Planting has commenced in the demonstration fields for this year’s Farm Progress Show, slated for Sept. 1-3 in Boone, Iowa.
David Moline, John Deere territory customer support manager for central Iowa, planted the first corn on April 21 on a bluebird spring day. He was assisted by Blake Funke, John Deere territory customer support manager for eastern Iowa, and Lee Madden, John Deere production systems specialist, who tilled the fields.
Heavy rains pounded many parts of Iowa in mid-April. However, the area surrounding the show grounds missed some of that precipitation. Moline noted that they were pleasantly surprised they were able to till one field on April 20 and the other two on April 21 before planting.
“We’ll be in good shape,” Moline said.
Corn planted on April 21 had relative maturities of 78 and 79 days, with the April 22-planted field consisting of corn hybrids with relative maturities of 86 and 87 days. This fits with the goal of having harvest moisture of 30% or less by the time the show rolls around in September.
“If the stars line up, we can get [harvest moisture] down below 25%,” Moline said. “Some years, if we get enough heat units, that corn can come down to either side of 20%, which makes a pretty good show for all the combines.”
The April 21 field was planted at a population of 34,000 plants per acre, with the later-planted north field seed at a 36,000 plants-per-acre rate. Fields were planted with a 2026 24-row John Deere 1775NT ExactEmerge planter with 30-inch spacings. The planter also contains an ExactChem integrated granular insecticide upgrade.
Next up for the fields will be spraying to nix weed growth, Moline said.
For more information on this year’s show, go to FarmProgressShow.com.