Northwest Iowa Crop Conditions

It looked like an early spring was on its way until a snow storm and cold blast hit on Easter Sunday. Even so, local farms are closer to good planting conditions now than at this time over the last few years. Soil conditions are not as wet (they’re not dry either). We have good subsoil moisture which is generally a good thing. Full-capacity soil profiles are like a savings account that can pay big later in the season. The two week weather outlook calls for more normal temps, so if we can avoid heavy rainfall planting could start soon.

The calendar says it’s time to plant corn, we are in the ideal planting window until early May. Of cores soil conditions trump date especially in April. We want the soil temps to reach 50 degrees with a generally warming forecast. As of today the 4 inch soil temp is around 40 degrees, but it looks like next week should slowly warm the soil over 50. We could see a lot of corn planted by the end of April if we don’t get much rain.

So far the Covid-19 virus outbreak has not had a big impact from a farm operations standpoint in this area. Businesses in agriculture (including Stalcup Ag Service) are making adjustments to keep people as safe as possible while getting the necessary work done so that farm operations aren’t delayed.

Grain and livestock markets are another story, they have taken a beating during thisCovid-19 economic shutdown. The ethanol industry is shutting down or cutting back across the country because of an unprecedented decline in gasoline usage and very low gas/oil prices. It looks like the markets will be under pressure until the Covid outbreak is behind us and the US Economy starts recovering.