Here are some tips for the cold front moving through this weekend.
- If you are dryland and you are afraid of losing needed moisture then I would go ahead and plant
- If you are irrigated, you could hold off until the cold front moves out.
- If you have questionable seed quality, I would wait to plant until it warms up.
- Soil temperatures can be different across the state. (check the Tift weather station)
- The eastern part of the state will be at more risk than the Southwest part of the state.
- Freshly turned soil will be colder than normal – let field sit for a day or so to warm up
- For strip-tillage fields with cover, soils are typically colder than conventional tillage fields so you may want to allow extra time for soils to warm up.
- What if I have a lot of acres and need to keep planting or I just want to keep planting?
- a. Make sure you are planting with good quality seed
- Add appropriate in-furrow fungicide to help with seedling disease
- Do not plant more than 2.5 inches deep
- Try not to add irrigation during the coldest days where night time temperatures are in the 40s and 50s and the day time temperatures are below 70-75. If you need to go ahead and add irrigation do not apply more than is needed to activate herbicides.