Counties of: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux
Widespread rainfall over the weekend and Monday put planting progress on hold this week. Rainfall amounts were moderate ranging from 4 tenths to about 2 inches. We welcome the rain despite planting delays. Soil temperatures are still cold (around 50), so there’s no strong urgency to plant yet anyway. The 10 day weather outlook is finally showing normal to above normal temperatures which is exactly what we need. The outlook also shows likely above normal rainfall through mid-May, so the next planting windows may be short. Longer range forecasts by NOAA still have La Nina in place this summer, they show increased odds of hot and dry weather for this region and more so for areas farther west.
Corn planting started last week on some farms, while others are waiting for warmer soils. Overall, this area has 10% to 20% of corn planted. In 2020 and 2021 corn was nearly done by May 1st. Looking at the 5 year average, about half the corn is typically planted by now, so we aren’t too far behind schedule yet. Cold soil (especially cold rain) after planting can cause emergence and seed vigor issues, so we’ll have to keep an eye on the first planted corn. Today’s treated seed hybrids can generally tolerate cold stressed environments like we’ve had this year, so I don’t expect any widespread issues.
Very few soybeans are planted yet (10% or less). Many farmers won’t start planting beans until the corn is finished, but a growing number of farms are planting soybeans at the same time or before corn. Soybeans are much more susceptible to frost damage after emergence, but corn may be more prone to “chilling injury” prior to emergence. So the decision of which crop to plant first isn’t always clear. Planting progress will happen very quickly when opportunity comes, so no reason to be worried about late planting yet.
Please click on the links on the right to view the past pdf’s of our Northwest Crop Conditions reports.
1705 N Lake Ave
Storm Lake, IA 50588
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