There’s an old expression, “Life on a farm is a school of patience,” that many North Carolina farmers can likely relate to this planting season. This year’s predicted El Niño climate pattern has created a mixed bag of weather, allowing farmers to begin planting in early April but then stalling them with stretches of rain.
“We’re seeing a stop-and-go approach to planting this year, with farmers capitalizing on two- to three-day stretches of nice weather but having to take breaks to wait for the rain to clear and the ground to dry to go again,” says Wesley Stallings, NK agronomist for North Carolina and the East Coast. As of April 19, he estimates that 15% of North Carolina corn and soybean crops have been planted.
The start-and-stop approach to planting may be frustrating, but it’s nothing new for North Carolina farmers. “We generally try to get corn planted as early as possible, assuming the ground temperatures are there, to maximize heat units,” says Wesley. “Our region is heavily influenced by cotton, tobacco and potatoes, and we’ve seen a little bit of a shift with some farmers planting earlier than usual and others going all-in on soybeans or planting soybeans before corn. With the weather pattern we’re seeing this year, it’s going to be a stop-and-go season.”
After years on staff with North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Stallings joined NK Seeds in the fall of 2022. He says he joined a great team, and he’s enjoying meeting with farmers and helping them to solve their agronomic challenges. He also enjoys helping farmers select the best products for their growing environments to make the most of every acre.
“We’re fortunate to have a great breeding program, from both Syngenta and NK Seeds, that allows us to position hybrids to help offset whatever challenges we may have in North Carolina and along the East Coast,” he says. “Farmers here tend to have wider rows, so I often get questions about selecting the right hybrid based on row spacing, population and nutrient management.”
On the corn side, NK offers a number of semi-flex hybrids that fit into growers’ rotations and meet their population demands. Wesley notes several standouts:
- NK1082-DV brand is an early option that he recommends for its broad adaptability, semi-flex ear type and great emergence rating. This hybrid’s flexible trait offering is a step-change in above- and below-ground management for excellent yield potential across the Corn Belt. It pairs well with NK1188, which is another semi-flex ear type that features the Agrisure® Above trait for great Corn Earworm protection and also offers consistent yield potential.
- NK1661-DV brand is another great fit for early corn settings, according to Wesley. Offered with both DuracadeViptera™ and Agrisure Above traits, its dependable stalks and roots allow for population flexibility across all environments. This hybrid pairs well with NK1701, a hybrid notable for its excellent yield potential with strong agronomics and strong performance in medium- and high-yield environments.
Wesley also recommends that farmers look at another pair, NK1677 and NK1748 — two more consistent performers that he says should be go-to hybrids for North Carolina corn growers who tend to gravitate toward the late-maturity corn. “These work very well across the state and the region,” he says.
North Carolina’s sandy soils and the cultivation equipment used for cotton, tobacco and potato harvesting can set the stage for nematodes. As a result, Wesley recommends that farmers put Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) resistance at the forefront of variety selection and also consider Phytophthora Root Rot, Root Knot and Frogeye Leaf Spot ratings.
“We have a great NK soybean lineup that’s bred for the South, for proven performance and resistance to Phytophthora and other diseases that allows us to plug and play with a lot of our varieties,” he says. Several varieties that performed well in his region last year include:
- NK48-H3XFS brand is an XtendFlex® soybean variety that Wesley says did well in third-party trials. “There’s been a lot of demand for it because it grows across a lot of different acres,” he says. “It offers good yield potential and protection from Soybean Cyst Nematode and Frogeye Leaf Spot, so it checks several important boxes.”
- NK52-D6E3 brand features exciting new genetics in a Group 5 Enlist E3® soybean. The rugged plant type delivers exceptional stress tolerance, and Wesley notes that it, too, checks all the boxes for SCN, Root Knot, Phytophthora Root Rot and Frogeye Leaf Spot.
This season has barely begun, but Wesley is already looking to the future. “There’s a lot to be excited about for 2024 NK corn hybrids, like NK1402-DV brand, a semi-flex hybrid with great heat and drought tolerance and great root and stalk strength. It will be a nice complement to some of our current products like NK1661 and NK1701,” he says.
Wesley is also excited about the 2024 NK soybeans being released in maturities ranging from 4.8 to 6.7. “NK49-C2XFS brand, NK54-J9XFS brand and NK56-Z6XFS brand will all fit into our acreage, despite the challenges we have with Root Knot, SCN and Phytophthora,” he says.
NK will host several North Carolina field days and training opportunities this summer to allow farmers to see these hybrids and varieties for themselves. They can learn more by contacting their local NK sales representative.
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