Prepare for planting season and maximize your inputs with these 4 tips
Planting season is almost here. And with that comes to-do lists about a mile long.
You have enough on your plate already. But there are additional stressors to consider. Heading into 2026, the gap between farmers’ costs and the prices they receive for their crops is the biggest it’s been in a decade. Experts predict the cost of fertilizer and other inputs will be even higher this year than 2025 levels. And farmers have already been weathering sustained cost increases since 2020-21.
You can’t just opt out of input purchases. But every penny counts. And so does every opportunity to optimize your investments.
Here’s how to get ready for planting season — and a new way to get the most from your input applications:
allows for the placement needed to enable a jump start in growth.
Confirm your input quantity with your retailer
Soil testing in the fall can help you determine your soil’s nutrient levels. By the time planting rolls around, you’ll already know which inputs your crops will need. Based on that plan, spend some time before planting to ensure you’ve purchased enough of whichever fertilizers, herbicides, or other chemicals you plan to use. Do you need to make any adjustments to your nutrition plan (and input supplies)? Do you need to add a preplant herbicide?
Then, confirm how you’ll apply those nutrients. Will you need to call your co-op to come custom apply? Do you need to apply everything yourself? And is there equipment you can purchase to make that process easier (and the applications more effective)?
The Totally Tubular starter fertilizer tube allows you to apply liquid fertilizer deeper in the soil profile, so you know you’re making the most of your input investments.
Finalize your pest management plan
No matter how much planting progress you make early in the season, it can all be quickly derailed by an insect invasion. An integrated pest management plan is vital. Review common symptoms of diseases or pests that are common in your region. (Your agronomist can help with this.)
Plan out a scouting schedule to keep an eye out for potential problems. And have a plan ready to incorporate extra herbicides or biologicals.
Strong, early plant growth is also your first line of defense. Pair your pest management strategy with in-furrow nutrition using Totally Tubular’s starter fertilizer tube. This proactive start will help reduce plants’ early-season stress and empower faster growth, making them more resistant to pests and diseases.
Perform equipment checks
Well before beginning tillage or other field prep, take a close look at all your equipment. Your planting season will be off to a rough start if your planter needs a replacement part — and you don’t realize it until you’re about to start laying down seed.
Carefully inspect your planter and note which parts may need attention. You may need to repair hydraulic lines, wheel bearings, tires, or more.
As you take a look at your disc blades, don’t forget to check your seed tube guard. If this guard is worn down, the whole part needs to be replaced.
This is where early preparation is key. Procrastinating until right before planting season starts is risky: parts might be out of stock by that point in the year, or shipping might take a while. (And you don’t want to add overnight shipping fees to an already tight balance sheet.)
Optimize your fertilizer applications with an in-furrow fertilizer tube
The Totally Tubular starter fertilizer tube is welded directly to the seed tube guard. Made from stainless steel, it cuts down on long-term maintenance hassle and is built to outlast your planter’s disc scraper. Its design also keeps tubes protected and mitigates the risk of rocks.
The in-furrow tube allows you to apply liquid starter fertilizer deeper into the soil profile, which improves root uptake, maximizes early plant health, and enables faster plant growth.
Inputs are expensive enough. If you’re going to spend money on starter fertilizer, it’s important to make the most of the investment. And the right equipment is your key to that optimization.
This planting season, if you’re looking for a low-maintenance way to upgrade your equipment, improve your crop health, and maximize your starter fertilizer applications, search for your local Totally Tubular dealer here.