Eric Weuve is a farm business management specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach based in Ames. He farms with his parents, Wayne and Cathy, overseeing 600 acres of corn and soybeans in a row crop operation in Story County near McCallsburg and Zearing. 

The area received over 6 inches of rain in April so far. My rain gauge only hit about 1.25 inches last week. Bad storms moved east and and south around the area, so no major damage reported. We saw a few planters out in fields on the way to the FFA convention in Ames. We hope by mid-week to start on corn; soybeans will be planted later. My target plant date was April 20, so we’re still close if we can get it done in the next couple of days.

We were finally able to get back into the field earlier in the week. Our spring fertilizer was applied, we were able to get our preplant 32% applied and begin fieldwork ahead of planting. I received 1.11 inches of rain on Thursday night and another 0.96 of an inch Sunday night into Monday with more expected. We did look at planting some corn Sunday afternoon ahead of the rain, but the conditions were still a little too wet, and I was worried about sidewall compaction in the seed trench. Neighbors began planting both corn and soybeans in the area earlier in the week. When conditions are fit after today's rain we will be hitting it hard.