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Central corn belt highlighted - NE, IA, IL, IN, eastern KS, southern MN
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Central corn belt highlighted - NE, IA, IL, IN, eastern KS, southern MN

Set yourself up for a successful 2025 growing season with the latest agronomy insights, crop management tips, and more.

Planting Tips

Kevin Kowalski

Pioneer Field Agronomist

Nebraska

Kevin Kowalski - Pioneer Field Agronomist

Tip #1: Pay attention to soil fitness before spring field work

Determining when the soil is fit to work or plant in the spring is a key skill to growing high-yielding crops. Evaluate every field for soil moisture conditions before starting any field work. Use the simple “ribbon” test to determine soil conditions and fitness. Keep a close eye on your fields. Soil moisture conditions can change between the time the seedbed is prepared and planting begins in the field.

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Tip #2: Get the right depth when planting soybeans

Research still shows 1 to 1.5” is the best recommended depth for soybeans to get optimal emergence and yield. I like to recommend 1.5 to 2” and getting out and checking for row closure – this is important when considering herbicides potentially getting to the seed. There are times to plant more shallow such as if soils tend to crust and times to plant deeper. In my sandy fields I like to see seeding depth on the deeper side because of the temperature variation that happens on those soils.

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Tip #3: Keep an eye on soil temperature when planting corn

Corn is a warm season crop. Germination and emergence are optimal when soil temperatures are approximately 85 to 90°F. Cold conditions following planting impose significant stress on corn emergence and seedling health. Corn seed is particularly susceptible to cold stress during imbibition. Planting just before a stress event such as a cold rain or snow can result in a reduced stand.

How Corn Planting Depth & Soil Texture Affect Emergence

Corn Planting Depth & Emergence

Studies across the U.S. have found optimum corn seeding depths to vary from 1 to over 3 inches depending on soil texture, moisture, temperature and seeding date.

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Soybean Seeding Rate Considerations

Manage Soybean Seeding Rates

A dense soybean canopy can help suppress weeds; a benefit that may be more important to consider as herbicide-resistant weeds become more prevalent.

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Effects of Seed Orientation at Planting on Corn Growth

Seed Orientation & Corn Growth

Agronomists & corn producers have long been interested in the potential to improve corn growth and yield by controlling the orientation of the corn seed in the furrow at planting.

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Use of Starter Fertilizers in Corn Production

Using Corn Starter Fertilizers

If early season stresses are sporadic in the field, starter fertilizer may help reduce uneven stand development and yield loss that often results from these conditions.

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Planting Date Effect on Soybeans

Compare days to Growing Degree Unit (GDU) accumulation at reproductive stages of soybean growth among different planting dates.

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Staging Corn Growth

Staging Corn Growth

Staging a corn seedling - each leaf stage is defined according to the uppermost leaf whose leaf collar is visible.

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Pioneer Plantability for Optimal Planter Settings

Pioneer Plantability for Optimal Planter Settings

Many preseason decisions go into optimizing yield and getting more bushels in the bin at harvest. Pioneer Field Agronomist Carl Joern stresses the importance of proper seed selection and priming your planter utilizing Pioneer's planter settings and Plantability Calculator to ensure you're getting the most out of each bag of Pioneer seed.

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Pioneer Plantability for Optimal Planter Settings

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Many preseason decisions go into optimizing yield and getting more bushels in the bin at harvest. Pioneer Field Agronomist Carl Joern stresses the importance of proper seed selection and priming your planter utilizing Pioneer's planter settings and Plantability Calculator to ensure you're getting the most out of each bag of Pioneer seed.

Products for the Central Region

When every bushel counts, Pioneer® brand products deliver.

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Innovation in Agronomy

You’ve heard about our industry-leading genetics and yield protection traits in the bag. But do you know about the added value you get when choosing to plant Pioneer® brand products? Hear more about the tools and knowledge Pioneer delivers to help growers in the Central U.S. place the right products on the right acres.

More Options to Grow Your Farm

More Options to Grow Your Farm

Take a Program Approach and Save with TruChoice® Offer

We know every acre is unique. With the TruChoice® offer, farmers can fund their account and spend their savings on over 100 Corteva Agriscience™ crop protection products. Products include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, nitrogen stabilizers, and more. Visit your local retailer and discover more savings today.

 

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Keystone NXT, Aproach® Prima, Resicore® REV, and Ridgeback® are not registered for sale or use in all states. Keystone® NXT and Resicore REV are not available for sale, distribution or use in Nassau and Suffolk counties in the state of New York. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Enlist One® herbicide is not registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Enlist One herbicide is the only 2,4-D product authorized for use in Enlist crops. Kyber® Pro has not yet received regulatory approvals; approvals are pending. The information presented here is not an offer for sale. Always read and follow label directions.

Pioneer corn performance data for the Central region is an average of comparisons from calendar year made in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, eastern Kansas, southern Minnesota and Missouri through March 26, 2024. Comparisons are against all comparisons and competitor brands, unless otherwise stated, and within +/- 3 CRM of the competitive brand.

Pioneer soybean performance data for the Central region is an average of all leading A-Series Enlist E3® soybean varieties comparisons from 2023 made in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, eastern Kansas, southern Minnesota and Missouri through March 26, 2024. Comparisons are against all competitor brands, unless otherwise stated, and within +/- 3 CRM of the competitive brand.

Illinois-specific performance data: Pioneer corn data is based on an average of 2023 comparisons made in 2023 across the state of Illinois through March 26, 2024. Comparisons are against all competitor brands, unless otherwise stated, and within +/- 3 CRM of the competitive brand.

Nebraska-specific performance data: Pioneer corn data is based on an average of 3,588 comparisons made in 2023 across the state of Nebraska through March 26, 2024. Comparisons are against all competitor brands, unless otherwise stated, and within +/- 3CRM of the competitive brand. Pioneer soybean data is based on an average of 2023 field trial comparisons (66 comparisons) made in Nebraska through November 16, 2023. Comparisons are against all competitors, unless otherwise stated, and within a +/- 3 CRM of the competitive brand.

Iowa-specific performance data: Pioneer corn data is based on an average of comparisons made in 2023 across the state of Iowa through March 26, 2024. Comparisons are against all competitor brands, unless otherwise stated, and within +/- 3 CRM of the competitive brand.

Minnesota-specific performance data: Pioneer corn data is based on an average of comparisons made in 2023 across the state of Minnesota through March 26, 2024. Comparisons are against all competitor brands, unless otherwise stated, and within +/- 3 CRM of the competitive brand.

The foregoing is provided for informational use only. Please contact your Pioneer sales representative for information and suggestions specific to your operation. Product performance is variable and depends on many factors, such as moisture and heat stress, soil type, management practices and environmental stress, as well as disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary. Multi-year and multi-location data are a better predictor of performance. DO NOT USE THIS OR ANY OTHER DATA FROM A LIMITED NUMBER OF TRIALS AS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN PRODUCT SELECTION.