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Continued delays in planting

A year ago – nearly 50 percent of Illinois’ corn crop was in the ground.  It’s a completely different story this year. 

Mike Toohill, agronomist for Diversified Services says with the recent rainfalls throughout the state – planting dates for many farmers will be pushed back even further.  “I would say the average field between Bloomington and Peoria – assuming it doesn’t rain – is still 10 days off,” he says.  “Best case scenario – that puts us at April 20^th.”

Toohill tells Brownfield yield loss because of planting delays won’t happen until around the second week of May.  But, he says planting crops in wet soils creates compaction issues – which also could hinder yield.  “You’re not going to get that root penetration, especially if it turns hot and dry,” he says.  “Now sometimes you can plant corn into tougher conditions and get some sidewall compaction and then you get a soft, gentle rain to soften the ground and let those roots explore down vertically.  Often times if it stays hot and dry those roots will go horizontally and not get deep enough to access the water and nutrients they’ll need later on in the growing season.

Toohill says farmers in Illinois have been pretty patient so far this year.  But with more precipitation and cooler temperatures in the forecast – more patience will be needed. 

AUDIO: Mike Toohill, Diversified Services (4:46mp3)