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.

We received 1.11 inches of rain April 27. The cool, cloudy weather meant that we dried out very slow. Friday, we were able to start planting corn on ground that was worked ahead of the rain. Throughout the weekend field conditions continued to improve. A lot of activity in the neighborhood over the weekend between planting corn, beans, working ground and spraying. We should finish our last two fields of corn today (May 4) and get switched over to beans right away.

We had a very productive week. Field conditions continued to improve each day, and everyone took advantage of it. We were able to finish corn on Monday and moved straight into planting soybeans. We were able to get all the beans planted and rolled. I was able to get several of the fields sprayed and hoping to finish the last two on Monday. Most of the neighbors were also able to wrap up planting of their commercial corn and soybeans. The only fields in our area that are not planted yet will likely go into seed production. Some of the corn and soybeans that were planted prior to our last rains have started to emerge and can be rowed. I did see several fields that were rotary hoed. Some fields were experiencing up to an inch of crust.

A good week weatherwise. The warm temperatures were just what we needed. All of my corn fields have started to emerge, with my first corn field at V1 to V2. With the half inch of rain that I received between Friday and Saturday, the soybeans have started to emerge as well at VE. We began cleaning equipment from spring and evaluating plant stands as the crops emerged. This coming week, I hope to get to spraying first-pass corn once the field conditions get fit following this rain. Spraying fence rows is also on this week’s list to accomplish.

Monday and Tuesday storms provided more rain — just over 2 inches total for the weekend — but thankfully no other weather events like some throughout north-central Iowa. The temperatures certainly cooled down and slowed the crop growth. Corn is continuing to grow well, moving into V3, and we have really good plant stands. The soybean emergence continues, and the cool temperatures this week have not allowed the beans to grow. Most fields are still at VE to V1. Applying first-pass corn herbicide is still on the list to do next along with fence-row spraying. We will have a few places in the soybean fields to patch in some replants.

The heat we received since Memorial Day weekend has certainly been welcomed. The corn has responded very well, with all fields in V4 and not far from moving into V5. The soybeans are also growing well with the second trifoliate forming. We were able to patch in a few spots in the soybean fields that needed it, spray first pass on corn and begin fence row spraying. We have variable-rate nitrogen sidedressed on half of our corn and plan to complete the remaining fields in the coming week. I continue to scout for weeds in our corn fields, which are still showing minimal weed pressure. I received about 0.25 inch of rain over the weekend.

We received anywhere from 1 to just over 3 inches with the rain that moved in last week. Fortunately, we are not dealing with any surface water on any of our fields. There is some minor ponding in some fields in the neighborhood. Our heaviest rain came Thursday night. The rain was certainly welcomed, and the crops responded accordingly. The seed that we patched in a couple of weeks ago has emerged well. Our corn is at V6, soon to move into V7. Our soybeans have two trifoliate leaves and the third is forming. We have not been able to complete our side dressing, but I anticipate it being completed very soon.