#Plant2025 for Success
You’ve weighed the agronomics and the economics — and now the planter is rolling. The decisions don’t stop, though. The weather changes plans, equipment breaks and pests pop up. Every step plays a role in the success of your planting season as well as the growing and harvest seasons to come.
Oliver Sloup with Blue Line Futures says grain markets were trying to divorce from the war headlines and crude oil the last few weeks but now are right back trading with the energy moves.
Spotty spring rains have slowed planting in southwest Iowa, leaving farmers slightly behind. Despite delays, strong planning, good moisture, and a favorable forecast has Pat Sheldon optimistic for the 2026 crop season.
The problem is making it difficult for farmers to know which herbicide chemistries will still work in their fields.
As the Strait closure enters its tenth week, supply chain gridlock and policy hurdles suggest high input costs will persist through the 2027 planting season, according to Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer with StoneX.
Greg McBride of Allendale, says grains markets saw profit taking, also saw some farmer selling and hedge pressure on Tuesday.
Randy Dowdy explains the importance of germination depth — how it can set up your corn crop to deliver more bushels without adding any costs in the process.
Grain markets were all lower to start Tuesday seeing some routine profit taking after hitting new highs for the move and even some new contract highs in parts of the corn and soybean complex, according to Brady Huck with Empower Ag Trading.
Former NFL player Cody White applies his athletic experience on the field to rising input costs and market volatility in DeWitt County, Illinois.
Record corn yields have risen 10x in 100 years. David Hula says continued genetic gains, along with a deeper understanding of what’s happening underground, could push yield potential far beyond what most farmers expect.
Farm Journal Field Agronomists are launching the 2026 season, planting fields and starting to test the soybean innovations and management strategies that will deliver answers and insights farmers need.
To raise your total farm yield average, Connor Sible recommends starting the planting process in your lower soil-testing fields, once they’re fit, and then transitioning to planting higher soil-testing ground.
Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie explains how to optimize hydraulic downpressure and closing systems to achieve uniform emergence, picket-fence stands and maximum yield across every soil type and condition.
The nation’s corn crop is currently 11% planted, sitting 2 points ahead of the five-year average. Although many Illinois farmers are waiting to plant because of wet conditions, much of the latest national crop progress comes from Illinois and Indiana.
Soybeans and multi-year highs in the soybean oil market led the grain complex higher on Tuesday according to Mike Minor with Professional Ag Marketing.
Soybeans saw early gains Tuesday with help from a rally in both bean oil and soybean meal and that is supporting corn says Hillari Mason with Pro Farmer. However, several other factors were supporting early strength.
A Farmer’s Keeper survey of 4,000 farmers shows 20% are cutting corn acres as record fertilizer prices and supply gaps force last-minute shifts toward soybeans and other crops to protect profitability.
Illinois grower Stephen Butz is uber-focused this season on removing the hidden barriers that have kept his bean crops from reaching their true potential.
University of Illinois researcher details scenarios in corn and soybeans where biological products can provide value.
Matt McCarthy just started planting this week. He kicks off our Plant Your Independence Tour. Our team will follow 6 Midwestern growers through the planting season and make a stop at a different farm each week.
Irrigation experts explain how tracking daily “deposits and withdrawals” can prevent costly watering mistakes and protect yields during critical growth stages.
Purdue’s Dan Quinn explains how using strategies like moisture-seeking planting and the critical N:S ratio are keys to higher yields.
He says a simple ratchet strap and an open-furrow diagnostic strategy help him achieve the best planting depth and seed germination.
Ken Ferrie offers practical steps to salvage your yield potential if you’ve been affected by heavy rains and seed quality issues.
Agronomist Eric Beckett shares strategies for managing tillage, product applications and budgets despite what’s shaping up to be a dry and potentially windy spring.
USDA’s March 2026 Prospective Plantings report produced no major surprises, but the bigger story may be the fact only 37.6% of farmers responded, the lowest participation in history for that survey.
Corn falls to 95.3M acres (-3%) while soybeans rise to 84.7M (+4%). Wheat hits a record low 43.8M acres (-3%) and cotton climbs to 9.64M (+4%).
Understanding how and when corn reacts to nutrient stress can help you make every pound of N earn its keep this season, says Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Field Agronomist.