Direct Seeders Not As Impacted By Weather As Others In Ag Community

For most commodities across the Northwest, harvest will be later this year that in the past, thanks to the cool wet spring, which not only pushed back the start of the growing season, but also limited the amount of field work that could be done.  However Kay Meyer, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association said many no-till farmers were able to get much of their field work done on schedule, meaning they were able to seed on-time.

“Because they have that residue, because they have that soil structure they were able to get in, because it wasn’t so muddy, they weren’t dealing with direct mud that they had to let dry out.  So, direct seeders are in pretty good shape.”

Meyer acknowledged some no-tillers ran into troubles meeting FSA spring planting requirements for crop insurance, so they decided just to take the insurance coverage, rather than trying to slip in a spring crop.  And while the increased moisture created some struggles earlier this year, Meyer told the Washington Ag Network says she’s confident it will lead to a better crop at harvest.

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