Agday TV
May 12, 2021
After a slow start here to planting in portion of Iowa, farmers are now planting the 2021 crop at a record pace. One Rock Rapids, Iowa farmer can't recall a year he was able to finish this fast.
"This year's been amazing," says Dean Meyer, Rock Rapids, Iowa farmer told Michelle Rook. "You know, we all were worried about it being cold and not getting to the field and it's just like a switch. The weather changed and we got our corn all in in seven days."
Meyer isn't alone. The latest USDA Crop Progress Report shows 70% of the nation's corn, and more than 40% of soybeans, are now in the ground. In Iowa, farmers are even farther along than the national average, with 86% of corn and 67% of soybeans now planted.
Meyer says with the ideal conditions many farmers were able to farm acres they've not planted in years and even plant soybeans early.
"Some planted beans before corn," he says. "I mean we've got neighbors that put beans in first. Everything, every square foot of the farms got farmed and in good condition."
As a livestock producer, Meyer kept his normal acreage mix to cover feed needs. But he expects more acres of soybeans and especially corn in the acreage report.
"With the weather we've had farmers still like to plant corn, as well as corn planting went I think there's going to be more acres of corn put in," says Meyer.
While planting was a smooth run for Meyer, dryness is a concern in western Iowa after the flash drought in 2020. And while subsoil moisture is adequate for some, farmers say it won't go far.
"We're always worried about that especially after what we experienced last year. You know we got half way through July and we totally got shut off and that set us up for this year," he says.
An hour south Dave Heeren is finishing up a successful planting season.
"I would say it's a record pace as far as getting it done because we have all day to work and everything's working so well," says Heeren. "We can go through everything and there's no wet spots."
He planted in a cloud of dust and two inches deep so the seed would hit moisture. But he says it's too early get concerned about drought especially with today's genetics.
"A few timely rains and we'll be alright," says Heeren. "I've seen this before and we've come out of it alright so its just hard to say."
agweb.com
תגובות