Odds favor highest yields occurring when crops are planted by May 10th, with only slight loss of potential if planted by May 15th. Just as those dates were drawing near, the weather allowed farmers in this region to begin making great progress. Most corn is now planted, and many soybeans are planted as well. In fact, emergence of April-planted corn is quite impressive. Some soybeans planted in April have also emerged. Next week’s cool forecast will slow crop development, which always seems to happen at some point during May.
Slight changes of rain are in the forecast for most days in the next week. I looked back at monthly rainfall records for Storm Lake, Sioux City, and several other towns and found a number of times in recent years where rainfall exceeded 10″ during June or July. It was not necessarily correlated with above or below-average rainfall in preceding months. At this point, that type of rainfall would be welcomed, even by an alfalfa grower!
Grain prices have risen again in the past week. Delayed planted around the US is a big factor as the impacts of the war. Nationally, the corn crop is 49% planted on corn and 30% on soybeans. States north of Iowa are only in the 30’s and North Dakota is only 4% planted. Yes, North Dakota matters as they have become one of the larger producers of both corn and soybeans. Their short growing season becomes a real factor with late planting.
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