Kansas Farmers Prepare for Planting Season with Key Agronomic Considerations

Planting Story

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As planting season approaches across Kansas, farmers are beginning to make critical decisions that can impact crop success for the entire year. From soil conditions to seed selection, preparation is key to getting crops off to a strong start.

According to Jeff Schaef, one of the first priorities before planting should be ensuring fields are properly prepared—especially when it comes to weed control.

“When they’re checking their fields, they want to make sure they’ve got good weed control—that they start clean and stay clean,” Schaef explained.

Soil Temperatures and Timing Matter

Beyond field conditions, soil temperature is another major factor producers should be monitoring closely. Planting too early, even during a warm stretch, can create unnecessary risks.

“Watching those soil temperatures and making sure they’re getting up into the 50-plus degree range for corn and soybeans is important,” Schaef said. “But also watching the long-term forecast.”

While warmer weather may be tempting, planting too soon can leave crops vulnerable if conditions quickly change.

“We’ve been pretty warm in some areas, and so the risk would be maybe it comes up too early and you get frozen off,” he said.

Risks of Planting Too Early

Schaef emphasized that patience can pay off, as early planting can expose seeds to harsher conditions for a longer period of time.

“It’s a biological system, so you’re putting it into a tougher environment if you plant too early,” he said. “If it stays in the ground longer, it’s more susceptible to disease and insects.”

Taking a cautious approach can help protect yield potential and reduce the risk of early-season setbacks.

New Seed Options for Kansas Producers

In addition to field preparation and timing, seed selection is another important decision ahead of planting. Schaef highlighted a couple of corn products from DEKALB that are showing strong performance.

“Especially here in central Kansas, there’s DKC 114-43—we’re pretty excited about that product,” Schaef

said. “It’s done well for us the past two years, and we’re excited to see how it performs on dryland.”

For irrigated acres, another hybrid is also standing out.

“DKC 114-99 has performed extremely well,” he added.

Preparing for a Successful Season

As Kansas farmers gear up for planting, paying attention to field conditions, soil temperatures, and seed choices will be essential. Starting clean, planting at the right time, and selecting proven hybrids can help set the stage for a productive growing season.