Farmers in Illinois and across the Midwest are experiencing delays in planting due to persistent rain and storms, while growers in southern states are making rapid progress, according to an April 22 report. Chris Harrell, a farmer from Carthage, Illinois, said on April 17 that there was “little to nothing going on at all this week” because of wet conditions. The Harrell family has received over five inches of rain in the past two weeks.
The timing of spring planting is important for crop yields and farm profitability. While national corn planting stands at 11%, slightly ahead of the five-year average, much of this progress is coming from states like Illinois and Indiana. Iowa lags behind with only 2% of its corn planted so far. Soybean planting is also ahead nationally, with 12% completed—seven points above average.
Harrell noted that farmers south of his area have made more headway. Despite setbacks from rain since March 30, Dave Harrell remains optimistic: “We’ve got ample time,” he said. “You know, it’s still middle of April, so we’ll be fine.” High winds have recently prevented spraying operations but local farmers expect fieldwork to resume soon.
Input costs remain a concern for Midwest farmers as diesel prices in Illinois are about $1.80 higher than last year’s rates according to AAA data cited by Chris Harrell. He said fuel expenses are top-of-mind: “The price of corn’s gone up with it, but I think a lot of farmers would say it’s not gone up enough to offset some of it.” To manage costs, Dave Harrell uses strip-till practices and early contracts for fuel purchases.
Southern states have reported record-setting speeds for both corn and soybean planting this season. In Tennessee and Kentucky, corn planting is advancing at its fastest pace since 2012; Tennessee has planted 64%—40 points ahead of average—and Kentucky nearly half its crop already seeded. Louisiana leads soybean progress with 58% planted—the fastest ever recorded by USDA—while Mississippi (55%) and Tennessee (50%) also surpass historical averages.
However, dry weather now poses challenges in the Southeast where topsoil moisture is rated short or very short across much of Virginia through Georgia—reaching up to 97%. David Hula described halting operations due to dryness: “We’ve been dry all season so far…Can’t just get the planter in the ground.”
AgWeb authors publications on topics ranging from commodity markets to farm leadership strategies according to the official website. The organization influences farming culture by promoting leadership programs and community advocacy according to the official website. AgWeb presents awards such as Top Producer Awards and partners with groups like the American Soybean Association for conservation honors according to the official website. It operates as a subsidiary of Farm Journal according to the official website.
AgWeb reaches agriculture professionals through online content including newsletters and mobile apps according to the official website, aiming to supply essential news updates and educational resources that support improved agricultural practices according to the official website.
