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Variable crops a reality in South Dakota

The corn and soybean conditions in eastern South Dakota vary.

Kevin Deinert farms in Davison County in southeast South Dakota and says the corn and soybeans are all over the board due to the heavy rains and flooding in late June.

“There’s definitely some of the early planted corn, late April or early May, that’s getting up there to the point of tasseling and some corn is only knee high. Soybeans are variable, too. And the corn has been swimming in water the last month and the soybeans have wet feet, waiting on the sun.”

Deinert says there’s heat in the forecast, but it will be a challenge getting fieldwork done, like fertilizing the corn, with fields muddy and the crops growing quickly.

“With everything in the development stages and the crop growing so fast, we’ll just have to stay on top of being able to identify what’s out there and if there’s any problems. Also, the trouble of getting out there to do any management.”

In northeast South Dakota, Chad Schooley, who farms in Hamlin County, says the growing season hasn’t been much of a struggle despite some flooding. He says the corn is getting close to tassel and soybeans are flowering.

“They’re not quite knee high, but they’re coming along and look very good.”

USDA says South Dakota’s corn and soybean conditions have declined slightly at 72% good to excellent and 68% good to excellent, respectively.

Photo credit: Matt Bainbridge of flooding in late June near Mitchell, South Dakota