Prime Seed & Agronomy LLC

10/18/2026

It’s alive!

10/18/2026

Progress was made on adapting the JD 643 corn head to the IH 1460 combine today!

Thanks to a local fabricator, we now have bearing supports and hex shaft shields.

10/07/2026

Did last week’s rain put you a little behind on your wheat seeding schedule? The following KSU article discusses how seeding beyond our “optimal” dates (9/26-10/10) can impact tiller counts and yield potential.

My experience says, stick to your initial seeding rate until October 10 then bump the rate by 10-20%. The longer the delay, the greater the increase in seeding rate.

Some producers have delayed planting due to ongoing summer crop harvest or wet conditions following recent fall rains. Planting in early October is just beyond the optimal range for northwest Kansas and moving towards the latter part of the optimal range for north-central Kansas. Planting in late Oc...

10/04/2026

Plot harvest is coming up soon. It’s time to make one JD corn head out of two, then get it adapted to the IH 1460

09/26/2026

While testing sorghum feeds for nitrates is always a good practice, it is even more important in a drought year.

Did you know that a rain a few days ahead of laying the crop down can significantly increase the risk of high nitrate levels?

Now you do!

Allow at least a week for plants to reduce nitrate accumulation before grazing or haying.

09/16/2026

Update on our no fertilizer vs fertilizer “trial” that we posted about back in early July.

The no applied fertilizer strip remains greenier late season than the surface band (0x2”) of 16 gallons 28-0-0-5 + 4 gallons 10-34-0. The reason for this is the untreated didn’t pollinate at all and no energy was expended attempting to fill grain.

The other key learning is that if there is a very limited soil moisture profile at planting, and the rains stop in June, both treatments will die from drought stress.

09/13/2026

Fallow ground tilled, hopefully for the last time prior to winter wheat seeding.

09/12/2026

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As wheat planting season approaches, timing can play an important role in stand establishment, pest pressure and ultimately grain yield. While earlier planting can benefit dual-purpose wheat grown for forage, planting too early for grain production comes with added risks.

Some potential concerns with early planting include:
• Increased risk of wheat streak mosaic, barley yellow dwarf and root diseases
• Greater exposure to wheat curl mites, Hessian fly, armyworms and other fall pests
• Excessive fall growth that can use valuable soil moisture before spring
• Hot soils that may reduce germination and emergence in some varieties
• Increased grassy w**d pressure and potentially more expensive control
• Greater potential for spring drought stress following excessive fall growth

One of the most important management steps is to destroy volunteer wheat at least two weeks before planting to help break the “green bridge” for wheat curl mites and other pests.

For most grain-only wheat, aim for the recommended planting window for your area. If planting earlier for forage or other management reasons, variety selection and pest management become even more important.

Learn more about wheat planting dates and the risks of planting too early from K-State Agronomy: https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/eupdates/2026/issue-1118-august-27/planting-wheat-too-early.html

09/03/2026

It's tempting to get seed in the ground early, but patience pays off. K-State research shows planting outside the optimum window can raise the risk of:
- Hessian fly & armyworm damage
- Wheat streak mosaic (spread by wheat curl mites on volunteer wheat)
- Barley yellow dwarf from early-season aphids
- Excessive fall growth that drains soil moisture before spring

Kansas' optimum planting dates vary by region:
📍 Zone 1: Sept 10–30
📍 Zone 2: Sept 15–Oct 20
📍 Zone 3: Sept 25–Oct 20
📍 Zone 4: Oct 5–25

Planting within your zone window and keeping volunteer wheat controlled beforehand, sets your crop up for stronger stands and better yields next summer. Read more at the link in our comments.

08/28/2026