How Fast Are You Going?

“Did you see the clouds in the west? A storm was rolling in … How fast was I going? Too fast for the planter to singulate correctly and minimize seed bounce once it hit the soil. But I needed to get this planted before the storm!”

I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count how many times I have heard this scenario. I honestly think planting speed is the single most important thing farmers overlook. “The monitor says the planter’s doing a good job, so I should be able to shift up a gear.” That is one way to make my blood boil.

I am not a patient person, but when it comes to making a larger profit, at the end of the day it takes precision and expertise. Good things take time. There is no such thing as making a quick buck.

Let’s pretend for a minute. You are a cardiologist, about to perform open heart surgery. Before you head into surgery, you make sure everything is in the right spot to be efficient and successful. You are precise and do not rush. Many hours later you are finished, and everyone asks, “What took you so long?” Your reply? “Well, I did it right; you only get one shot at this. I chose to do it correctly instead of fast and sloppy.”

When it comes to planting corn, or any crop for that matter, take your time.

Before going out to the field with your planter, make sure you have everything in the right spot to be efficient and successful. Look over your planter with a fine tooth comb. If something needs to be replaced, replace it now. There is no such things as “good enough for this year.” Fix it, or don’t plant with it!