IP Crop Network – May Report

This 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 to this report.

Illinois
Currently, Illinois’ planting progress, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), has corn at 42% (down 4% compared to the 5-year average) and soybeans at 39% (down 4% compared to the five-year average).

Planting progress is extremely variable across the state. There are a few areas where growers are done and a few areas where growers have yet to even start. Ten-day forecasts continue to show fairly significant chances of rain six days out of the next 10. While May 14 is not late, it will be June very quickly with rain every two to three days.

Grower attitudes in the wet areas are going downhill fast. Most will hang on to current crop plans through Memorial Day weekend. If we are not planted come June 1, look for the acreage shifts to start. A lot of growers are just not equipped to handle a high percentage of their corn crop with extremely high moistures at harvest, let alone the expense of that much drying.

The wet weather and frequent heavy rains and winds have not been good for the winter wheat crop. Severe lodging in places and grain quality will likely suffer due to excessive moisture.

– Scott A. Eversgerd, Field Agronomist – Southern Illinois, Pioneer Hi-Bred Int’l

Kansas/Nebraska
USDA NASS reported that on May 12, Kansas completed 61% of corn planting and 33% of soybean planting. Our area is ahead of that with about 80% of corn in the ground. The crop is coming up well, and farmers are happy. Most farmers are waiting for dryer fields to put in soybeans. Our draw area is lagging behind the state average with about 20% of soybeans done. Nebraska has reported a lot of progress in planting since last week, reaching 60% for corn and 50% for soybeans. The week before, the state was at 31% for corn and 20% for soybeans.

– Cameron Hilgenberg, The DeLong Co.

Michigan
The calendar is moving faster than planters in Michigan this spring. Rainfall has been keeping most growers with many fields just out of reach from being fit for planting. Conventional tilled fields with corn residue from last year is especially slow to dry this year. The latest USDA crop progress report shows soybean planting at 22% which is up 9% from the previous week but 7% behind the five-year average.

Emergence and development of planted fields is very good with soil moisture and temperatures being very good. Stand establishment is very good in most cases with consistent emergence of healthy seedlings.

– Mark Seamon, Research Director, Michigan Soybean Committee

Minnesota
What a difference a month makes! According to the drought monitor, Minnesota went from 58% of the rated abnormally dry to severe drought to 35% abnormally dry to moderate drought. In early April, Minnesota was all but snow free (some snow patches in northern Minnesota) changing to pockets of standing water (southwest Minnesota) in early May. The recent rains have come as a mixed blessing. The relatively dry and warm winter has resulted in a lot of early planting. Crop planting in late April had been wide open, with significant acreage planted before May 1st. But with the recent rains, that has slowed. Minnesota farmers are still raring to go plant!

Soil moisture has improved. The May 13 USDA NASS reports topsoil moisture supplies were rated 10% short to very short, 70% adequate and 20% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 18% short to very short, 68% adequate and 14% surplus. During mid-April, soil temperature (4 inches deep) has stubbornly remained below across much of the state, causing some crop advisers to recommend caution for early planting. The first few days of May sunshine has rapidly changed that.

NASS also reported crop planting is well to slightly ahead of last year, but in some crops (soybeans) planting trails the five-year average. As soil conditions become appropriate, field work, pre-plant activities (fertilizer, some herbicides, etc.) and planting will occur, across the landscape, near simultaneously. There has been some talk that surplus moisture will result in requests for prevent plant status being filed on select fields (especially in the southwest). There was significant activity this last weekend which may not be reported in the May 13 NASS update. Things will be touch and go for a while, with many long days (and short nights) occurring as the spring rains have narrowed the planting window. However, #plant24 will happen; it’s the Minnesota way!

– David Kee, Director of Research, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council

Missouri
Producers across Missouri have been in the field as much as they can between rains. Chasing “dry enough” soil has been the statement we have been hearing. We have had rain every three to four days for the past two-plus weeks, and it has proven tough when they were running equipment earlier this spring due to dry conditions. This week will be another week of rain with warmer and drier temps forecasted for the weekend. The hope would be to get back in the field late this weekend or early next week. Over the past two weeks, USDA estimated Missouri farmers/producers have only had 3.3 days for suitable work due to the weather conditions with only 32% of the state’s soils having surplus topsoil moisture, and the subsoil moisture being 76% adequate for last week’s totals of moisture.

Farmers have planted 72% of the corn crop with 54% of it emerged. Only 36% of the state’s soybean crop is planted with 25% of that planted emerged. An estimated 63% of the cotton crop from southeast Missouri is planted, and 87% of that region’s rice crop is also in the ground, with 73% of rice emerged and more than 50% of the rice crop is rated “good.” Missouri’s winter wheat is 90% headed with 73% of the crop being rated as “good.” Our state’s pastureland has rebounded with all of the rain this spring and is rated “good” across 72% of the crop.

– Bryan Stobaugh, Director of Licensing and Commercialization, and Eric Oseland, Director of Agronomy, Missouri Soybeans

North Dakota
Farmers made significant progress in planting in April before the recent rainfall. Although multiple rainfall events delayed planting in the past two weeks, they were much needed. Slow and steady rains helped the dry ground to soak in moisture and replenish the soil moisture levels. According to the NDAWN report, the cumulative precipitation to date ranges from 0.25 inches in the southwest to about five inches in northeast North Dakota.

USDA NASS indicated that for the week ending May 12, there were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 18% short, 71% adequate and 8% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 20% short, 70% adequate and 7% surplus.

This week after the weather is calming down, farmers are starting to get back into the fields following the recent rains. According to a NASS report on May 12, about half of cereal crops were planted, all ahead of last year’s five-year average. About 22% of corn acres were planted, 21% canola acres and 92% of sugar beet acres were planted, all ahead of last years or five-year average. Soybean planting has just started; about 7% of soybeans have been planted so far, which is close to the five-year average.

There is a lot of positivity during planting season this year with timely rainfalls. However, this year, the NOAA Prediction Center forecasts a shift from El Niño, which brought a warmer winter, to La Niña by early summer. This transition is expected to result in average temperatures but slightly drier conditions, particularly on the western side of the state.

Overall, the planting conditions are good or close to ideal in many parts of the state. In the upcoming weeks, we need higher-growing degree days to help with germination and quick establishment of crops.

– Miki Miheguli, Research Programs Coordinator, North Dakota Soybean Council

Wisconsin
Last week’s weather in Wisconsin continued to challenge fieldwork with only 3.6 suitable days, mainly due to persistent wet conditions, according to the last USDA crop progress report. While this slowed planting progress, the rain benefited wheat and alfalfa. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were mostly adequate to surplus. Despite the challenges, farmers made progress with tillage, planting and fertilizer application as conditions permitted.

Corn planting was ahead of schedule at 40%, with emergence at 8%. Soybean planting also progressed, reaching 37%, with 6% emergence. Oat planting was notably ahead of average at 68%, with 38% emergence. Spring tillage was also ahead, at 71%.

Winter wheat conditions remained strong at 85% good to excellent, though slightly down from the previous week. All hay conditions stayed steady at 74% good to excellent. Pasture and range conditions improved, with 59% rated as good to excellent, up 4% from the previous week.

— Shawn Conley, State Extension Soybean and Small Grain Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison

According to NASS, Wisconsin had 3.5 days of good weather for field work last week. I disagree and think we had much less, as most farmers had to pause planting and only started again this past weekend in Southern Wisconsin. USDA says that Wisconsin is 40% done with corn and 37% done with soybeans. I think we are slightly ahead of both in our service area. Farmers worked hard this past weekend because they expect several rain events in the 6 to 10-day forecast. Wisconsin planting will make a lot of progress before the rains come.

– Cameron Hilgenberg, The DeLong Co.