Farmers in southern Illinois are facing a slow, even non-existent, planting season. “Right now, they just can’t get the crop in,” said Matt Montgomery, Burrus Hybrids sales agronomist. “They are fighting rain and they just don’t get a break.”  

Jason Webster, innovation lead for Beck’s Hybrids Practical Farm Research, agreed that southern Illinois is one of the “trouble spots” this spring. “It’s pretty spotty - there’s not much to look at right now,” Webster said. “I do think over the next 10 to 15 days we’ll make some rapid improvements.”

ON HOLD: Todd Wachtel, who farmers near Effingham, hasn’t planted since April 26. “People are starting to get antsy around here,” Wachtel said.

Webster said the 7-day outlook looks promising. “It would be great for those guys in southern Illinois,” Webster noted. “They need some warm and dry weather to get caught up.”

Todd Wachtel, who farms near Effingham, said warm temperatures are in the forecast. Unfortunately, rain is, too. “Planting is pretty spotty, about 20 to 30 miles south, there are a lot of farmers that haven’t planted any crops yet,” said Wachtel. As of May 18, Wachtel’s fields had measurable rainfall for 17 out of 29 days. The rainfall hammered his crop planted on April 19. Wachtel is considering replanting 500 acres, in addition to the one-third of his acres yet to plant.

In other areas of the state, farmers pulled planters from fields. “There’s a fair amount of growers who didn’t get all their corn in and said ‘I’m not planting anything else until this weather turns around’,” Webster said. “With temperatures getting up into the 80’s this weekend; it could be perfect for putting those last crops in.

As for the crops that did make it in the ground, the heat will certainly help.

Montgomery said emerged corn plants are in good shape overall, but would benefit from sunshine and warmth. Montgomery noted some corn seedlings with a purplish tint - which is not uncommon for certain genetics. Corn plants will grow out of the discoloration after a few days of sunshine.

“Corn will look amazing by next week, people will feel real positive about things,” Montgomery added. “I imagine the folks are less positive in Southern Illinois.”

“We haven’t been in any fields since April 26,” Wachtel said. “People are starting to get antsy around here.”

“We’re in a time period now we’ll see those bushel per day losses toward maximum,” Montgomery explained. “June is pretty scary – June 15 is the last practical day to plant corn.”

After June 1, Webster said farmers will face a tough decision. “The question you have to ask is ‘Can we go to soybeans’?” Webster noted. For some farmers, switching may not be an option due to herbicide programs or nitrogen applications. However, the switch from corn to soybeans may be a little more attractive this year. “With the price of soybeans and the market rally we’ve had, growers may be debating a switch,” Webster said.