Everyone wants to keep the planter rolling this time of year. But the better decision is not always about the date on the calendar. It is about the conditions in the field.

Planting into moisture works if:

• Soil is fit
• Sidewalls are not being smeared
• You are setting up the crop for uniform emergence

Waiting is the better move when:

• Soil is tacky
• Compaction is being created
• Conditions are likely to improve in the next 24 to 48 hours
  

The real difference shows up in the root system 30 days from now.  If roots are limited early, yield potential is limited early.  We would rather plant a few days later into better conditions than fight uneven emergence all season.  If you are questioning a field right now, it is probably worth a second look.

Ohio soil moisture this spring has generally been adequate thanks to a wet March, but April has turned drier in parts of the state, especially central and southern Ohio. Conditions are not broadly droughty statewide, but localized drying is becoming more noticeable and could start to affect emergence, root development, and early-season uniformity where rains have missed.