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Planting delays continue

An Indiana-based DEKALB Asgrow agronomist says it has been a tough spring for many farmers.

Jason Harmon says farmers have been battling water since harvest last fall.

“It’s been a battle just fighting moisture and a lot of farmers have been behind the eight-ball trying to get things done that they didn’t get done in the fall of 2018,” he says. “We’re still working toward getting ground prepped, weeds under control, and then also getting the planters rolling.”

He tells Brownfield some farmers in northwestern Indiana have been able to plant on sandy soils, but planting delays are widespread across the state.

“On the black sands we’re able to get some stuff done, but where we have more clays it’s been really stagnant with too much water,” he says. “As a statistic, I think we’re probably 10 percent planted corn and soybeans in northwest Indiana and then as we move south, we keep dropping down to almost zero percent.”

Harmon says farmers are also facing cooler temperatures.

“Our soil is staying cool and we’re consistently seeing 50-degree soil temps,” he says. “We ideally, in this time frame, would like to see that 55-60-degree range where we can lay some seed out there.”  

His advice to farmers is to remain patient until there is a window of opportunity for planting.

Audio: Jason Harmon, DEKALB Asgrow