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Planting on hold as rain and cool weather slow fieldwork

Missouri farmers say planting will be on hold a few more weeks due to the recent widespread rains and cooler temperatures.

Tim Gottman in northeast Missouri says there’s been some fieldwork already near his farm, and he’s getting equipment ready to go and trying to lock in more fertilizer.

“We have our first shot of nitrogen on. We do two shots for our corn and sidedress,” he says. “That number isn’t locked down yet, because you can’t get anyone to commit with the volatility in the market right now.”

In central Missouri, Nathan Alpers says he applied fertilizer on crop fields last fall, planting equipment is ready and tillage will start once the ground dries up.

“Every warm day I get real antsy. All our seed has shown up, but I looked at the forecast and we’re supposed to have 10 degrees on Monday night. That will take me out of the mood a little while. If it’s dry and on a warming trend, we’ll start at the end of March.”

Jason Bean, in southeast Missouri, tells Brownfield it’s a similar planting timeline in the Missouri Bootheel.

Hear Brownfield’s interview with Tim Gottman.

Hear Brownfield’s interview with Nathan Alpers.