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 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.
