Author’s note: You can participate in the Feedback from the Field series as often as you’d like this growing season! Just click this link to take the survey and share updates about your farm’s spring progress. I review and upload results daily to the FFTF Google MyMap, so farmers can see others’ responses from across the country – or even across the county!
Planting season is likely inching towards a close in much of the Midwest, according to the recent week’s Feedback from the Field responses. Rapid emergence rates were recorded in the FFTF series over the past week as hot weather accelerates early crop development across the Heartland.
“Looks good,” shared a central Kentucky corn grower. “[It looks] better than last year’s [crop] which we started planting in early April.”
“Corn looks good,” echoed another farmer in Kentucky.
Of 17 grower FFTF responses from the past week, average planting rates totaled out to 69% for the week ending April 24. The slower planting rate relative to USDA’s Crop Progress report out yesterday points to slower planting speeds in the Upper Midwest.
“We need two solid weeks of plant-able weather to finish corn and beans,” estimated a producer in north-central Wisconsin.
“It’s wet and no fieldwork is currently happening,” reported a producer just outside of Minneapolis. “We’ll be lucky to be planted by June 1.”
A central Minnesotan farmer was already weighing possible acreage shifts late last week. “Maybe prevent plant,” the grower mused.
Further planting progress will be dependent on farmers dodging rain this week. “Cold soils made for a late start,” fretted a western Ohio grower who continues to wait for an appropriate weather window to finish planting.
Spring wheat losses begin to mount
Spring wheat planting only advanced 10% last week, landing at 49% complete as of May 22. Planting progress in top states Minnesota and North Dakota continues to fall behind due to weather challenges. As prevent plant dates approach this, concerns about acreage loss continue.
Our first Canadian participant in the FFTF series (at least during my tenure) had thoughts about spring wheat sowing in northeast Saskatchewan last week that closely echoed those of many growers in North Dakota and Minnesota.
“We are getting more rain today,” the farmer shared. “So we are delayed planting for a few more days. Soon it will be late for spring wheat here.”
A few clear days are in store for the Northern Plains this week, but extended forecasts continue to show a soggy outlook through the rest of the month. “Forecast looks to keep us at a snail’s pace,” lamented one spring wheat producer on the Minnesota-Canada border.