It's Planting Time

CELINA-Though not yet countywide, most farmers in Mercer County's southern half have started planting in the last two weeks, county ag educator Ryan McMichael told The Daily Standard.

Though he did not have an exact percentage on how much of the county's crops have been planted, McMichael said that due to recent heavy rains, producers in the county's central and northern portions haven't quite kicked things off.

"They've been making some progress. The hit and miss rain obviously has definitely (had) an effect. Some areas have further progress than others. The producers that farm more acres, they're definitely trying to get out there and get a jump start, because the amount of acres they need to cover- any kind of suitable field working days out there they take advantage of to ensure that they can get all their acres planted in a timely fashion," he said. "Versus if we get a stretch of rain that puts it behind for two weeks, which hopefully that's not in our forecast, but that's going to be where it puts them behind. That's where they try to jump out when they can."

The best conditions for planting major agronomic crops mainly involves consistent soil temperatures of over 50 degrees, he said.

"Once we get a nice consistent (soil temperature) that's above 50, we're really ready to plant," McMichael said. "That's kind of what a lot of folks are looking at is what is that soil temp that's being consistent."

With hobby gardens, soil temperature isn't as important, unless gardeners are doing direct seeding, he added.

"But with so much of our gardens, people are getting transplants to put in the garden. They're buying their tomato plant starts at the home improvement store or the garden center," McMichael said. "We are at this point, it's only the 24th of April. There's still a potential for a frost event to happen yet. We would just caution those that go to that home improvement store (and buy vegetable plants). They have a large selection right now of all sorts of veggies you can buy, and flowers you can buy. But we just want to put a caution out to those folks- that we can still have that frost event."

If locals have already planted their veggie plants, McMichael advised them to stay vigilant for possible frost advisories to cover them up.

"On the agronomic side, we're looking at soil temp, 'cause we're putting seeds in the ground. Those seeds are, as long as the soil temps there- the time that they actually take to emerge and come up- some will come up quicker. Corn, it comes up a little quicker, so we're not as worried about a frost event (for those). Beans take a little longer to come up, so we'll get to the point where they'll come up without a chance of it being desperately cold or anything like that," McMichael said. "It's possible that for us to get to 32 degrees again at night. But it's highly unlikely."

If Mercer County's soil continues to dry out without any major rain events, residents will start seeing more and more farmers out and about taking advantage, he said.

"We definitely want to just caution everyone. You're going to start seeing planters go down the road. You're going to start seeing applicators go out, in terms of making some pesticide applications," he said. "They will get over when they can. But they will be out because they're trying to get as much to happen in the next two weeks, especially as they look at a forecast, and if it's going to be a dry three days, they're going to try to really go at it."

Depending on weather conditions, McMichael estimated producers could have their acreage planted in as quick as two weeks.

"But, we know perfect conditions won't happen. All it takes is for a week of rain and then another week of rain and that can put (them behind). So, it just kind of depends, but I expect from here on out that people will- if it's a suitable working day in the field- they'll be out there," he said.