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The start of a new growing season brings promise, especially when seeds emerge quickly and uniformly. Quick emergence offers key agronomic advantages, including stronger competition against weeds, improved resilience to early insect pressure, and reduced risk from summer heat and fall frost. These benefits begin with early access to nutrients and moisture.

Inter-plant competition significantly impacts corn yield by limiting moisture and nutrient availability. Precision planting and even seed spacing are crucial for optimal emergence and growth. Regular field observation and emergence testing help evaluate planting equipment performance and ensure consistent crop development.

Effective residue management is crucial for soil health and crop performance, balancing soil conservation benefits with potential drawbacks like impeded soil warmup and uneven germination. Proper residue flow and equipment selection during seeding ensure optimal seed-to-soil contact and maximize growth potential throughout the growing season.

A successful crop requires uptake of the required amount of nutrients, most of which are applied as fertilizer. It is common for growers to apply nutrients as a blend of several fertilizers at one time for practicality and time management. Regardless of nutrient requirements and application practices, quick and early crop establishment is contingent on timely access to nutrients by seedlings.

As growers prepare for the planting season, several variables are at the forefront in terms of operating decisions. Considerations such as seed and fertilizer rate are typically decided well before seeding but several are decided upon at the time of seeding and are dependent on the conditions that the implement will be seeding into. One of the most important decisions in terms of plant stand consistency and survivability is seeding depth.

Fertilizer is a crucial and costly input on the farm each year. Achieving crop yield and quality goals requires providing the necessary nutrients. Proper fertilizer placement, adhering to 4R nutrient stewardship principles (right source, right rate, right place, right time), ensures early crop establishment and maximizes nutrient uptake, resulting in consistent crop production.

Early crop germination and emergence are crucial for a successful crop year. Soil temperature, influenced by factors like air temperature, soil type, moisture, and residue, plays a key role. Väderstad Seed Hawk's dual-knife opener system aids in quicker soil warmup and efficient crop growth.

As growers prepare for spring planting, controlling weeds becomes a major focus. Effective weed management, including precise fertilizer placement and quick crop growth, is essential to minimize competition and enhance crop success, especially in the face of increasing herbicide resistance.