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Farmer discusses planting delays in southern South Dakota

A farmer in southeastern South Dakota says planting progress has slowed due to wet conditions.

Brian Hefty farms nearly 3500 acres with his brother Darren near Sioux Falls.

“We’re dealing with the same things everyone else is right now. We’ve been out of the field for almost a week here because of the rain.”

He tells Brownfield he prefers a dry winter and spring.

“Forever now I have prayed for drought starting the day harvest starts all the way until the day planting gets done in the spring. I don’t care about spring moisture and don’t need spring moisture for the crops we’re raising. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying pastures or anything else, but for the crops we’re raising we don’t need lots of moisture.”

Hefty says many farmers in his area planted soybeans early.

“You want it to stay cold because if that crop gets up and it’s too big when we get our last frost, which will happen in May, then you may kill that crop off. We want to keep the crop small or even in the ground when we get that last frost. Then everything is all good.”

Brian and Darren co-host the Ag PhD Radio program.