First-day corn planting always a challenge

AgVenture Yield Specialist Wayne Dulaney, Clarksdale, Miss., (background left) checks behind a planter for spacing and depth as corn seed is put in the ground. Dulaney was setting a 2-inch depth and 32,000 seed per acre. “On corn everything has to be perfect at planting to make the best yields; corn cannot compensate for poor emergence and spacing like other crops,” says Dulaney. With Dulaney, from left: Patrick Antici, AgVenture yield specialist, Clarksdale, Miss.; Freddy Gordon, farm manager, Heaton Farms; Brian Fyfe, farm manager, Heaton Farms; and Kevin Hudson, NuTill/Ag Spectrum, Clarksdale, Miss.

First day challenge: A hydraulic line broke just as one of the Heaton planters was ready to begin planting.

Heaton farm manager Freddy Gordon was quick to replace the hydraulic line; a repair not normally done in the field.

Leaking hydraulic line.

Heaton farm manager Freddy Gordon.

Heaton farm manager Freddy Gordon

Heaton farm manager Preston Parker

From left: Freddy Gordon, Brian Martinez, and Preston Parker.

AgVenture Yield Specialist Wayne Dulaney, Clarksdale, Miss.

AgVenture Yield Specialist Wayne Dulaney, Clarksdale, Miss., right, with Heaton farm manager Brian Fyfe, left.

From left: semi-retired farmer Roy Gordon; farm manager Freddy Gordon; and Heaton farm manager Jody Martinez work on the hydraulic line.

Heaton farm manager Jody Martinez

Heaton farm manager Jody Martinez

Heaton farm manager Jody Martinez, and Pablo Olguin work on the busted line.

Pablo Olguin, Heaton Farms

Pablo Olguin, Heaton Farms

Ramiro Arias, Heaton Farms

Ramiro Arias, Heaton Farms

Chris Butler, right, and Brian Martinez, both with Heaton Farms.

Brian Martinez, Heaton Farms

Brian Martinez, Heaton Farms

Heaton Farms will plant approximately 3,500 acres of corn in 2013.