The Best Time to Prepare for Spring Planting
Spring planting is decided in the months before it starts. Equipment, seed, fertilizer and financing all take lead time, so the best time to prepare is winter.
When should spring planting preparation begin?
Start in the slow weeks of winter. Equipment service, seed and fertilizer orders, field records and financing conversations all take time, and each one can delay planting if left late. For a dairy that grows its own forage, the stakes are higher since feed supply depends on a good start.
Planting dates vary by crop, location and weather, from the High Plains to East Texas, so rely on local guidance for the right window and not a general rule.
A good habit is to hold a short planning meeting with family and employees in January or February, where everyone lists what they need for spring. It surfaces problems such as a missing part, an unreliable truck or a field that needs drainage work long before the window opens.
What should the winter checklist include?
Begin with records from last year: yields, problem fields, weed pressure, soil tests and what you would change. Then service planters, drills, sprayers and tractors. Order seed and inputs with enough lead time to handle delivery delays.
The crop calendar guide on our sister site lays out seasonal timing in plain language, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers crop guidance matched to Texas regions.
Do not forget the chemical side. Read labels, check storage, confirm applicator licensing where required through the Texas Department of Agriculture, and keep records of what you apply and when.
- Review last year's yields and field notes
- Take or update soil tests
- Service planting and spraying equipment
- Order seed and inputs early
- Confirm labor, fuel and storage
How do soil and moisture shape the plan?
Soil tests tell you what fertilizer you need and what you can skip. Moisture matters in the Panhandle, where irrigation, rainfall and groundwater rules affect planting decisions. Check conditions with the U.S. Drought Monitor and the National Weather Service outlook.
Conservation practices such as residue management and cover crops can help with moisture and soil health. USDA NRCS offers technical help and sometimes cost-share, though terms change, so ask what is offered now.
If your fields supply feed for the herd, estimate how much forage you need through the year and compare it with a realistic yield, so you know how much to buy if the crop falls short.
What about crop insurance and program deadlines?
Insurance and program deadlines for spring crops can fall well before planting, and they differ by crop and county. Do not guess. Check with an insurance agent and the USDA Risk Management Agency for current dates, and look at ARC and PLC information from the Farm Service Agency for related program steps.
Mark each deadline on a calendar as soon as it is confirmed, and set reminders ahead of each one.
How do you line up financing?
Planting costs come before income, so line up operating credit early. Compare local banks, credit unions, Farm Credit associations and FSA options, and bring records, a budget and a cash flow plan. The FSA farm loan information explains the basics, and the farm money guide covers budgeting in general terms.
This is education, not financial advice. A licensed lender or accountant can help you with your own numbers.
How does the dairy side fit in?
Dairies planting corn, sorghum or small grains for silage and hay have timing pressures on both ends, from planting to harvest and storage. Plan feed needs with your nutritionist and use farm.FM dairy for stories from fellow producers.
If a late freeze or flood upsets your plan, have a backup, such as a different crop or purchased feed, and check with your lender and insurance agent before changing course.
Planting also affects people. Spring means long days, so plan rest, meals and backup help. See farm satire for a laugh when the work gets heavy.
What can you do this week?
Pick one task and finish it: order seed, book service, or pull soil sample bags. Small steps make a long list feel manageable. A little humor does not hurt either, and a farm.FM story about spring planting shows the funny side of the season.
Then call your extension office and ask what has changed in your area since last year.
Sources and further reading
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Texas extension service
- U.S. Drought Monitor: weekly drought maps
- National Weather Service: forecasts and warnings
- USDA NRCS: conservation programs and technical help
- USDA Risk Management Agency: crop insurance
- ARC and PLC: FSA commodity safety-net programs
Ask locally: Ask your AgriLife Extension agent and crop insurance agent for the planting windows and sign-up dates that apply in your county.