#Plant2026 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.
Crucial Rains Finally Drenched Portions of Texas, Is It Enough to Save the State’s Crops and Cattle?
Texas received crucial rains this week, reviving farmers’ hopes of producing a crop this year. A dire drought situation already robbed farmers of their winter wheat, but rains are now sprouting hope for other crops.
U.S. corn planting posted another big week. As of May 22, 72% of the crop is planted, up from 49% complete as of May 15.
Pay attention to the low-lying areas, sandier soils and no-till fields and scout soybeans to evaluate stands and determine final plant population, advises Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Field Agronomist.
Soybean prices are up 7.4% since May 9, with prices surging again this week. The July soybean contract posted closes in the green four out of five days this week, kicking the week off with a 63¢t price jump.
You can leave emerging crops alone, run a rotary hoe or replant. Ken Ferrie has developed online calculators to guide decision-making and help remove some of the emotions you might struggle with in the process.
After the slowest start to planting since 2013, farmers across the Midwest found a window to plant last week. However, farmers in the northern Corn Belt are still struggling, and it’s a race against the calendar.
U.S. corn planted acres doubled last week, going from 22% planted on May 8 to 49% as of May 15, according to USDA. Yet, that is still way below the five-year average of 67%.
Surprising Cut to Corn Yields and North Dakota’s Planting Nightmare Show Crop Supplies are Shrinking
Despite USDA releasing a forecast for a record soybean crop for a second year in a row on Thursday, soybean prices skyrocketed Friday. USDA trimmed the national average corn yield, yet corn prices closed lower Friday.
Farmland in parts of Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska, for example, have seen 30% to 40% year-over-year moves up in price. One expert sees no land price weakness anywhere in the U.S. but shares how that could change.
The latest USDA Crop Progress Report data shows planting is off to the slowest start in nine years with only 22% of the nation’s corn crop planted as of Sunday, May 8. Soybean planting progress currently sits at 12%.