Latest News From Planting

What’s the key to growing big yields? According to the reigning national corn yield contest champ, David Hula, you can’t have 300-bushel-per-acre yields if you don’t start with 300-bushel-per-acre stands.

As most of the U.S. is still prepping for spring planting, USDA's weekly crop progress report shares Texas growers have already planted more than half their corn acres.

Don't take equipment to fields too soon and create headaches that will linger all season. While you wait for the right timing, consider doing prep work and projects that can help set you up for yield success.

This roundup of almost two dozen product combinations gives details on dry formulations meant for use in corn or soybeans that replace or layer with the same company’s traditional seed fluency blends.

“Plant early for optimum yield” is a common refrain soybean growers hear from agronomic experts today. If that’s your plan for 2024, here are three reminders to help you make it happen.

If you value the benefits starter fertilizer offers, you might like the performance of a starter fertilizer relay system even more. Farm Journal Test Plot data show a relay system + 2x2 placement = $36 per acre ROI.

Various factors impact planting dates, but now's the time to get everything in order so you don't miss the windows of opportunity when they roll around next spring.

Wilbur-Ellis Announces Student Teams Honored in the Second Annual Wilbur-Ellis Innovation Award

South Dakota farmers have planted 49% of the corn and 29% of the soybeans in the state. Both are ahead of the five-year average and a surprise with fields snow covered in April.

Planting has been going full steam the last two weeks in Iowa and farmers now have 70% of the corn and 49% of the soybeans planted which in both cases are nearly 20% ahead of average.

Even with the cold spring farmers in Indiana are making good planting progress, but many have been planting soybeans ahead of corn and that showed up on this week's USDA crop progress report.

USDA’s latest Crop Progress report shows while corn planting is now right on track with average, the soybean planting pace is well above average despite North Dakota and South Dakota farmers who are still sidelined.

“We have a pretty deep trough of low-pressure that's kind of parked over the Midwest, which is leading to below-normal temperatures,” says Brad Rippey, USDA meteorologist. Here's a look at the 30-day forecast.

Farmers in west-central Missouri are planting at a rapid pace, with most already finished with corn and now moving to soybeans. The historic planting pace is also catching the attention of USDA-NASS.

Soybeans planted from April 3 to April 10 were hit the hardest as they were snared by temperatures dipping below 28°F. Corn didn't dodge the damage, either. Ferrie says some corn crops at the V1 stage were smoked.

USDA's weekly Crop Progress Report shows 14% of the nation's corn crop and 9% of the soybean crop is planted. Farmers in Missouri and Tennessee are planting at a rapid pace, but the upper Midwest is already behind.

The Corn Belt will see a cooler weather pattern set in, and parts of the parched Plains will see higher chances of rain during the next couple of weeks, according to Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions.

When soybean seed sits in the ground for weeks, unable to germinate, the risk for Sudden Death Syndrome to develop trends higher. Yield losses upwards of 80% are documented.

USDA's latest Crop Progress report shows an open window with weather spurred a jump in corn and soybean planting last week. USDA shows 8% of the nation's corn crop and 4% of the U.S. soybean crop is now planted.

From the potential for more cold weather later this week to additional moisture increasing chances for flooding in the upper Midwest, the forecast for the remainder of April could hold a few more surprises.

As the market balances its focus between increased planting progress and the reality of saturated soils and more chances of rain and snow in the northern tier of states, commodity prices could sway planting decisions.

Drew Lerner of World Weather, Inc. says he’s concerned about the potential for a widespread frost and freeze later next week. Current models are conflicting on how widespread it will be and how cold it will get.

You’ve heard the debate—corn should be planted before beans, or vice versa. Research out of the University of Illinois aims to set the record straight.

USDA’s latest Crop Progress confirms planting is just getting started across the Corn Belt, but as forecasts change to milder and drier trend, planting progress could speed up this week.

University of Tennessee Extension weed specialist Larry Steckel says as farmers prepare to plant, it might be uncomfortable to spray early when fields look clean, but it’s a smart strategy for effective weed control.

The weather forecast shows more farmers could start planting next week, and as farmers hit the fields, analysts want farmers to not lose sight of marketing opportunities during their busiest time of year.

It's been a wet spring for many parts of the Corn Belt, and John Phipps says one of the advantages of his advancing age is the ability to start worrying earlier.

With the impending snowstorm in the upper Midwest and Northern Plains, it may seem like the 2023 planting season will be off to a slow start. However, in states like Illinois and Missouri, planting has already started.

Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie says there’s a lot of value in the concept of “start clean and stay clean” for full-season weed control. He shares some advice as farmers prepare for planting this year.

Two to three feet of snow is forecast to fall over parts of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest this week. Some market watchers are beginning to question if 92 million acres of corn can actually get planted this year.

Wet weather in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest is sparking conversations about a growing number of prevent plant acres this year. Is it too early to start conversations about the possibility of prevent plant?

You are about to plant the most expensive crop of your career. But just how much more expensive? 

Here’s to a safe planting season and a fantastic playlist.

Fertilizer and herbicide prices continue to fall, and there are signs the decline will continue. Now the issue is the number of ag retailers sitting on high-priced inputs, which are often passed on to farmers.

Winter is not the high precipitation time frame for many portions of farm country, Snodgrass says. One spring storm system can deliver the same amount of soil moisture as all the snowfall during the winter.

Corn and soybean prices remained high heading into spring, but input costs and global competition remain concerns for producers.

As you gear up for planting season, let’s have a little fun. Which song below best describes your attitude about #plant23?

Farmers in the northwestern corn belt have had normal to above normal moisture this winter which will play into planting intensions, but so will commodity and input prices. So what will the acreage mix look like?

Every year, farmers from the Northern Plains make their way to the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, ND...for the CHS Ag Services Ag Industry Day where they got an update on weather, agronomics and markets for 2023.

Even if we’ve done it every year for decades, it never hurts to have a primer to jog our memories about basic planter maintenance measurements.

When it comes to winning the furrow, it all starts with the planter. Missy Bauer, Farm Journal field agronomist, says some of the common planting mistakes can be fixed before the planter hits the field.

Most folks know to check disk openers, gauge wheels and other soil-contacting components. Here’s a checklist of less obvious problems.

You can’t always predict the weather; but you can put plans in place so you’re ready to plant in all conditions.

From flooding to mudslides, an atmospheric river produced rain that wreaked havoc on agriculture and infrastructure in the state. One of the hardest-hit areas is the Salinas Valley, a large lettuce production area.

Two farmers embrace conservation practices to build soil health, reduce GHG emissions and leave a lasting legacy. They’re discovering the potential of ag lands as some of Earth’s largest natural reservoirs of carbon.

Take a virtual crop tour across farm country, without leaving your chair.

Farmers save on input costs and improve water management by planting into green, head-high cover crops this spring.

Farmers in the corn belt are facing both prevent plant and replant situations this spring.

Nearly 80% of the corn crop has emerged and 73% has a condition rating of good or excellent.

After a historically slow start, corn and soybean planting progress have both reached average paces.