"If you invite extra people to dinner, you'll need more food."

That’s become a favorite metaphor, used by Dan Frieberg and his team of precision ag experts at Premier Crop Systems, to explain to growers that you’ll need to provide more plant food if you’re going to increase plant populations.

Matching plant food, including variable rate populations will be a foundation for future agronomic decision-making. Frieberg says this summer marks the beginning of planning for 2010 variable rate planting recommendations. Management zones will be created, and variable rate nutrient recommendations will be generated to match each zone. Variable rates will be adjusted during the winter to match the specific hybrids selected for each field. Integration is key to creating the yield and economic synergy that each farmer desires. For more information see www.premiercrop.com.