For many years most European countries have had some sort of Cold or other stress test information available to the farm producer. But the U.S. farmer is still getting only the standard 20-30C germination test results on his certified seed tag. A Cold tolerance test, or a Cool-Warm Vigor Index is essential if early planting is planned. The farmer should ask his seedsman for this information. A discussion of soil physical factors that are an important function of depth of planting, soil moisture at planting, and soil compaction are discussed. There is enough water in the soil profile to germinate and emerge cotton and soybean seeds and grow the seedlings for 8-10 weeks under droughty conditions assuming the water in the profile has not been wasted by growing a cover crop too late in the spring or tilling the soil excessively in preparation for planting.