Fresh Picked: Planning for the First Pass
April 1, 2026
By Summer Ory
While the combines are parked and we wait for winter to loosen its grip, we step into the spring season with a renewed hope, a quiet optimism that may go unnoticed to the world that hasn’t experienced a planting season. The upcoming months offer a fresh start, a chance to do a little better, to put our trust and faith in the soil again and to believe that hard work will be rewarded. Regardless of how last year ended, we know why we farm in the first place: confidence in tomorrow and the belief that something good is about to grow.
Much like a pro athlete prepares their body for the big game by practicing, eating well and staying disciplined, a farmer takes care of equipment, prepares the machinery for another season and does farm prep work in anticipation of “go time.”
The prep work starts with a strong planting plan, and that involves reviewing the field history and combining years of data to see what has worked best for that soil profile. Using a field software program like Granular, we assign each field a planting plan for a specific soybean or corn hybrid and a specific planting population (the number of seeds planted per acre), which can vary by field and by hybrid.
As needed, soil samples are pulled and sent to the lab to ensure we are feeding the soils appropriately with custom dry fertilizer mixes. As the ground heaves (multiple days of freeze/thaw), the soil is conditioned and breaks down tiny fertilizer granules, naturally breaking up compacted areas and reducing the need for mechanical tillage.
Today’s hybrids allow for earlier planting windows while a seed treatment protects the seed from pests that might snack on it before it emerges. Soil temperatures around 65 degrees are ideal, but some planters will be seen when the temperature is 52 to 53 degrees F (and rising). Any temperature below 50 degrees F produces a cold, wet soil profile that can cause the seed to slowly emerge and corkscrew. We want to see a robust and even emergence. Delayed plants will not keep up and will waste vital nutrients in the soil, competing with their neighbors.
A great deal of time is spent prepping the fields with machinery, receiving the new seed order and having farmers mentally and physically prepare. Different generations approach this season in different ways, but a common theme is keeping their faith strong and reading new publications, articles, podcasts or online content.
Looking ahead, the future of farming is driven by resilience, stewardship and hope. Every decision made today — every seed, every field — reflects a belief that tomorrow matters. The challenges will never disappear, but neither will the determination of those who work the land. With each new season comes another opportunity to build something lasting, to leave the soil better than we found it and to trust that the work done now will sustain families, communities and generations yet to come. The future is not just something we wait for — it’s something we plant.
Summer Ory works with four families to grow soybeans and corn and raise cattle in Madison County. She graduated with a degree in business management from Iowa State University. Summer is involved with the sales and operations of a local Pioneer seed dealership and serves as president of the Earlham School Foundation. She’s also participated in the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Iowa-Missouri Grassroots Fellowship, Communications Squad and serves on the ISA Board of Directors.