Farm Progress

Last fields were tough to plant

Northeast corn planting slow to finish due to soggy soils.

John Vogel, Editor, American Agriculturist

June 26, 2018

1 Min Read
PLANTING DELAYED: Planting — actually any kind of field work — was complicated by soggy soils this spring.

As of the third week of June, 4% to 9% of cornfields in the Northeast were still unplanted or replanted due to soggy soils or just enough rainfall to keep planters out. That’s according to USDA reports from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Few faced the predicament of the mud-mired tractor pictured. Unfortunately, the tractor wasn’t equipped with a hydraulic front-end loader that might have been used to walk it out backwards. Its best answer was to wait for dry soil and a bigger tractor with a long-chain.

Uneven stands in drowned out spots plus replantings were widespread in central Pennsylvania and New York. That suggests record yields will be fewer and farther between in the Northeast.

About the Author(s)

John Vogel

Editor, American Agriculturist

For more than 38 years, John Vogel has been a Farm Progress editor writing for farmers from the Dakota prairies to the Eastern shores. Since 1985, he's been the editor of American Agriculturist – successor of three other Northeast magazines.

Raised on a grain and beef farm, he double-majored in Animal Science and Ag Journalism at Iowa State. His passion for helping farmers and farm management skills led to his family farm's first 209-bushel corn yield average in 1989.

John's personal and professional missions are an integral part of American Agriculturist's mission: To anticipate and explore tomorrow's farming needs and encourage positive change to keep family, profit and pride in farming.

John co-founded Pennsylvania Farm Link, a non-profit dedicated to helping young farmers start farming. It was responsible for creating three innovative state-supported low-interest loan programs and two "Farms for the Future" conferences.

His publications have received countless awards, including the 2000 Folio "Gold Award" for editorial excellence, the 2001 and 2008 National Association of Ag Journalists' Mackiewicz Award, several American Agricultural Editors' "Oscars" plus many ag media awards from the New York State Agricultural Society.

Vogel is a three-time winner of the Northeast Farm Communicators' Farm Communicator of the Year award. He's a National 4-H Foundation Distinguished Alumni and an honorary member of Alpha Zeta, and board member of Christian Farmers Outreach.

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