Doug Stratman is just getting the 2026 planting season underway in northeast Nebraska.

After putting just one acre in the ground, Stratman had to pause and troubleshoot a planter issue with his starter fertilizer flow meter before continuing — a reminder that even the smallest equipment issues can slow things down during the busiest time of year.

As planting ramps up, he’s also thinking through bigger management decisions across the farm. That includes protecting corn from rootworm pressure by adding insecticide in the starter and experimenting with planting soybeans in 30-inch rows instead of the 15-inch rows he’s used in the past.

For Stratman, planting season isn’t just about getting seed into the soil — it’s about making the small adjustments and management decisions now that can help protect yields and set the crop up for success later in the season.