are exceptions. The goal is to plant to hopefully avoid the most extreme heat and moisture conditions at the critical time which is a little before flowering until several weeks after. Naturally, the long-term average conditions may not apply. An example, we are at mid-April. Over the long-term average conditions, it’s time to start planting dryland corn, especially south of the river. The 10-to-14-day outlook says it’s fine. Some years, we have even had snow this late.
Next, when to plant corn, soybeans, and grain sorghum.
• Corn – If the two-inch soil temperature is at least 50 degrees at noon, the soil is warm enough to plant. And while not overly wet, there is adequate soil moisture for planting. Soil temperature date may be obtained from the Mesonet at the K-State Research and Extension website. Even if temperatures would cool a bit, most corn and sorghum seed is treated with a fungicide and insecticide and would be fine. This gives the plants the best chance of tasseling, silking, setting and developing seed normally before the worst summer heat and drought occur.
• Sorghum can be planted around mid-May through most of June, earlier below the river and a bit later above. It can work around harsh conditions at planting.
• Soybeans may be planted after the danger of freezing and under 40 degree temperatures has passed. Their critical period is later than corn and sorghum and they flower based on night length here, not heat accumulation.
Dr. Victor L. Martin is the agriculture instructor/coordinator for Barton Community College. He can be reached at 620-792-9207, ext. 207, or martinv@bartonccc.edu.
