After a sluggish start to 2018, growers reporting Feedback From The Field last week noted improving corn conditions, though their assessments still fall short of weekly crop ratings from USDA. But rough spots remain according to growers and coverage from storms over the weekend could be crucial for some.

The eastern half of the Corn Belt appears to be most under the gun, with farmers saying their corn was in only fair to good condition. By contrast, USDA rated 81% of the corn in Illinois at good to excellent, with Indiana at 77% and Ohio at 86%.

The problem, farmers said, was too much rain in some areas, and too little elsewhere.

“Very dry here,” noted a producer near Effingham in south central Illinois.” Less than 1 inch of rain for May and none yet in June.” Water in farm’s well was at the lowest level since 2012.

The dry pattern continued north of I-70 into Indiana where farmers said they’d been missed. “No rain and none in sight,” was the report northeast of Indianapolis. “It dries up and rebuilds in Ohio.”

Indeed, some producers in the Buckeye State continued to complain about soggy fields. “Rains are real hit and miss,” said a farmer in central Ohio. “Trying to get wet fields finished this week and replant done.”

Some farms west of the Mississippi River were also under the gun after highly variable conditions in April and May. Corn in southwest Iowa was “rolling at 8 in the morning.” Another farmer in central Iowa, where it was wetter, summed it up: “Some corn knee high, some corn still in the bag.”

Still, other producers rated fields in good to excellent shape.

“Corn is the farthest along ever for June 5,” wrote a farmer in western Iowa.

And a producer near Mankato, MN, was still optimistic: “Planting was late, but weather has thus far been ideal and with occasional moisture and moderate 80's temps there is decent potential.”

What’s happening out your way? Click this Feedback From The Field link to rate crops in your area and provide comments about your fields. We’ll update reports frequently with the interactive map below that lets you see what other growers are saying around the country. Click the box in the upper left-hand corner to bring up the weekly index; scroll down to see the most current week

Follow along with the season here:

Feedback From the Field - June 4, 2018 - Crop conditions hold steady, but not as strong as USDA’s ratings.

Feedback From the Field - May 21, 2018 - Will corn planting progress meet the market’s models?

Feedback From the Field - May 14, 2018 - Planting progress hit or miss in the second week of May.

Feedback From the Field - May 7, 2018 - Growers make rapid planting progress outside the far north.

Feedback From the Field - May 2, 2018 - Some growers welcome this week’s rains.

Feedback From The Field - April 30, 2018 - More growers get into the field over the weekend.

Feedback From The Field - April 23, 2018 - April ending with cold, wet conditions stalling planting.

Feedback From The Field - April 19, 2018 - Rain, snow, fires and mud – this spring has it all.

Feedback From The Field - April 18, 2018 - Welcome to springtime in the Midwest.

Feedback From The Field - April 16, 2018 - Interactive tool helps growers share conditions.