This week’s Crop Progress Report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) confirms what Stine agronomists report in their regions. While planting is underway throughout the Midwest and in the Mid-Delta South, areas of the northern Corn Belt aren’t quite there yet. This is likely because of the unseasonable weather conditions this region experienced early this spring.
According to the report, 15 percent of corn is planted, with three percent emerged. That’s right on par for last year’s average at this time. For soybeans, three percent of planting is complete, which is similar to last year’s average. This data is based off the 18 states that planted 92 percent of the corn acreage and 95 percent of the soybean acreage in 2018.
In the field
Planters are rolling steady in the South and southern Corn Belt, including in Kentucky, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Some corn is even up in these areas. Consistent warmer temperatures and less precipitation in these regions during early spring encouraged growers to start planting early. However, Stine Corn Technical Agronomist Mike Smith notes that growers in Mississippi and Louisiana are still battling wet soils.
Waiting it out
Storms in mid-April dumped heavy snow and rain in many areas of the northern Corn Belt. According to Stine Corn Technical Agronomist Tony Lenz, in Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa, conditions depend on whether you’re north or south of the I-90 corridor. Cool, wet and even some water-logged soils persist in these areas. The NASS Crop Progress Report shows that planting has yet to begin in South Dakota, while in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin, less than five percent of the corn crop is in the ground. In addition to unseasonable weather conditions, Director of Agronomy Todd Schomburg notes that some growers in this region may have experienced a delay because they were unable to prep their fields last fall due to wet conditions. Many growers are busy getting their fields ready with tillage and anhydrous applications before getting in the planter.
Whether you’re in the field or counting down the days until you can get started, now is a great time to turn to the expert advice of your local Stine sales agronomist. Their product and crop management knowledge can help you maximize the potential of every acre.