Plant Your Independence Tour

A Frustrating Spring: Spotty Spring Rains Push Southwest Iowa Planting Slightly Behind

Wed, 06 May 2026 18:33:18 GMT

USDA’s latest Crop Progress Report showed as of Sunday, 22 percent of Iowa’s corn crop is planted, which is right in line with the five-year average. Soybean planting sits at 11 percent, which is just slightly behind. But those statewide numbers don’t tell the whole planting story this year. In southern Iowa, spotty spring showers are creating a far more uneven planting picture for farmers trying to make progress in the field.

In the far southwestern corner of Iowa, farmer Pat Sheldon is finally back in the field and relieved to see planters rolling again after a stop-and-start spring.

“We’ll be 25 or 30 percent done with the beans by the end of the day,” says Pat Sheldon, a farmer from Percival, Iowa.

While Sheldon prefers to be wrapped up planting by now, this season is running just a bit behind his typical pace.

“Usually we like to try to have almost everything done by now. We’re shooting for the end of April, but we usually don’t make it. So we’re a little behind where we normally are,” Sheldon says.“For no sooner than we started, we’ve come right along.”

About 80 percent of his corn is already planted, but some acres remain too saturated to finish, especially on his heavier ground.

After being out of the field for much of the past week due to wet conditions, Sheldon says the moisture hasn’t been as severe as in other parts of the region, but still enough to delay progress.

“We’re not as wet as it’s been east and south, but just enough to keep you out,” Sheldon says.

Even so, he is confident that progress will accelerate quickly if the forecast holds.

“The forecast looks good for here anyway, dry weather for a week or so, and I can get a lot done on the bottom when it’s dry,” Sheldon says.“ Just need dry weather and sunshine and let us work. It won’t take long. It’ll go in fast once it stays dry like this for a few days.”

Input costs have been a concern across agriculture, but Sheldon says his operation avoided the worst of recent fertilizer price spikes by planning ahead.

“We had all of our dry on last fall and over half of our anhydrous before it got too nasty for us to keep going, and we finished it up this spring,” Sheldon says. “We had it all pre-bought before all the prices went crazy, so we were fortunate on that aspect.

With planting back up and running this week, Sheldon says their operation is “in good shape,” and it’s that sense of stability is a stark contrast to conditions just seven years ago.

Sheldon’s family farm is situated next to the Missouri River. It’s fertile ground that’s been in his family for generations. But in 2019, Sheldon’s farm was devastated by flooding along the Missouri River, with water levels reaching several feet high in areas that are now being planted.

“There was probably three feet of water where we’re standing. Nothing got planted in the bottom ground. There was some stuff in the hills, but that was about it,” says Sheldon.

The floodwaters lingered for months, leaving lasting reminders still visible today.

“The water was here about 100 days. It was late June, I think, when they closed the breach,” Sheldon says.

And he says for the water lines still stained on the rain bins, it’s a constant reminder of what the Missouri River can take away, often without warning.

“You have a reminder every day,” says Sheldon. “You see it every day.”

Farming along the Missouri River means managing both risk and resilience. Despite the challenges, Sheldon says recent years have brought more favorable growing conditions, and he’s hopeful this year is shaping up to be the same.

“Are you optimistic about this growing season,” we asked.

“Very, very, as far as raising a crop,” Sheldon says of his outlook for 2026. “We’ve got decent moisture, probably better than we had going in last year. We’ve been lucky the last two or three years—timely rains, not a lot of rain, but at the right time—and we’ve raised really good crops. We’re hoping for more of the same.”

From Football to Farming, 2026 is a Season of Ups and Downs

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:30:42 GMT

An early start to planting season doesn’t mean Cody White’s worries are out of the woods in DeWitt County, Ill. On Monday, 1.5" to 5" of rain as well as hail, straight-line winds and tornadoes hit his area. This year, White’s beans were planted earlier than ever before, April 14, which means he expects he’ll have to replant.

“We were off to almost a picture-perfect start here,” he says. “That has now been flipped on its head.”

However, the first-generation farmer is accustomed to changing directions. White’s NFL career is helping him make the game-time decision to navigate the highs and lows of the 2026 season.

From NFL to the Farm

After a standout collegiate career at Illinois State University, where he started as tight end and later moved to the offensive line, White signed with the Houston Texans in 2012 as an undrafted free agent. White’s third season was looking up when he ruptured his Achilles tendon.

(Cody White)

“That shut my year down. I had to have it restructured, repaired, tried to come back. It wasn’t the same. It wasn’t enough time,” he says. “I fought, fought, fought, and then finally there comes a day when football is done with you, and that’s just when my time was.”

The shift in 2016 forced him to pivot toward a new profession. Today, White farms with his father-in-law and sells seed for Wyffels Hybrids. He notes that the transition from the football field was more natural than some might expect.

“Football and farming — there’s a lot of similarities,” White says. “They both have an offseason, the planning, the game planning, executing that plan and knowing when to change it.”

Adjusting the Game Plan

Changing the game plan is exactly what White has had to do over the past three years. This growing season, expensive fertilizer and rising diesel prices are the primary problems he is trying to tackle.

While White secured his fertilizer for this year, he admits that diesel costs are at the top of his mind.

“I wish I would have booked our spring use back in December or January,” White says. “It was sub-$3 then. It’s one of those things that are out of your control, right? You just kind of control what you can control.”

To manage the squeeze, White says they are cutting back where possible. But he says there is only so much he can trim before it impacts his crops.

Concerns Over Market Concentration

White is keeping a close eye on the numerous dynamics in the fertilizer industry. He’s glad to see members of the president’s Cabinet meeting with industry leaders to discuss rising costs.

“I’m all for capitalism, but at some point, when there are three companies running everything, they’re able to dictate,” White explains. “We watch commodity prices go up, and now fertilizer prices are up. We’re just trading dollars constantly.”

In a game of pennies, or inches, White thinks most farmers will find a way to make the numbers work for the remainder of this year. However, he thinks 2027 could prove tough for many farmers.

“Football is a game of ups and downs,” White says. “You’re never too down; you’re never too up. That’s kind of the world we’re living in right now.”

(Haley Bickelhaupt)

Crop Progress Throughout the Midwest

According to the latest USDA reports, approximately one-quarter of the U.S. corn and soybean crops are now in the ground. Despite a pattern of spring storms moving across the Midwest, farmers are finding windows of opportunity to advance the 2024 planting season.

Northwest Iowa: Emergence Underway

In Northwest Iowa, Matt McCarthy is seeing significant progress. McCarthy has wrapped up corn planting and is roughly 75% finished with his soybeans. He expects to finish soybean planting by the end of the week. Progress on McCarthy’s farm is currently ahead of last year’s pace, largely because recent rains have missed his location.

“Yesterday [the crop] just was spiking through, and then with this little bit of rain really softened the top, and it’s coming up pretty nice,” McCarthy says. “It’s cold, probably 53 degrees right now, but you can row it. Those fields planted on the 14th and even some corn on the 17th are spiking through.”

Minnesota and Northeast Iowa: Rain and Cold Slow Momentum

Near Mankato, Minn., Chris Schenk reports that his soybean planting was completed last Saturday. He managed to seed more than 200 acres of corn before being sidelined by three-quarters of an inch of rain on Monday. While Schenk doesn’t expect to return to the field until early next week, he notes that roughly 60% of farmers in his area have already finished.

Farther south in Cresco, Iowa, Darrick Barnikle is still waiting for the right window. While fertilizer applications are nearly complete, planting has not yet begun on his farm. Cool temperatures and scattered showers have kept planters in the shed for most growers in the area, with Barnikle estimating only 5% of local corn and soybeans are planted. With a drier forecast ahead, activity is expected to ramp up midweek, though growers remain cautious of a forecasted dip to 32°F Friday night.

Southwest Iowa and Beyond: Navigating Variable Rains

In Percival, Iowa, Pat Sheldon reports that weekend rainfall was highly variable. Despite the scattered totals, planting progress remains strong in his area. Sheldon estimates that 75% of the corn and 20% of the soybeans are already in the ground, with planters expected to roll again later this week.

Meanwhile, for Chris Harrell, recent rains will likely keep fieldwork on pause for most of the week. Harrell currently has about two-thirds of his soybeans planted, but corn progress sits at roughly 20%. He hopes to return to the field by the weekend.

Illinois Farmers Sidelined by Rain and Storms, as Southern Farmers Plant at Record Rates

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:27:18 GMT

While many Southern farmers are shattering speed records for the 2026 planting season, planters are sidelined for many farmers in the Midwest who are facing wet conditions. For the father-and-son duo of Dave and Chris Harrell, the 2026 season is off to a slow start. However, the corn and soybean farmers in Hancock County think the slight setback could be a setup for a successful season later.

Chris and Dave Harrell test the planter in Carthage, Ill.

(Haley Bickelhaupt)

“[There’s] little to nothing going on at all this week,” Chris Harrell said April 17.

“I know we’ve had roughly five-and-a-half inches in the last in the last two weeks,” he adds. The Harrells received 2 more inches of rain and storms last weekend.

The nation’s corn crop is currently 11% planted, sitting 2 points ahead of the five-year average. Much of that momentum is coming from Illinois and Indiana, which both had a big week in the field. Illinois is now 13% planted, and Indiana follows closely at 14%. However, the western Corn Belt is seeing a different pace. Iowa is off to a slow start, with just 2% of its corn crop in the ground as of this week.

Soybean planting is moving even faster relative to historical norms. Nationally, soybean planting is 7 points ahead of the five-year average at 12% of the soybean crop planted.

Harrell says farmers south of his family’s farm in Carthage, Ill., are further along planting. The Harrells planted one field of beans March 30 before rain paused their efforts. With 40 years of experience under his belt, Dave Harrell thinks the rain won’t set them back too far and that it will helpful in the weeks to come.

“We’ve got ample time,“ Dave says. “You know, it’s still middle of April, so we’ll be fine.”

Shown is the Harrells’ bean field as of April 17, 2026.

(Haley Bickelhaupt)

Navigating the Bottom Line: Diesel and Inputs

While the rain may eventually prove to be a blessing in disguise for yields, input costs, specifically fuel, are weighing heavily on the books. According to AAA, the average diesel price in Illinois this week is approximately $1.80 higher than it was this time last year.

“The diesel prices, I think, is No. 1 top of mind subject right now,“ Chris explains. “I mean, the price of corn’s gone up with it, but I think a lot of farmers would say it’s not gone up enough to offset some of it.”

To combat these rising costs, Dave is utilizing strip-till practices. He also relies on early contracts to lock in fuel prices.

“We lucked out and had some contracted to kind of cover our spring needs, so we’ll be OK through the spring,” he says.

(AAA)

Finding Opportunity in Non-GMO Premiums

In addition to conventional corn and soybeans, the Harrells also plant non-GMO corn from Wyffels. While the process requires more management, Dave said the financial upside makes it a win-win situation.

“It’s a little extra work on segregation and storage and clean out,” Chris says. “You just kind of have to have a little checklist and get through it all, but the premiums are nice, especially in a tougher environment like this.”

Four generations of the Harrell family stand for a photo. Dave’s dad still helps out on the farm today at 95 years old.

(Chris Harrell)

Looking Ahead

As the fields in Carthage begin to dry out, a new challenge has emerged: High winds are currently preventing spraying operations. However, the Harrells are rolling with the punches, expecting farmers in their area to potentially move back into full-scale fieldwork by Wednesday.

Chris Harrell works on the planter while waiting for fields to dry out.

(Haley Bickelhaupt)

This barn on the Harrells’ farm was built in the early 1900s. It’s been through storms and been given updates. Today, it serves as a shop for the family.

(Mike Byers)

Historic Gains in the Corn Belt South

According to latest USDA reports, corn planting in Kentucky and Tennessee is moving at its fastest rate since 2012. The numbers tell a story of an efficient window:

Tennessee — Farmers have 64% of the corn crop in the ground, which is a massive 40-point jump ahead of the five-year average and 42 points ahead of last year.
Kentucky — Growers are nearly halfway finished, sitting roughly 30 points ahead of the normal pace.

Soybeans See Record-Setting Pace

The speed isn’t limited to corn. Soybean planting is also rewriting the record books in the Deep South:

Louisiana — Leading the pack at 58% planted, which is 26 points ahead of average and the fastest pace in USDA history.
Mississippi — Currently at 55% planted, running 32 points ahead of the usual pace, another record.
Tennessee — Soybean planting has hit the 50% mark, 41 points ahead of the historical average.

The ‘Dry’ Reality: Farmers Forced to Wait

While the dry weather allowed for uninterrupted field time early on, the lack of moisture is now a major hurdle. David Hula says for growers in the Southeast, the dust has become too much.

“We’ve been dry all season so far, and we actually stopped planting because we’ve been so dry,” Hula says. “Can’t just get the planter in the ground, but it’s the first top, the first planting window. We waited till things warmed up, you know; I’m very diligent and patient about that, and all that corn has come up awesome.”

He says they stopped planting last Thursday, and there’s no measurable rain in the forecast.

“I don’t know when we’re gonna get started back,” Hula says.

Pocket of Extreme Drought

The topsoil moisture maps highlight a stark reality for the region. In a corridor stretching from Virginia to Georgia, topsoil rated “short to very short” in ranges from 83% to a staggering 97%. It has become one of the driest pockets in the country, creating a sharp contrast to the Midwest.

Corn Reigns King For Planting in Northwest Iowa

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:15:32 GMT

Plant 2026 is underway for farmers in Northwest Iowa, including Matt McCarthy who started planting this week.

USDA’s crop progress report showed Iowa farmers have just 1% of the corn planted compared to the 2% average.

According to USDA’s Prospective Plantings report farmers in Iowa intended to plant 450,000 less acres of corn this year and shift those over to soybeans.

Corn is King in Northwest Iowa

However, that may not be the case for McCarthy and others in Northwest Iowa where corn is king.

“Nope, I haven’t switched any acres,” McCarthy said. “I think we’re heavily corn acres in this county, and we have probably better corn farms than bean farms. So, the rotation guys will stay with their rotation. And I think some of the corn on corn, as long as there’s manure involved, we’ll stay corn on the corn.”

He’s not alone, McCarthy’s seed customers and other farmers in Northwest Iowa are also planting corn on corn.

Typically half of the area in his area are either continuous corn or planted corn on corn for two years, with soybeans rotated in the third year.

And he with the use of livestock manure he has not seen any yield drag.

“Some of my best yields or the best yields were continuous corn fields last year,” he said.

Livestock Drives Corn Production

McCarthy said corn’s reign is due to the concentration of cattle and hog production in northwest Iowa.

He believes livestock manure aids in soil fertility and allows them to grow continuous corn, which is in demand as a feed source.

The availability of manure helps cut fertilizer costs which have increased from last fall due to war in Iran.

McCarthy said his bill for 32% is up from $250 to $275 a ton from last fall. “That’s the highest I think I’ve ever paid,” he said.

However, the inability to source fertilizer is not a concern as most farmers in the area already applied anhydrous ammonia and spread manure last fall.

Disease and Weed Control

Disease isn’t deterring McCarthy or other farmers from planting corn either, even though Southern Rust was heavy in spots in 2025.

He said growers understand this disease better than past years and the timing of fungicides leaving them more confident about planting corn again this year. “If you’re a guy that does corn on corn, I think you’ll go back to the corn,” McCarthy said.

However, he ramped up his weed control program due to resistance issues like water hemp.

Planting Progress Slightly Behind

Planting progress is behind last spring due to heavy rains and cold soils but McCarthy historically starts planting right after the insurance date, so he’s not concerned.

“No, I think that if we look at historically, we’re not usually planting till the 20th of April. So I think we’re fine, just everyone’s probably antsy to get out there. I think the early corn plantings do have an advantage. So, I think everybody wants to get going.”

Still, he’s thankful for the moisture since it was a fairly open winter.

“We were generally pretty dry this winter.,” he said, “When we warmed up in February into March, we were dry, and now that we just got two inches, we’re in pretty good shape to get the crop started.”

And a good start to the crop is a big key to high yields, which leaves McCarthy optimistic about the season.

It's Not a Record Planting Pace in Illinois, But Here's Why One Farmer Likes Planting Corn in May

Wed, 21 May 2025 13:28:41 GMT

Walking through his last field of corn to plant, west central Illinois farmer Brent Johnson was nearing the finish line last Monday. Missing the spotty pop-up showers, he finished planting corn that evening.

“We’re planting a little deeper because they’re calling for spotty rains, so we’re not assured of a rain,” Johnson says, digging in his field to check planting depth. “We just set the planter a half a hole deeper the last time we refilled with seed.”

As he dug in the field, he liked what he saw. There was soil moisture deeper down, and that’s exactly where his seed was sitting.

“This will work until we do get a rain,” Johnson says.

Along with the spotty showers, Mother Nature also turned up the heat last week, a crucial ingredient to propel emergence in this freshly planted field.

“We’ll take the warm temperatures,” says Johnson, whose home farm is based in Ashland, Ill. “Frankly, we’re going to get this corn out of the ground that we’re planting, and for the soybeans, depending on how deep we plant them, in five to seven days. That’s perfect. And that’s also where we think some of our May yield benefit has come from in the past years is getting that corn uniformly out of the ground and quickly.”

As some farmers rush to get the crop planted early, Johnson doesn’t mind the wider window to plant. It’s the May planted corn that not only helps at harvest, but seems to yield better.

“I plant in May intentionally,” Johnson says. “We can’t harvest everything in a shorter window as we plant. And so I like corn that is not sub 15% moisture when we’re finishing. This will be one of our last fields we’ll harvest, so I am completely fine with having some May corn. Most of our May corn in most years has been our highest yielding, so I’m perfectly fine with what we’re doing here today.”

This isn’t the earliest Johnson has ever finished planting. He’s had plenty of years that they finished planting in April. He could have started planting in March, but he opted to wait.

“The soils were cool. We do plant beans first, but we waited until about April 8 to start soybeans,” Johnson says. “We planted five days, and then we got rained out, and we’ve had a lot of those just stop and go opportunities, but the end is within sight.”

That’s the story for central Illinois this year. It was a planting season that had an early start for many, only to have several stops due to rain.

“It’s been spread out,” Johnson says. “We’ve had intermittent planning windows where we get three days, five days. I’m not sure we’ve actually put an entire week together yet, but between that and trying to get things sprayed, it’s been a normal central Illinois spring.”

According to USDA’s latest Crop Progress Report, Illinois farmers who dodged the rain last week made some major planting progress. USDA says 74% of the state’s corn crop is planted, which is three points behind average, but a 20-point jump in just a week.

Soybeans are 67% planted, which is three points ahead of the normal pace.

Similar to other farmers this year, Johnson planted more corn. Typically, they’d be 50% to 55% corn, but this year, two-thirds of their acres are dedicated to corn.

When Farm Journal visited Johnson on Monday last week, he was finishing planting his final yield of corn with plans to move to his final field of soybeans the next day. Missing the rains that hit the area, he was able to finish as planned.

It’s a time of year Johnson doesn’t like to rush. Instead, he caters his fertilizer to each field’s need.

“That is just a planter applied fertilizer,” he says. “That’s just 32% UAN and ammonium thiosulfate mixed together at a ratio farm-by-farm, whether we’re using elemental sulfur or supplementing other ways. So that is farm by farm, planter applied, dribbled right on top of the row with the planter.”

Johnson says they change up everything, depending on the field they’re in.

“We’ll change the ammonia rate, whether we use N-serve, based on if the field has tile or doesn’t have tile and then what our yield goal is,” he says. “And then also as we get later in the calendar, we’ll lower our nitrogen rate because of the good prairie soils that we’re blessed to farm will give us more back.”

Field trials aren’t an afterthought for this Illinois farmer. Instead, they’ve become a pivotal part of his planting routine every year.

“I got that addiction from my father,” Johnson says with a smile on his face. “My father was an early adopter, which I’m blessed to have, but also he has a lot of trials. We have a trial literally in every field.”

And when it comes to fertilizer, the lessons have been not only valuable, but they’ve been surprising.

“A couple years ago, my father challenged me with how much nitrogen I was putting on. 20-year-old Brent would have dug my heels in and said, ‘no, you’re wrong.’ But 40-year old Brent said, ‘Well, okay, let’s figure it out.’”

“We’re on year four of the nitrogen trial, and we are learning that we are getting no more nitrogen from the soil. And that all this fancy stuff we’re doing with the planter and everything else that most of the time slows us down, is not necessarily the best ROI.”

Johnson plants for 275 bu. per acre on corn and 85 bu. per acre on soybeans, but the long-term goal is 300 bu. per acre corn and 100 bu. beans across his entire farm.

“I think we’re off to a great start,” Johnson adds. “I think that is attainable, and with the prices, we need to have those yields.”

Johnson is neutral to bullish on the year as he hangs on to hope that crop prices will improve while controlling what he can.

Farmers Race to the Planting Finish Line

Wed, 14 May 2025 02:56:47 GMT

With last week’s warm and mostly dry weather farmers sped ahead on planting across the Corn Belt.

USDA’s crop progress report showed Minnesota led the pace with 75% of the corn now planted, 14% ahead of the five-year average.

Soybeans are over half done and 15% ahead of normal.

Southern Minnesota Nearly Done Planting

2025 has been a record setting planting season for Mike Madsen and many farmers in Southern Minnesota.

“It will be the earliest planting in our in our location and I think if you go 50 miles around us to the west and the south it’s probably even quicker,” he says.

With extreme cold and very little snow cover over the winter, the Heron Lake farmer says spring field conditions couldn’t have been better, even for his no-till seed customers.

“Soil conditions are so good that they got in early and they finished their planting mostly in April I believe.”

Planting Season Stark Contrast to 2024

In 2024 Madsen got this same field planted late and then in June received 15 inches of rain in two days.

“The field that we’re in right now today is an 80 acre field and I think 40 of it we lost to flooding,” he explains.

That was followed by flash drought.

Yet, at the Madsen farm they still harvested close to average crops.

So he’s optimistic about yield potential with this spring’s faster start.

“We’re looking for record, I would say, trend line to record yields if we can get the moisture,” he adds.

Agronomically Shooting for Record Yields

Madsen also pushes his corn populations gunning for higher production.

“I’m pushing 37 (37,000) now on some of these varieties that that are a determinant ear that need the ear count out there.”

However, he and many of his customers kept their normal rotations. They’re bucking the trend as USDA estimates farmers in Minnesota intend to switch 400,000 acres of soybeans into corn.

“Personally, we stick with rotations. It just works better for both crops.”

With the recent above normal temperatures, Madsen’s early corn has already emerged.

“We have seen it pop out of the ground within a day or two from nothing to rowing the corn in two days. So, that that’s that’s huge for yield potential to get it out of the ground in the first week of May that’s almost unheard of.”

With the jump start he’s also hoping to beat heat stress and predicted drought for his area during critical reproductive stage for corn.

The soil profile is three-fourths full, so he thinks he’ll be okay for pollination.

And Madsen needs to bushel up to make up for even slimmer margins than in 2024.

“Currently, very tight. That’s why we’re all happy to see the crop in the ground and growing, hoping for a good yield to make up for the price that we can’t seem to get off where it’s been the last year or so,” he says.

Nationally Corn and Soybean Planting Has Sped Ahead of Average

Nationally corn planting is now well past the halfway mark with 62% of the crop planted, that’s 6% ahead of the five-year average.

Soybeans are also much further along with 48% now planted, that’s 11% ahead of the norm.

Many farmers on our “Plant Your Independence” tour have already wrapped up planting.

Rod Parkinson is seeing corn plants emerge in Illinois.

((Wyffels, Rod Parkinson))

Rod Parkinson, Wataga, Illinois

In Western Illinois, Rod Parkinson says corn is growing fast thanks to heat and plenty of GDUs at his farm near Wataga.

He says anything planted last week, is emerging in 6-to-7days.

He estimates 98% of the corn in his area is planted and nearly 100% of the soybeans.

Casey Kelleher farms in Whitewater, WI

(Wyffels)

Casey Kelleher, Whitewater, Wisconsin

Weather continues to be a roller coaster in Whitewater Wisconsin for Casey Kelleher.

We visited his farm last week, while he was stopped for rain.

Since then they’ve finished planting.

A lot of the corn is up with good stands and good color.

Ward Hunter farms in Ogden, IA

(Wyffels)

Ward Hunter, Ogden, Iowa

Heading into Iowa...as we told you last week, Ward Hunter in the central part of the state has also finished planting, and he says the crops look really good.

They’ve been fortunate to have no replant so far this spring.

However, he’s hearing a lot of crusting in west central and northwest Iowa, which is forcing replant on some soybeans in those areas.

Temperatures are forecast to reach near 90 degrees on Wednesday... and if they don’t get any moisture this week, they’ll definitely need a good rain by next week.

Jeff Reints

(Wyffels)

Jeff Reints, Shell Rock, Iowa

In the northeast part of the state...Jeff Reints says he finished planting at the end of last week.

Most farmers in the area are done with corn and have only 10%-to-15% of the soybeans left to seed.

With above normal temps crops are emerging quickly, but he says there will be about 5% replant in fields hit by heavy rains that sat in saturated soils too long.

Brent Johnson farms in Ashland, IL

(Wyffels)

Brent Johnson, Ashland, Illinois

And Brent Johnson in Ashland, Illinois says he finished planting earlier this week.

Out of all the farmers we talked to on the tour this year, he’d normally be one of the first ones to finish.

But it’s been an odd spring with very sporadic rains. That’s caused planting to happen in small doses, versus one long stretch.

Planting Conditions Improve for Farmers Slowed by Spring Rains

Tue, 06 May 2025 20:30:44 GMT

This week, planting is expected to surge as drier weather begins to set up across the Midwest. USDA now says corn planting is 40% completed nationally. That’s 1% ahead of the 5-year average. States like Illinois and Iowa continue to run behind average with Illinois just a third done.

Corn and Soybean Planting Progress May 5, 2025

(Farm Journal)

Meanwhile, soybean planting is 30% done. That’s seven points ahead of the 5-year average as the “I” states and Nebraska made big jumps in just a week’s time.

The farmers along our “Plant Your Independence Tour” say the weather has been a mixed bag this spring.

Rod Parkinson is seeing corn plants emerge in Illinois.

((Wyffels, Rod Parkinson))

In Wataga, Ill., Rod Parkinson is done planting both corn and soybeans. He sent this picture of the corn we showed him planting last week, now popping through the soil. Rod says temperatures are warming up, and it looks like there’s going to be a good planting window this week for folks to get back in the field.

In central Illinois, Brent Johnson says his area in Ashland keeps getting rain. So far, they have about 75% of their corn and soybeans planted. If they can get five solid days, they should be able to finish up.

(Wyffels)

“The crop looks pretty good,” Johnson says. “It could use some sun and some heat, but uniformity looks good because we’ve seen slow drawn-out emergence. Once we get some heat and sun, these crops will just take off.”

Over in Ogden, Iowa, Ward Hunter says rains have been spotty. Since Good Friday, they’ve received anywhere from 2.5" to 7" of rain. He finished planting soybeans last week, adding that most farmers in his area will finish planting this week.

(Wyffels)

“I think it’s maybe the third earliest we’ve ever been done,” Hunter says. “I can probably take my wife out for Mother’s Day, and that usually doesn’t happen very often.”

In Shell Rock, Jeff Reints says it was a great week for planting. Fields are drying off after 5" to 7" of rain. They have 20% of corn and 20% of soybeans left to plant. Jeff thinks this week’s dry forecast will help them finish up.

“We should have everything wrapped up here by probably Wednesday on corn and Thursday on beans,” Reints adds.

(Wyffels)

He says the early crops they planted in April are already up and looking good.

Mike Madsen of Heron Lake, Minn., was out planting on Tuesday. That follows a few days of waiting for rain and fields to dry out. He says they’re in the home stretch.

“We’re on our last cornfield,” Madsen says. “The soybean planter is running, and it has been running since Sunday or a couple of days ago. Corn will be finished up today, and I would assume, by the end of the week, beans will be in the ground as well.”

(Wyffels)

He says they’re a couple of weeks ahead and emergence looks really good.

In Wisconsin, 16% of corn and 17% of soybeans are now planted. That puts beans ahead and corn behind the 5-year average for this time of year.

Casey Kelleher, of Whitewater, spent several days on the sidelines this past week, waiting for fields to dry out. Last week a gentle half-inch rain was just what the team needed after running hard since mid-April.

“We’ve been going for a week straight and this gives everybody a break, mentally and physically,” Kelleher says. “It also gives us a little bit of time to make sure the machinery’s all up to snuff. If you’re neglecting something or need to do some greasing, then we can get caught up on those things.”

Casey Kelleher pauses planting following 0.5" of rain. (Clinton Griffiths)

(Wyffels)

A spring of fits and starts follows a beneficial winter for this Wisconsin operation.

“We wish we could have had more moisture, but by not having the snow, we had some cold stretches and that did wonders for the soil conditions,” Kelleher says.

Those great soil conditions are helping crops go in smoothly. This short rain delay won’t put things too far behind.

They, like so many others this year, are focused on the fundamentals of farming and the challenges posed by tight balance sheets.

“We didn’t cut back on the stuff that we felt that was most important,” Kelleher says. “Genetics are something you can’t cut back on. Fertilizer we didn’t cut back on. There was some ground we didn’t work as much in the fall as we normally do, and so we’re trying to do more minimum tillage this spring to save money that way.”

Ultimately, Kelleher says it’s about getting good yields in these tough market years.

“With prices the way they are, it’s why we rotated a little bit,” he adds. “We felt we could do a little better on corn given where the price is right now when compared to beans.”

Battered prices and planting delays aren’t strangers to the Kelleher crew. His family has been farming here for generations.

“My grandpa came over and homesteaded it in 1842. I still have the homestead papers from President Polk,” Kelleher says.

History will continue even on days when planters are stopped. Soon, this team in Waterwater will see puddles gone and tractors rolling.

“We have probably two days of corn left and two or three days of beans left to finish up,” he says. “There’s also a little bit of spraying to touch up, and then we’ll watch everything come up while we wait to start a second pass of herbicide. We are on the backside of the season and winding down.”

Casey says drier weather this week has them back spraying and planting. They hope to mostly wrap up by the end of the week.

Midwest Farmers Dodge Spotty Rains as Planting Season Jumps Ahead of Schedule

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 20:40:40 GMT

Timely rains and great conditions have farmers racing to put seeds in the ground. USDA’s latest crop progress report shows 24% of the corn crop is now planted. That’s 2% ahead of the five-year average. For soybeans, 18% is now in the ground, which is 6% ahead of normal.

The weather and soil conditions are cooperating for the farmers on the “Plant Your Independence Tour” this spring. In Iowa, despite some rains, corn planting is 6% ahead of the five-year average at 34% complete. Soybeans are a quarter of the way done.

Jeff Reints farms near Shell Rock, IA

(Wyffels)

Jeff Reints farms in northeast Iowa near Shell Rock and has received 5" to 7" of rain across his ground since Easter Sunday. Right now, he still has about half of his acres left to plant. He’s hoping to get back in the field later this week to get back on schedule.

“We could still be completed with planting by May 10, which is a good, normal goal for us,” Reints says.

Ward Hunter farms in Ogden, IA

(Wyffels)

In Ogden, Iowa, farmer Ward Hunter said planting got off to its earliest start ever, but dry weather had him concerned. Now things have flipped. Hunter says he didn’t turn a wheel last week, and his fields have seen anywhere from 2" to 4" of rain.

In Minnesota, corn planting stands at 26% done, which is 5% ahead of average. Soybean planting sits at 13% this week and 7% ahead of normal.

Mike Madsen farms in Heron Lake, MN

(Wyffels)

Mike Madsen farms in Heron Lake, Minn., and saw 1.5” of rain between Friday and Monday. He’s planning to resume planting this week and expects to finish the last of the corn.

“Our farm has 150 acres of corn left to plant. No soybeans are in yet,” Madsen explains. “We have a little way to go, but it’s OK. It’s still April.”

Six hours southeast in Whitewater, Wis., Casey Kelleher says the ground is warm and working up beautifully. He says once they got started, the crop is going in quickly.

Casey Kelleher farms in Whitewater, WI

(Wyffels)

“About 50% of our corn, or roughly 1,200 acres, is in,” Kelleher says. “We’re just getting going on soybeans, and we’re in our first field now.”

Across the border in Illinois, some farmers were able to plant around the rain. Brent Johnson says they planted Wednesday, Thursday and over the weekend around Ashland, Ill. He has about 22% of his soybeans left to plant and 45% of his corn.

Brent Johnson farms in Ashland, IL

(Wyffels)

USDA says overall, 22% of soybeans are in the ground across Illinois. That’s 2% ahead of average. Corn is at 16% planted, which is 10% behind the usual pace.

The shift in planting pace is happening as more farmers put soybeans in first for agronomic reasons.

That’s a similar story for the Parkinson farm in Wataga, Ill. Their beans are done despite dodging storms on their way toward completion.

Rod Parkinson farms near Wataga, IL

(Wyffels)

“We’ve had a little over an inch of rain in the last week,” says Brian Parkinson.

He farms with his brother, Rod,, who says rain on April 17 kept them on the sideline for a few days.

“We hadn’t planted any corn, and I have a lot of friends, neighbors and customers in the same boat,” Rod says. “They got their beans planted but are waiting to start corn.”

The Parkinson brothers are the fifth generation on this family farm. Rod’s son, Austin, is the sixth generation.

“There’s been a lot of generations and a lot of hard work and effort to get to where we are today,” Austin says as the trio checks soil conditions once more. “This ground condition isn’t far off. It really just needs a full day of sun, and then guys will be able to get back in.”

With beans done, their focus is turning to corn, which currently offers better potential for returns.

“Corn does pencil a lot better this year,” Rod says. “With beans, you need an 11 in the front of them, and I don’t know that we’re going to get there. So, we did switch an 80-acre parcel to corn.”

This year their operation is roughly a 60/40 split between corn and beans.

As morning grey turns to midday sun, corn planting on their corner of Illinois commences.

“This winter was different than last because we had a lot of freezing and thawing. That’s why the soil is so good,” Rod says. “A year ago, we never had one freeze, and it stayed heavy all spring.”

Even with the delay, they’re in good shape agronomically.

“Last year, our Wyffel’s data showed April corn through May 15 corn really had no yield drag,” Austin says. “After May 15, you have a little bit. But it’s really all about planting conditions. If you can plant when the conditions are good that’s going to be the best way to go.”

Patience with the planter is key as the Parkinsons dodge raindrops.

“I think guys are feeling pretty optimistic right now,” adds Rod as he watches Brian put the first corn rows into strips.

He’s optimistic the planting will get done, even as the growing season is just beginning.

Rain Slows Record Start to Iowa Planting Season, but Farmers Optimistic About Early Finish

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 21:45:00 GMT

Before the weekend rains in the central Corn Belt, farmers in Iowa were off to a record start to planting with 18% of corn and 11% of soybeans in the ground, well ahead of average.

That was true for Jeff Reints who says, despite the setback, he’s still on pace to be done planting by the first week of May. Reints started planting corn at his farm in northeast Iowa, near Shell Rock, on April 8.

“This is definitely our earliest start,” he says.

Reints, who farms 5,500 acres with his son, Clay, and Bruce Swinton, says early field conditions were ideal.

“The ground was just perfect so we felt like we had to take advantage of the conditions,” Clay says.

They strip-till phosphorus, potassium and a third of their nitrogen before planting corn in the spring. No-till beans are seeded simultaneously, which is a bit of a frost risk for both crops.

Jeff says, “We did have beans in ahead of the April 15 soybean crop insurance day, but both planters have been running,”

Getting over several thousands of acres dictates planting corn and beans at the same time, but Jeff says the risk is also worth the reward.

“A lot of times with these early beans, we see a 5 bu. to 7 bu. yield bump, especially if we get delayed and it’s mid- or late May or even early June occasionally.”

The same can be said for the yield potential on early planted corn, as Reints says the crop pollinates before the intense summer heat.

“With these modern hybrids, their yield punch is that flex of the kernel size, kernel depth or weight per ear. If you can still finish that hybrid early to mid-September when we still have some decent growing degree days, you can pack a lot of weight into that ear of corn,” Jeff explains.

Iowa farmers intend to plant 600,000 more acres of corn this year, and an early spring can often entice even more acres.

But Reints stuck with his normal rotation.

“Probably the reason why: I still have hope for this bean market. Corn does tend to be a little more profitable, but there’s some other factors. One of them is rootworm control — that can be a challenge,” he explains.

A soybean processing plant nearby and an ethanol plant across the road also tips his decision.

“We have a heck of a strong market right here in our backyard, so that makes it very, very convenient for us and profitable,” Reints says.

After 3" of rain over the weekend, the farm’s planters are parked with about 50% of their corn and beans in the ground. Reints is confident they’ll finish in early May, which is still ahead of normal and hopefully will give them a leg up if drought predictions materialize.

“This could be a challenging year, but if you plan for a failure, you’re going to have a failure,” Reints adds. “We’ve planned a full production, and we’ll roll with the punches.”

Your Next Read: Iowa Farmers Report Breakneck Planting Pace, Some Even Say They’ll Finish Planting Corn This Week

Iowa Farmers Report Breakneck Planting Pace, Some Even Say They'll Finish Planting Corn This Week

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 18:46:50 GMT

USDA’s second check of planting progress for the season shows Iowa farmers started planting corn this past week, but that number could make a massive jump by next week, as some farmers are seeing a record planting pace.

USDA’s latest Crop Progress Report released on Monday showed 2% of the state’s corn crop is already in the ground as of Sunday, which is 1% behind last year. And as even more planters started rolling in Iowa this week, Ward Hunter of Ogden, Iowa says his field conditions have been favorable for planting. In fact, they haven’t seen any delays since they started planting this year.

“We started April 11, so last Friday, at about noon,” Hunter says. “Ground conditions were dry, and we thought even though it was a little cool, conditions – as far as moisture-wise – were good.”

Hunter says with no rain in the forecast until this weekend, they could finish planting corn on Thursday – which would mark the earliest ever on their operation. After Thursday, they’ll immediately switch to beans.

“No pauses at all. We definitely would like an inch of rain or so, but we’ll plant until we’re done,” Hunter says.

Concerns About Drought
The one concern is moisture. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor paints the picture in Iowa, showing nearly 80% of the state is facing dryness and 30% is seeing drought.

“Moisture is obviously a concern, and so I guess that’s my main concern is adequate moisture,” Hunter says.

The latest Drought Monitor shows 30 percent of Iowa is experiencing drought.

(U.S. Drought Monitor )

The Hunters say conditions aren’t as dry as last year during planting, but with 30 mph wind gusts this week, it’s getting drier by the day. And that’s forcing the them to rethink planting depth this year.

“We’re planting about a 0.5" to 0.75" deeper on corn this year than we were a year ago. We’re planting in moisture, but that top couple of inches are dry,” Hunter says.

“Last year, the ground was so dry, we ran pretty hard with the down force,” says Hunter’s son Bryant. “It was just so hard to penetrate that soil and get a good seed trench to hold together.”

In-Season Switch to More Corn
USDA’s March Acreage report also revealed a shift to more corn acres this year, estimating a 5% increase across the state.

“Just in the last couple of weeks, we actually added about 270 more acres of corn,” Hunter says. “We switched like three fields over to go corn on corn. Even though it’s a higher risk planting corn on corn, at least we have a chance economically to break even or make a profit where beans can’t.”

Ward is also a Wyffels dealer, which means he talks to farmers all across his area. He says his farm isn’t alone in the quest for more corn, as he’s hearing a substantial switch to more corn acres this year.

“I’d say 10% to 15% more corn in this area,” Hunter says. “When I’m talking to our retailers we’re getting our fertilizer and things from, they say here in central Iowa [corn acres] are up about 15%.”

That’s not typical. The past three years, Hunter says it’s been a 50/50 split between corn and beans.

“But this year, just because of the crop prices, the guarantee of crop insurance and things like that, it favors corn right now,” Hunter says.

Optimistic About 2025
The Hunters are focused on planting this year’s crop, and it’s off to a promising start – especially if these Iowa farmers can catch a rain this weekend. And they are staying optimistic about 2025.

“I think anybody in agriculture has to be,” Hunter says. “Is it as fun as it was two or three years ago, or even five years ago? I like to refer to those as the golden days of agriculture. Those years were pretty good. Right now, it’s more depressed. But you have to be optimistic. If you’re not, I don’t know what you’re doing in this business.”

Follow Planting Progress
The Hunters are one of six family farms AgDay and U.S. Farm Report will follow this spring for the “Plant Your Independence Tour.” Over the next six weeks, you can track all six farmers’ planting progress on the “Plant Your Independence Tour” page .