Post Harvest

The time between harvest and planting is a very important time for your soil. While we cannot control the weather, we can control our soil management. Soil care after harvest is something that cannot be lessened.

Preparation of the soil begins after the harvest of the last crop. Here are three tips to promote healthy soil after harvest:

1.    

Work your soil. Make sure the soil is not too wet and minimize soil compaction. It is a good idea to take soil samples and determine advantages you might be working with. Tillage should begin with very shallow plowing.

a.     It is commonly agreed upon that deep tillage is beneficial if zone compaction is truly root limiting. Deep tillage is tillage that is greater than 18 inches.

b.     The best way to tell is if you leave 3-5 untilled strips through your field and compare the yields in those areas next year.

c.     If deep tillage is performed on wet soil, the zone of compaction could be moved even deeper.

d.     Deep tillage is slow going, takes a lot of time, and usually a few sheared bolts.

2.    

Fertilize your soil. Whether it be mineral or animal origin, fertilizing your soil is a very important part of adding nutrients back into the soil. You can determine what nutrients your soil needs from the soil samples you took in the previous step.

a.     Soil fertility is the quality of a soil that enables it to provide compounds to promote growth of plants.

b.     Plants need elements such as potassium and calcium for healthy growth.

c.     Creating a good fertilizing strategy can ensure that seeds will have the appropriate amount of time for maturation.

3.    

Prepare your equipment. Do not overlook this step as it is just as important. Inspect your equipment and make sure old residue does not prevent an even and proper distribution of your fertilizer.

Manufactured and tested in the heartland, ShieldAg V-Blades are the perfect tool when tilling your wheat or milo fields. Our V-Blades offer unmatched longevity and quality. No matter what tillage you need to perform, ShieldAg V-Blades will get the job done – you can count on that.

We manufacture both top and bottom hard-faced sweep plow blades in all standard widths for every standard machine with options for hard-faced or chrome cap nose blades.

Enter your next growing season with confidence! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your equipment, give us a call.
Contact us at 800-798-1968 or check out our dealer map to find an authorized ShieldAg dealer near you today.