Using the past season as a guide for planning for the coming year isn’t the best policy for growers who want to get the most from each acre. That’s according to a DuPont Pioneer crop production expert who says it’s best to plan for next year by looking at the long-term weather trends. Brent Wilson – DuPont Pioneer Technical Services Manager – notes weather changes from year to year and we can’t predict what will happen the next growing season. So rather than using this year’s drought as a guide – for example – he says growers should look at several seasons and rely on that information to make decisions.

Because 2012 was not a typical year in most regions – Wilson suggests relying on years prior to 2012 for seed product selection and placement. He says making product selections based on one year of experience alone may not be a sound strategy. Wilson also advises speaking with a seed professional – and doing so early in the season to reserve the desired products.

As for fertilizer applications for 2013 – Wilson says most growers planned for a larger crop than they realized and should use grain removal as a guide for phosphorous and potassium application. Because of the drought – he says there may be opportunities to take nitrogen credits going into next year. Waiting to apply nitrogen in the spring – according to Wilson – may allow better decisions on how much nitrogen may be available for the following crop.

Wilson offered these suggestions at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.