The latest crop progress numbers from USDA are in line with trader expectations. The report showing, nationally, 17% of the corn crop is planted. That is 3% behind the five-year average. Ohio is 8% planted.
Also, nationally 8% of soybeans are planted which is 3% ahead of the five-year average. Again, 8% of soybeans are planted in Ohio where farmers like Scott Mavis are seeing big improvements over last year as they roll through the field.
“One of the things we’re doing is checking to make sure that all of our shape files or variable-rate files are in the monitor,” explains Mavis as he takes a short break while waiting on the weather to improve.
“We had quite a bit of snow, but overall, it’s not a lot of moisture. It was maybe a half-inch of actual rain,” Mavis adds.
This fourth-generation farmer balances a thriving Precision Planting business with running a corn and soybean operation in northwest Ohio. While the business keeps him busy in the off-season, it’s now “go” time for getting a crop in the ground.
“We’ve planted about a fourth of our soybeans here a week ago,” said Mavis. “We were able to get into some of the fields and conditions were great that we were planting.”
He says they knew the forecast was calling for snow and colder temperatures but felt comfortable enough to plant some soybeans early.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to have a little bit higher yield potential by getting out there early,” said Mavis.
Mavis says that late-season snow barely made a dent in the dry conditions that have plagued his area since last growing season. He says a successful season will depend on taking cues from Mother Nature.
“One of our biggest challenges here in northwest Ohio is establishing a good stand, whether it’s corn or beans,” Mavis says. “We really have to pay attention to the forecast after we plant and hopefully get things out of the ground.”
Just ten miles to the south, Mike Zeedyk’s field work is well underway.
“March was extremely warm for us,” recounts Zeedyk. “Warm and dry weather for us is a big thing because we are very slow to dry out in the springtime with these heavy soil types but it’s been a great start so far this year.”
A family farm, the Zeedyks raise corn, beans and alfalfa, with much of the crop going to the local dairy industry.
“The local dairy farm is a big market for us with our silage and haylage,” Zeedyk says. “Other than that, most of our beans have been going non-GMO. We’re almost 100 percent non-GMO beans.”
As old crop soybean prices soared past $15 last week, Zeedyk knows that it will take careful management to keep his balance sheet in order.
“I fear prices going up too high, too fast because when things go up this fast, all expenses follow,” Zeedyk says. “Then when these prices go back down, expenses are still way up there and they’re never going to fall back near as fast as the prices can.”
For now, he says management of his planting schedule will be key to a successful season.
“Used to be everybody planted their corn first,” Zeedyk notes. “Things have changed over the years and beans are a lot more resilient than corn. They can have a bad day and still produce very good beans.”
He says he likes to start planting on April 25 with a goal of finishing by May 15.
“That would be nice, but boy, the last couple of years, Mother Nature’s really thrown us a curveball,” Zeedyk says.
These are challenges that Scott Mavis is all too familiar with.
“You can’t control Mother Nature,” laments Mavis. “There are years or days that are more frustrating than others, but we seem to always get through it.”
This year, marketing is the real challenge.
“I mean, that’s something you can control but you kind of work with it the best you can,” Mavis says.
