Latest News From Planting

USDA reports 3% of the country's soybean crop is in the ground, the same as this time last year but two points ahead of the average pace. In all 10 states are reporting progress, and planting is ahead of average.

It's a tale of two extremes this year. Some farmers report they can't find soil moisture to plant into, while others are struggling just to get into their fields. Agronomist Ken Ferrie weighs in on both scenarios.

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows drought coverage is now at its lowest level since spring of 2020, but USDA's topsoil moisture map shows it's still extremely dry in areas of the west and too wet in the east.

Two consecutive years of drought has been devastating for farmers in West Texas, and with forecasts of a transition to La Niña, economists and cotton leaders say it will force even more cotton farmers to call it quits.

One of the biggest benefits from waiting to plant corn until conditions are ideal, is the crop emerges more uniformly and forms those picket-fence stands that deliver huge yields, says Agronomist Missy Bauer.

Drag the planters out of the shed, fire up the seed tenders, update the field maps and start your engines. This season, as you enjoy your packed lunch at 10 a.m., ponder the lessons learned from the hardwoods.

Along with too much moisture, high numbers of corn flea beetles are posing an early-season concern. Ferrie advises checking your Stewart’s wilt bacteria rating on hybrids. There's no treatment option for infected corn.

What’s the key to growing big yields? According to the reigning national corn yield contest champ, David Hula, you can’t have 300-bushel-per-acre yields if you don’t start with 300-bushel-per-acre stands.

The second USDA Crop Progress Report of the year shows farmers are already ahead in planting the 2024 crop with six states pacing ahead of the five-year average.

The new production line will manufacture all Talc products.

While the expectation is for cotton acres to increase in the June acreage report, another key question is if cotton demand can continue to find footing and support higher prices.

As most of the U.S. is still prepping for spring planting, USDA's weekly crop progress report shares Texas growers have already planted more than half their corn acres.

Some Illinois farmers started planting soybeans in late March. Ken Ferrie offers tips to help you weigh the risks of planting now. Plus, be aware that poor saturated cold scores are impacting some seed corn hybrids.

USDA says farmers intend to plant 90 million acres of corn this year, which is lower than the trade expected prior to USDA's big Prospective Plantings report.

Quickshot is Helena’s newest entrant in the field, which provides seed fluency in addition to crop nutrient package. For 2024, it’s available in limited quantities.

The March Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor found nearly 80% of those surveyed say soybeans pencils better than corn this year, but economists still increased their corn acreage projections slightly in the latest survey.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says areas that have been experiencing snow drought this winter, such as Minnesota and northern Iowa, could potentially see more snowfall in the next few weeks than they have all winter.

Researchers and agronomists are using a creative way to study corn plant root structures and hope it will lead to a new understanding of how below-ground root systems can impact yields and plant stress.

Here’s how to get the biggest ROI from your layers of data — and use the information to spot issues in time to improve this year's crop.

If weather stresses have you looking for ways to give your crop a stronger start this spring, consider whether a plant growth regulator could be part of the solution, especially in high-yield environments.

Data — a word that packs a punch but can be hard to define. From planting to irrigation, it's necessary to have a digital record of these field activities to participate in sustainability and crop traceability programs.

Weather and prices are dictating acreage decisions in the Northern Plains this spring. So what are producers planning to plant?

Don't take equipment to fields too soon and create headaches that will linger all season. While you wait for the right timing, consider doing prep work and projects that can help set you up for yield success.

Benefits include reducing crop residue build-up on the soil surface, resulting in improved planting, seed placement, and germination.

Before heading to the field to apply anhydrous, firm up what crop you're going to plant. Growers have been kicking around the idea of going beans-on-beans, given the markets. But anhydrous essentially ties you to corn.

This roundup of almost two dozen product combinations gives details on dry formulations meant for use in corn or soybeans that replace or layer with the same company’s traditional seed fluency blends.

While you can't make Mother Nature send rain, you can review crop-rotation restrictions on chemistries you applied last year. Knowing that information can guide what crop you plant where this spring.

According to the meteorologists at BAMwx, the upcoming month in Brazil could be comparable to this past August for U.S. soybeans.

It’s no surprise those who chase high-yield honors set aside acres for that very purpose. However, there’s something to learn from the management practices that go into growing a record crop.

The new line, Attain soybean seed, provides tolerance to glufosinate, 2,4-D choline, and glyphosate herbicides.

If you value the benefits starter fertilizer offers, you might like the performance of a starter fertilizer relay system even more. Farm Journal Test Plot data show a relay system + 2x2 placement = $36 per acre ROI.

Various factors impact planting dates, but now's the time to get everything in order so you don't miss the windows of opportunity when they roll around next spring.

BASF is introducing xarvio SeedSelect, a novel seed variety placement technology based on an algorithm derived from plot trial research, local topographic and soil attributes, and variety-specific yield characteristics.

According to FMC, growers who use the product will find healthier root systems, improved plant stands and decreased lodging in their crops – potentially contributing to better yields. 

Revline Hopper Throttle Cotton's Bio-Capsule are charged with a newly added, crop-specific strain of Terrasym for cotton in conjunction with a powerful consortium of 10 bio-fertility and N-fixing microbes.

From vacuums to travel mugs, here's what industry pros are taking to the fields.

Specialists from Bane-Welker Equipment and Co-Alliance share adjustments to make during harvest to set up for a successful planting season.

FMC's At-Plant product platform provides a way for growers to get the most out of every acre.

Farm Rescue's mission is to help farmers and ranchers who have had a major illness, injury or natural disaster by providing equipment and volunteer labor – free of charge – to perform time-sensitive services.

The new Bio-Capsule design has a larger pail, which provides space and capacity for up to six products positioned on a single pail. 

In Bob Lindeman’s soybean rows, planting populations are on a general decline, and the reduction is not about saving dollars up front, but on combatting mold and rot.

Planting is nearing the finish line across Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee. Much of the soybean crop saw an early start to planting, One agronomic expert thinks the stage could be set for bigger soybean yields.

South Dakota farmers have planted 49% of the corn and 29% of the soybeans in the state. Both are ahead of the five-year average and a surprise with fields snow covered in April.

"Plant early for optimum yield" is a common refrain soybean growers hear from agronomists and other crop production experts today. But when you can't get into the field, regroup and go to Plan B.

With FieldAgent Mobile Stand Count, customers capture aerial imagery via a drone mission. Once the imagery is uploaded to the FieldAgent Mobile iOS app, Stand Count is generated within minutes

A perfect stand sets the stage for high ear count at harvest. But what if, despite your best efforts, a stand starts out troubled?

Planting has been going full steam the last two weeks in Iowa and farmers now have 70% of the corn and 49% of the soybeans planted which in both cases are nearly 20% ahead of average.

Farmers made significant headway in planting progress last week. USDA shows nearly half of the country’s corn crop is planted and 35% of the soybean crop is now in the ground. There are several states setting records.

If your corn isn't flying out of the ground, the reason is you likely need more heat units. Ken Ferrie shares the easy formula for your use. Tracking heat units can help you make better agronomic decisions this season.

Soil conditions, temperatures and weather outlook are aligned. "Let the big dogs run, and keep the planters running until you're finished," says Ken Ferrie. "This corn will fly out of the ground."