According to an agronomic service representative at Syngenta, safeguarding crops during their vulnerable early stages is paramount for optimizing yield potential. As farmers gear up for the spring planting season, it’s crucial to remember that financial planning goes hand in hand with early season crop protection.
“Primarily for soybeans, we want our soybeans to emerge evenly, uniformly, and quickly at the beginning of the season to maximize our yield potential at the end of the season,” explains the representative. “If they encounter stress of any kind when they’re coming out of the ground, when they’re most vulnerable, we will most likely see a yield reduction at the end of the season due to either stand loss or lack of vigor. So, anything we can do to prevent those things and promote good plant health and good growth at the beginning of the season will help us at the end of the season.”
This emphasis on early season crop protection underscores the importance of implementing a comprehensive crop protection program. This program should encompass seed treatments, herbicides, and pest control measures that prioritize crop health and minimize stress.
The representative further emphasizes the significance of selecting crop protection products that do not impose additional stress on the crop. By minimizing stress during critical growth stages, farmers can optimize plant health, vigor, and ultimately, yield potential.
Ultimately, the goal of early season crop protection is to maximize the number of bushels that go into the bin. By investing in proactive crop protection measures and prioritizing plant health from the outset, farmers can set themselves up for success and achieve optimal yields at harvest time.
