Soil conditions, temperatures and weather outlook are finally aligned for planting in much of the Midwest. In the hurry to get the job done, keep in mind that to get a 300-bu. corn yield, you need to start with at least a 300-bu. picket-fence stand.

Shell Rock, Iowa, farmer Jeff Reints started planting corn on April 8 — the earliest ever on his farm. He got 50% of his corn and soybeans in the ground before 3 inches of rain parked the planters.

A new report from Bloomberg Law shows family farm bankruptcies had already increased by 55% last year compared to 2023, and to start 2025, the number of bankruptcies is already exceeding the same time last year.

Research details the opportunity with four key services.

After several years of volatility for U.S. growers, prices and acreage of industrial hemp appear to be stabilizing or even rising modestly, according to the 2025 National Hemp Report.

A handful of rain-free days were a perfect recipe for spring planting — and farmers took full advantage of the opportunity. This week’s USDA crop progress report puts corn and soybean acres just ahead of last year’s pace.