Planting Rates

The following is a list of recommended seeding rates. The recommended seeding rate chart is ONLY a guide. These rates assume that you are using cleaned and properly treated seed based on average seed sizes for the various crops.   In order to determine what seed treatments should be applied to the seed, you need to assess your soil conditions as well as the disease and insect pressure present or that could potentially affect the seed and crop on your farm.    Your soil conditions, type of soil, equipment and farming practices are important in determining a targeted seeding rate and should be taken into consideration. 

For grains being used as a nurse crop with under seeding, reduce the nurse crop seeding rate by 25%. If the crop is going to be harvested as a grain, if taking the nurse crop earlier as a “forage” only need to  reduce the nurse crop seeding rate by 10% - 15%.

The Recommended Seeding rate is also based on your seeding date.  The closer to the optimal date that you are seeding, the less you need to adjust the seeding rate.  (Optimal date varies each year – but 30 days prior to the Agricorp cut off for insurance coverage is a good rule of thumb.)  For cereals it is recommended to increase your seeding rate with later plantings where tillering will be reduced.

It is important to note that while these seeding rates are a recommendation only, these rates are based on economic return versus receiving maximum yield.   These seeding rates are suggested for direct seeding and should be adjusted higher for aerial or broadcast applications.

*For soybeans being grown for “IP” (food grade or Identity Preserved) production, using wider rows will provide more consistent soybean sizing and provide more air movement within the row to reduce the risk of white mould and provide more air movement for harvesting.  However you also have a higher risk of later weed escapes if the crop is slow to canopy due to adverse weather conditions.