A series of recent storms rumbled through the Heartland causing damage through chunks of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.
Editor’s note: Kim Ricardo, South Dakota State University Extension forage field specialist, wrote this article for the university’s website May 6.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The cost of hiring fieldwork in Missouri has risen an average of 9% since 2023, according to an update to University of Missouri Extension’s Custom Rates for Farm Services in Missouri.
- Crystal Reed
A warm and wet spring in many parts of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri has had an impact on pastures.
- By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today
OSCEOLA, Iowa — Jason Boyer finally started planting row crops May 4. Two days later, he estimated that half of his corn crop was in the ground.
- By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today
LITTLE ROCK, Iowa — Darwin Klaassen got off to a great start to the planting season, putting corn in the ground April 13.
- Crystal Reed
FORREST, Ill. — Kent Blunier said planting has been going slow and steady on his farm in Livingston County in eastern Illinois.
- Benjamin Herrold
LEETON, Mo. — In west-central Missouri, planting got off to a quick start with warm, mostly dry weather in March.
- Benjamin Herrold
ROCK PORT, Mo. — Under a blue sky on a spring day, brothers Craig and Pat Moore were getting their planter ready to go to kick off the 2026 planting season. At the edge of a field, the expanse of the Missouri River bottom stretched out toward the horizon. And across Atchison County in northw…
- Benjamin Herrold
NORBORNE, Mo. — Rain has made for a challenging planting season so far in Nathan White’s area. White farms near Norborne in Carroll and Ray counties, both in the hills and in the Missouri River bottom.
- Benjamin Herrold
RUTLEDGE, Mo. — After some rainy weeks, planting progress ramped back up in northeast Missouri.
- Crystal Reed
BETHANY, Ill. — Wet and cold conditions are slowing down some farmers in the central part of the state.
- By Nat Williams, Illinois Farmer Today
TAMAROA, Ill. — It has been a tale of two seasons for Greg Schorfheide. So far, he likes the way the story is going in 2026.
- By Nat Williams, Illinois Farmer Today
RIDGWAY, Ill. — Rusty Mosby is a typical farmer. In other words, he gets concerned when things seem to be going exceptionally well.
- Tim Kenyon
VINTON, Iowa — Almost a half-century of farming has led to a wealth of knowledge and humor for Wayne Siela.
- Tim Kenyon
TRAER, Iowa — The Kubik family’s on-the-go schedule fills up as they progress through planting season in Tama County.
- By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today
CUSHING, Iowa — Planting season was over for Joe Putensen May 6.
- By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today
EMERSON, Iowa — An early start to planting season had Jeff Richards finishing up his corn crop May 6.
- Benjamin Herrold
After a generally wet, humid growing season in the Midwest led to significant crop disease issues in 2025, plant pathologists are hopeful this year will be a return to lower disease levels.
- Crystal Reed
Type of pathogen can influence whether a crop disease can be treated in-season — managed — or whether it will have to be taken care of before the next growing season — prevented.
- Tim Kenyon
AMES, Iowa — Wesley Everman derives job satisfaction from helping farmers solve annoying and expensive weedy crop problems.
- By Craig Moss, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association
Droughts, border closures, New World Screwworm, Argentina beef imports, wildfires, packing plant slowdowns and a 75-year low in the U.S. cattle inventory. Those aren’t just headlines. They are the realities cattle producers are working through every day.
- Sue Roesler
Clair Keene, NDSU Extension agronomist in cereal crops and field corn, urges producers to take advantage of any nitrogen fertilizer credits they have in their system, especially with higher fertilizer costs this growing season.
Editor’s note: The following was written by Warren Rusche, assistant professor and South Dakota State University Extension feedlot management specialist, for the university’s website April 21.
- Tim Kenyon
Editor’s note: The stories on this page are part of series featuring regional conservation partnerships for Soil and Water Conservation Week April 28 through May 5.