Dry weather for most of February has Wisconsin farmers thinking about soil moisture ahead of spring planting. The USDA says despite that dryness, winter wheat and alfalfa are mostly overwintering well, but farmers are a little uneasy ahead of corn and soybean planting. High input costs and concerns about supply chain disruptions for chemicals, seed, and equipment are adding to the uncertainty. The USDA says the only crop activities reported […]
The drought or near drought conditions affecting the U.S. Plains continue to have an impact on soil moisture levels in Nebraska. The USDA says 83% of Nebraska’s topsoil and 72% of subsoil are short to very short of moisture, significant increases from January, with only about of fifth of topsoil and a third of subsoil containing adequate levels. Despite the dryness, Nebraska’s winter wheat crop is doing relatively well. 36% […]
A warm, wet February has had an impact on agriculture in Ohio. The USDA says temperatures have averaged more than a degree above normal, while average state wide precipitation has topped 2.5 inches, about 1.4 more than usual. That has led to flooding and ponding in some fields, leaving almost all soil in the state with adequate to surplus moisture. 49% of Ohio’s winter wheat crop is called good to […]
Drought or near drought conditions in most of South Dakota are drawing down soil moisture levels ahead of spring planting. The USDA says about 40% of the state has adequate soil moisture, a significant decline from January, with nearly all of the remainder short to very short. 24% of winter wheat is in good to excellent condition, a decrease of 7% on the month, with 57% in fair shape, 3% […]
Tennessee has seen a wide range of precipitation this month. The USDA says parts of the state have seen warm, dry weather, but other areas have experienced plenty of precipitation, with adequate soil moisture levels in 75% of topsoil and 80% of subsoil, both improvements from January. 64% of Tennessee’s winter wheat crop is rated good to excellent, 6% lower than last month, with 29% in fair condition, 4% higher, […]
Warm, wet conditions during February have boosted winter wheat condition ratings and soil moisture levels in Missouri. The USDA says 53% of the state’s winter wheat crop is in good to excellent shape, up 4% on the month, with 43% called fair, down 3%, and 4% rated poor, 1% lower. Well over 60% of Missouri reports adequate soil moisture levels, up from January, but the percentage of the state reporting […]
Iowa farmers have an eye on precipitation as spring planting approaches. The USDA says there’s not much snow cover in the state and while that’s being helped out by this week’s winter storm, there are still concerns about soil moisture levels ahead of planting. The up and down temperatures are reportedly causing increased livestock sickness issues, but overall Iowa’s livestock are in good condition with calving and lambing ongoing. Other […]
Potential glyphosate shortages have a farmer and an ag retailer uncertain about its supply and delivery Northeast Nebraska farmer Lucas Miller tells Brownfield his concerns started in the fall when “Our supplier told us we’d be looking around somewhere between 70 to 85 percent of what we had gotten last year that we would be allotted for this year.” He says other chemicals are available but they’re more expensive. “We […]
Dwindling soil moisture levels continue to drag down condition ratings for Kansas’ winter wheat crop. The USDA says that with most of the state being impacted by the drought or near drought conditions in much of the U.S. Plains, 79% of Kansas’ topsoil and 77% of subsoil are short to very short of moisture, both increases from the January report. 26% of the winter wheat crop is in good to […]
