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Weather events and cold soil temperatures over the past month have delayed the spring planting schedule throughout Minnesota.
Rock County farmers returned to the fields in earnest Monday, trying to get the corn and soybean seed into the ground before another event arrives in the area.
Last week the state’s farmers spent 2.4 days in the field, according to the latest crop report.
Nick Overgaard was planting soybeans in Beaver Creek Monday night, finishing his 2022 planting in Rock County.
He said he took a chance in late April to begin putting seed in the ground, even though the cool weather conditions were not optimal for seed development.
“You take a risk — that’s what farming is,” Overgaard said.
The early start has paid off in getting seed into the ground, especially corn, before May 25. Odds of the corn plant reaching its full yield potential drop progressively after that date.
In his travels as district representative for Wyffels Hybrids, Overgaard noted field conditions remain wet, with more rain in the forecast.
According to the state’s latest crop progress and condition report, the rains have removed drought conditions from the area.
Subsoil moisture is rated at 91 percent adequate to surplus with only 9 percent short or very short across the state. Topsoil moisture is at 99 percent adequate to surplus with only 1 percent rated as short.
The rains have delayed progress in the fields statewide.
Corn planting across the state is at 35 percent complete as of Sunday. Last year farmers were 94 percent complete, and the five-year average is 72 percent complete.
Soybean planting is 11 percent complete, compared to 85 percent last year and the five-year average of 47 percent.