IP Crop Network, May Report

This monthly feature from SSGA’s Agronomy Action Team highlights growing conditions for Identity Preserved crops from different regions around the country. Thanks to the states/regions that contributed this month. If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with David Kee or Shane Frederick. You can also follow David Kee on Twitter for some of the latest, most-interesting information on agronomy and research that affect IP and other farmers.

Illinois

The week of May 9 probably will set a record for the amount of crop that can be planted in a 7- to 10-day period. In 2019, Illinois planted 1 million of acres of corn a day. I think that will be blown away this year. Planters are bigger, and there are more of them. Most growers now have a bean planter and corn planter, and quite a bit of pre-work is done. Look for 1.5-1.75 million acres a day to be planted by the end of the week.

Wheat is coming on strong with flowering now hitting the wheat belt of Illinois. Should be a good crop, but it will not beat last year.

Michigan

The 2022 growing season has started with some green up of the winter wheat crop. Cool temperatures, along with consistent rainfall, has not allowed for field work in most places. At this date, this is not a significant issue for Michigan soybeans, but the sugar beet and wheat growers would like to be getting a stronger start to field operations.

The USDA planting intentions report indicated that Michigan growers plan to plant about 9% more soybeans in 2022 than in 2021. Expected corn acres are about the same as the previous year. So additional soybean acres will come from winter wheat that was not able to be planted last fall and some minor crops.

Contracts for specialty soybeans, including non-GMO and food-grade soybeans, are reduced compared to a year ago. Some reasons that I have heard for this change include planning for weed control challenges, such as herbicide resistant weeds and potential profit of commodity soybeans. It is likely that attractive contracts for dry edible beans have also taken some acres away from specialty soybeans.

Optimism for the 2022 season remains high as commodity markets continue to offer profit opportunities.

Missouri

Cool, wet weather across Missouri in April kept planters in the shed, and the state is well behind the five-year average for corn and soybean planting. Wet springs bring concern for diseases in wheat, especially fusarium head blight (scab) if the wet weather continues through flowering. However, warmer, drier weather in early May will coincide with much of the wheat flowering and should deter the development of fusarium head blight.

As of May 1, only 27% of corn in Missouri was planted with only 3% of that emerged. Soybean planting is about 5% due to all the wet weather we have had, and Missouri cotton producers are less than 10% planted. Rice planting is also very behind. In 2021, rice planted was 62%, but for May 1, 2022, there is only 5% of rice acres planted with 1% of that emerged.

We are looking forward to a drier beginning to May 2022, so we can get our crops in the ground.

Minnesota

The recent rains have come as a mixed blessing. Crop planting has been extremely limited in Minnesota. Rains over frost laden soil have resulted in widespread flooding in the northwest. However, according to the drought monitor, less than 7% of the state is rated as in any form of reportable drought status (D0-D1). Soil temperature (4-inch deep) has stubbornly remained below 50^oF across most of the state. The predicted next few days of sunshine will rapidly change that.

To date, farmers report field work has been minimal. However, the lull has given growers ample time to ready their equipment. As soil conditions become appropriate, field work, pre-plant activities (fertilizer, some herbicides, etc.), planting and planting will be occurring across the landscape near simultaneously. The surplus moisture over cold, semi-frozen soil will result in some requests for prevent plant status being filed on select fields (especially in the northwest). Things will be touch and go for a while, with many long days (and short nights) occurring, as the later-than-normal spring will narrow the planting window. But the job will get done; it’s the Minnesota way!

North Dakota

Spring planting is delayed in North Dakota due to cold temperatures and excessive moisture. The fields across the state are too cold and wet to plant; some farmers in the northeastern part of the state do not have access to fields because of the closed or washed-out roads. Planting also is slow in drier areas because of undesirable field conditions such as cold soil temperatures.

According to USDA Crop Progress and Conditions report, there were only 2.3 days suitable for field work until the week ending May 8. This report also shows that 80% of North Dakota’s topsoil moisture and 71% of subsoil moisture were rated adequate or surplus for the week ending May 8. Soil temperatures across North Dakota for the week of April 24-30 averaged in the mid-to-high 30s to low 40s, based on data from the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network.

Spring wheat planting was 8% completed until the week ending May 8, which is 63% behind the last year and 37% behind the five-year average. Planting of corn, canola, sugar beets, oats, barley and dry edible beans ranged from 1% to 6%, well behind the last year and five-year average.

Back-to-back blizzards in April and recent precipitation provided adequate (or excess) moisture in North Dakota. Even western North Dakota received adequate moisture to improve the drought from last year. Farmers are impatiently waiting for weather and soil conditions to improve to complete spring planting.