Editors' Notebook

Corn planting is moving along where weather and soil temp allow in the U.S. In areas where it wouldn't be prudent to plant yet, there's a lot of prepping and re-prepping to enter the fields going on. It's understandable that folks get antsy, especially when your heart is telling you "It's go time!" but your head is saying, "Hold on there, son."

An email sent to a group of DTN readers who volunteered to be quizzed from time to time didn't garner as many responses as usual. The telltale sign of planters running? But a few did respond and here's what they had to say about what is going on in their area(s).

Kenton Thomas, Alexander County, Illinois

We got done yesterday (Monday April 21) planting corn. Some of it is up. Lot of corn going in ground here in southern Illinois. Need a week of dry weather.

Pete Bardole, Jefferson, Iowa

We started planting today (Monday April 21); some others in the area got started Saturday. We are in need of some moisture. There should be plenty to get the crops started but will need some to get the most out of them. The wind is making it hard to get everything sprayed, but we always get it done somehow.

John Moore, Manhattan, Ill.

Just had a little shower so I called it a day (Monday). Here in Manhattan, the planters have just started rolling in the last few days. People getting a little nervous, especially the big boys.

Here on our farm we have patched in some alfalfa spots and are busy spreading compost. We had nitrogen sprayed on the wheat fields and had the perfect shower to get it into the ground. Basically keeping busy without getting too exited yet.

David Kjelstrup, North Dakota

It's still too cold & wet to start any field work. Yesterday (Monday) I drove out in the field to see if I could do anything. I got stuck; it's supposed to rain tomorrow (Wednesday). I think it will be next week before we do much here. A friend of mine is going to try to seed some sandy ground by the river, that might work. I'll just work around the yard another day.

Barry Mumby, Colon, Mich.

Potatoes with some corn this week but small percent.

Bob Birdsell, Stanberry, Mo

We had a shower here around three tenths. We are still waiting for soil to warm up to plant corn.

Doug Zillinger, Logan, Kan.

We are just so happy this morning. We have had a .55 inch of rain and it is so welcome. Not a lot happening in the fields yet. I had a neighbor that put in some alfalfa. Some weed spraying and fertilizer app happening at this time, but mostly waiting on a good rain. Wheat went backwards most of last week. Sure could use a .5 inch every night for a while to make a crop.

We moved cattle to the Sandhills on Friday. Looks better up there than it does down here.

Karen Johnson, Avoca, Iowa

Here it is not glorious; it is raining. Bill did get 170 acres of corn planted Sat. and Sun. and was glad of it because this week looks to bring much more rain all week for our west-central and southwest Iowa area. On the positive side, we do need the rain. However it may give us more than this week when there will be little or no corn planting. Here planters were going fast starting later Thursday, and going like crazy Friday through Sunday. Rain started here early last evening (Sunday).

If you're interested in joining this email group of readers/commenters, drop me a line at cheri.zagurski@dtn.com or respond to this blog posting online.

Cheri Zagurski can be reached at cheri.zagurski@dtn.com

Follow Cheri Zagurski on Twitter at @cherizagurski

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