We are starting to see signs of warmer weather, which means that planting is around the corner, and cover crops are starting to green up and grow. Overwintering cover crops, such as cereal rye, will require termination, and now is the time to make those plans. For beginning cover croppers, it is recommended to terminate cover crops 10 to 14 days before planting. This is especially important before planting corn, while beans will be more forgiving if planted into green cover crops.

Pesticide labels are changing to better protect endangered species. This means applicators will want to carefully review pesticide labels for substantial changes this year and into the future. For more on the background of these label changes, check out the Herbicides and The Endangered Species Act page from the Weed Science Society of American or this article on the Endangered Species Act written by Bill Chism, a retired senior biologist with the EPA.

Prepare for this year’s Planting Season by proactively taking care of your planter technology setup by leveraging essential pre-season maintenance and calibration to ensure field-ready performance. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach recommend a structured approach to prevent costly in-season issues and improve overall efficiency and yield. The agricultural season can be viewed as a continuous loop of preparation, execution, and review.

Key phases include: