Planting Updates from Iowa Corn Leaders – Tuesday, May 30, 2013

Bruce Rohwer of Paullina, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, has finished planting corn and has 40 percent of his soybeans planted.

Rain continues to interfere with the end of planting as farmers in northwest Iowa look for a few dry days to finish everything.  Farmers have been stuck at various stages of planting. Some are done with corn while others still have a few acres left to finish. Other farmers are finished planting soybeans but many have soybean acres left to plant.

“We’re in an area that received seven to eight inches of rain this week. In 48 hours, we had more than 25 percent of the average annual rainfall for our area. That is just too much, too fast,” Rohwer says.

The forecast for the rest of the week includes more rain.

“Variability is what makes this occupation so interesting,” Rohwer says.

Storms and heavy rain have been occurring across southern and central Iowa this week as well.

Don Hunerdosse of Milo in south-central Iowa is finished planting corn and is 70 percent complete on planting soybeans.

“Hay season is starting soon,” says Hunerdosse, who has alfalfa and a cow-calf operation in addition to raising corn and soybeans.