Tony Johanson, Oakland, looks at seed selection and purchases very carefully, because those decisions have a tremendous impact on crop income. According to Johanson, seed buying has changed dramatically over the past few decades, primarily because of the genetic potential and agronomic traits now available in seed choices. Here are three considerations Johanson looks at when evaluating potential seed purchases.

SEED-BUYING TIPS: Oakland farmer Tony Johanson says that choosing the right genetics for every acre is the first task in seed selection.

Best genetics for the acre. Johanson looks at agronomic traits as something to protect yield potential in each bag of seed, but not as the most important factor in purchasing seed. That position belongs to the task of choosing the correct genetics for the acre. "If the best genetics for the right acre is only sold with rootworm protection and I'm planting a field that is rotated from corn to soybeans each year and the field doesn't have a history of rootworm pressure, I'll still buy that product because it has the right genetic potential for that acre," he explains. "This is a mentality change that is difficult to break, but producers need to look at the return on investment for a product rather than an initial cost per acre. Once the right genetics are chosen, then we start to layer in what agronomic trait protection is necessary along with the desired maturities."

Battling insects, weeds and diseases. Other considerations after genetics come down to disease, insect and weed issues in each field. "In northeast Nebraska, we look for hybrids that have a strong disease package that can naturally defend against gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, anthracnose stalk rot and Goss's wilt," Johanson says. "Herbicide decisions are becoming limited, as most of the seed companies have stacked multiple herbicide-resistant traits together, so this is the producer's responsibility to rotate herbicide modes of action to reduce the potential of resistant weeds."

Correct maturity. Maturity is the last thing on Johanson's list of considerations. "Most growers will plant anywhere from 105-day relative maturity corn up to 113-day. Soybeans typically range from 2.4 to 3.2 relative maturity," he says. "These decisions are also impacted by planting dates and when producers desire to begin harvest. In an ideal world where soil conditions are best suited, corn plantings begin around April 20 and soybeans around May 1 in our area."