Buying your crop seed early is the best way to ensure you have the right hybrids and varieties for your acres. For 2022, those decisions are complicated by the availability of other crop inputs, Hommer said.
“Begin planning your seed purchases as soon as possible. Herbicide availability may or may not affect your seed purchases, and should be part of that consideration,” he said. “One of the most effective methods of weed control is by adequate crop stands, and your seed decisions will contribute to those stands.”
Hommer also recommends looking into production practices or crop management systems that can expand your seed options. Adding products like seed treatments might make some varieties or hybrids viable options where they may not have been in the past.
“Think about changes in practices like plant population, row spacing, or emergence. They all contribute to the establishment of a crop stand and may help some varieties that you haven’t considered in the past thrive on your acres,” Hommer said. “A seed treatment may also help add to final stand counts.”