Big Leap in Spring Planting Past Week

There was a big leap in spring planting progress this past week, as warm and dry weather moved into the state. And some farmers are starting to wrap up.

Duane Hogan farms south of Manchester. We caught up with him last Tuesday as part of our KMCH Plantin’ Snacks Sacks deliveries.

Dave Klein, working at Gary’s Feed Store in Greeley, told us last Tuesday that the pace has picked up.

Katherine Comley is completing her college internship with Three Rivers FS in Manchester, where she says business has been busy.

Matt Rahe works at Bodensteiner Implement and also farms west of Monticello. He wrapped up his spring planting last week.

Erik Rave, who farms north of Manchester, started spring planting on April 15th and was able to wrap up on Friday – leaving him to enjoy his favorite part about farming.

Corn planting has reached 76 percent – that’s eight days ahead of last year and three days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn emerged reached 30 percent – four days ahead of last year’s pace and two days ahead of normal. Sixty-four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted – that’s ten days ahead of last year and five days ahead of the 5-year average. Soybeans emerged has reached 16 percent. 

Nearly all of the oat crop has been planted, with 74 percent emerging – that’s two days ahead of normal. And six percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, with the first hay rating of the year at 84 percent good to excellent.