With the impending snowstorm in the upper Midwest and Northern Plains, it may seem like the 2023 planting season will be off to a slow start. However, in states like Illinois and Missouri, planting is just getting started, and in drier areas of Kansas, planting is even wrapped up in some cases.
USDA released its first Crop Progress report of the season on Monday. The report shows as of Sunday, April 2, 2% of the country’s corn crop was planted. That’s right on par with both the five-year average and last year’s pace.
Texas is ahead of average, with 57% of the crop in the ground, which is 3 percentage points above both the five-year average and this time last year.
A roll call of planting progress on the U.S. Farm Report Facebook page showed the weather extremes creating issues for farmers this year. However, it also showed farmers in parts of the Midwest started to plant this week, while others farther south have already wrapped up with planting this year.
Hunter Heath says corn is already nearly 6 inches tall in his area of Texas, with wheat starting to head out. His biggest issue with planting is the same problem he sees year after year: wild hogs digging up corn seed. He posted a picture of the damage.
Steve Clark farms in northern Oklahoma. With exceptional drought conditions in his area, he says farming this year is “not fun.” Clark was trying to hold off planting until he saw some rain, but he said he couldn’t wait any longer and feared he would lose the little moisture he does have in the soil. Clark says they’ve planted 80 acres so far.
Source: thepacker.com
Photo Credit: istock-chas53
Categories: Missouri, Crops, Corn, Livestock, Hogs