Blog

May 26, 2020

Minnesota and Iowa Field Notes

Key Issues: Production

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

“Our corn crop is going well so far. We do need sun and heat. It’s been overcast past two weeks with plenty of rain. The crop has emerged, but we are waiting on the sun and temperatures in the 70s so that it can really take off. Right now, the forecasters are talking sun tomorrow with the heat coming next week.” - Bryan Biegler, Minnesota farmer   “Today, we’re clearing out the bins and delivering last year’s corn. The new crop is going better than I thought that it would. I was concerned when it was hit with frost, but the warmer, humid weather brought it back quickly.” - April Hemmes, Iowa farmer

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May 18, 2020

North Dakota and Illinois Field Notes

Key Issues: Production

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

“As of May 14, we haven’t turned a wheel to plant 2020 crop. We did harvest somewhat but had to quit because of the road conditions. We had more showers last night, but we are hoping to get one field planted early this week. That is only 15 percent of what we planned to plant in corn. After that, I have no idea where I am going to go.”   - Randy Melvin, North Dakota farmer   “In terms of corn planting, it is so far, so good for us. We hope to be done by Memorial Day. This year, we are decreasing the corn acres planted from last year because, given current conditions, it’s harder to make work from an economic standpoint.”   -Jim Raben, Illinois farmer

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May 11, 2020

Missouri and Kansas Field Notes

Key Issues: Production

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

“We finished planting corn and only have 800 or so acres of soybeans left to plant. Joshlin, my husband, has been working long hours trying to beat the rain on Wednesday. That said, the weather has been okay. We’re in the Goldilocks zone. The corn looks like it is doing well. When we started in early April, we just kept going because it wasn’t too wet. So, even though it was cold, we got ahead of things.”   -Addie Yoder, Missouri farmer   “We are still planting corn, but we are almost done. 300 more acres, and we will move onto soy. We’re supposed to get two or three inches of rain this week, and the morning temperatures have been in the mid30s. What we planted in early April is doing well despite the cold. I almost wish we had kept going, but we had snow flurries and cold rain then. We made the best decision we could at the time. It’s all you can do.” -Lowell Neitzel, Kansas farmer

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May 4, 2020

Nebraska and Iowa Field Notes

Key Issues: Production

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

“We’ve had really good weather for planting actually. We haven’t had any rain delays. It is far nicer than last year with bomb cyclones. we are starting to get dry in areas. As guys are wrapping up planting in a week to ten days, we’ll be hoping for rain. There are a few center pivots are already running.” -Andy Jobman, Nebraska farmer     “I finished planting on Saturday like almost everyone in northern Iowa. It is the earliest I can remember finishing for a long time. I am worried about how the crop will handle the stress as the next few weeks are supposed to be cooler than normal. While conditions are dry, we are getting by this far on subsoil moisture from last year.” -April Hemmes, Iowa farmer    

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