How do I balance planting early versus waiting for ideal soil temperatures in North Dakota conditions?
Jeff Staehler: Planting when the average 4-inch soil temperature will stay near 50 degrees for over a week is not a good time to plant corn, and farmers are encouraged to wait for improved soil temperatures before planting. The average 4-inch soil temperature doesn’t have to be exactly 65 degrees F to achieve the most uniform emergence. If soils stay wet and/or soil temperatures stay cold past May 20th, once the soils are dry enough to plant, I would ignore soil temperatures and plant because we know soil temperatures usually increase, making emergence successful. For central ND, corn should not be planted for grain after May 31st.  

 

If fertilizer prices are this high, where can I safely cut back—and where shouldn’t I? 

Brady Goettl: The only way to answer this question is to first look at the soil test reports for your fields. Cutting any fertilizer back for a nutrient that is below a critical soil test level (STL) will have negative implications on crop productivity. Take a look at the circulars “North Dakota Fertilizer Recommendation Tables” (SF882) or “Soil Fertility Recommendation for Corn” (SF722) for more information on the critical levels and recommendations for each nutrient. In summary, apply N and K according to the economic guidelines, P if the Olsen STL is <15ppm, and zinc if the STL is <1ppm. 

 

What’s the most common planting mistake you see that costs yield every year?
Jeff Staehler: The most common mistakes I see every year are improper hybrid selection for the agronomic issues of the field, improper planting, and poor planter care and setup. Every year, I see someone conducting tillage and/or planting when it is too wet, causing a poor seedbed and/or sidewall compac­tion, leading to poor root development, which causes non-uniform plant emergence. Another big issue for some is not spending the time making sure the planter is operating properly, leading to doubles, skips, and non-uniform depth, and causing poor nodal root development and non-uniform emergence.   

 

“Are biologicals or ‘new’ fertility products worth trying in 2026?”
Brady Goettl: In a nutshell, probably not. It is always worth being curious about new products, but if there is no unbiased research behind these products, the entire financial burden falls on the farmer—this isn’t the year to spend extra money on “ifs.” If there is a product you are interested in, reach out to your local Extension Agent or me for any data we have on the effectiveness of the product. 

Corn Talk Magazine is here! Check out the full article and Spring 2026 issue online: https://ndcorngrowers.org/corntalk-spring-2026/.

Interested in your own copy? Reach out to Mark Puppe at to get one today.