It was a solid week on the farm with six-tenths of an inch of rain. We finished up working on all the harvest equipment, and we’re ready to rock for fall. We’ve also moved forward on grain marketing with more corn and soybeans sold at favorable prices. Locked in our nitrogen and fertilizer p…
It was another great week to forward-sell grain at favorable market prices. Early-planted corn hybrids are starting to turn. We have all our cover crops buttoned down and ready to spread over the next several weeks. Trying three different cover crop options across our fields — winter wheat, …
It was a great week to get some forward grain sales in corn and soybeans at favorable market prices. Some early-planted, early-maturing soybeans are starting to turn. Had the best Iowa State Fair experience with my wife and kids that I have ever had. Spent time planning out cover crops for t…
This week brought rain totaling 2 inches, which helped keep crops moving forward as we head into late summer. Corn looks really good overall, but some hybrids are showing tip back, which I believe is due to the hot weather we experienced during pollination. As a Lobe Ranger, we were invited …
Matthew Bormann grows corn and soybeans near Algona, Iowa, in Kossuth County.
Rain was light again this week — half an inch across the area. Crops still need more moisture. Kossuth County Fair was in full swing, with my kids showing the reserve and grand champion market broilers. We also made it over to Albert City for the Old Threshermen’s Reunion. Always fun to see …
We received 0.75 of an inch of rain this week. I’m one of three farmers who formed a nonpartisan group called the Lobe Rangers. We’ve used cover crops, strip-tillage and in-season nitrogen on their Des Moines Lobe operations for more than a decade. Our first field day July 25 went well. We h…
No rain this past week. We need rain. Finished hauling in the bin bottoms of 2025 corn. Helping kids finish up 4-H projects for our county fair. Planning to start working on combine heads this week.
Hot and no rain this week, but not much heat stress is showing. Beans are starting to pod. Corn is at full tassel.
No rain for this past week. Big thing for our farm is the purchase of a new drone to spray fungicide and the learning process and certifications that go with it. Watching the confidence of my sons and nephews ranging from 12-18 years old teach dads 46 and 47 technology is amazing. But then w…
Had a wonderful 4th of July! We received 2 inches of rain for the week. I did find some rootworm feeding on a farm. I haven’t had too much of an issue over the years, but this year on that farm there will be some yield loss.
We received 0.1 of an inch of rain for the week. We could use more rain. The crops everywhere around me look great! The odd thing about this year is that we haven’t had any pond-filling, gully-washing rain events where crop literally drowns out. If we can make it till harvest at this pace, i…
We received 0.8 of an inch of rain for the week. We need rain. Corn is really taking off. Soybean post spraying is complete. The Liberty and Enlist combination worked really well post on beans. Pest-wise, I’m not seeing much.
Corn has really progressed, but we need rain really bad. We received just 0.1 of an inch for the week.
We received 0.15 of an inch of rain for the week. Crops are looking better. Corn honestly looks the nicest it’s ever looked.
We received 0.3 of an inch for the week. Heat units are making a huge difference. Crops look way better than last week. Beans are getting over that “Ugly Duckling” stage. On my farm corn is all sprayed post. This week we’ll sidedress the remaining 75% of our in-season nitrogen.
We got 0.2 of an inch of rain Thursday night. Cold and damp this week. We need heat. You know it’s cold when both the crop and the weeds aren’t growing.
We received 0.3 of an inch of rain last week, with 0.2 of an inch last night Sunday. I’ve heard many discussions this week about uneven emergence in both corn and soybeans, especially soybeans. General consensus is planting date and lack of moisture had the most to do with it and not the amo…
Beans starting to germinate. Corn is poking through and only looking better. Depending on planting date and field conditions, growers are fighting crusting issues — not on everything. It always amazes me that the farm where I feel like I did everything right ends up being the problem field. …
We received 0.4 of an inch of rain April 27. Corn is starting to emerge. We could actually use some more rain. We had a very busy weekend trying to plant and deal with breakdowns.
Last week we received 0.4 of an inch of rain, many cloudy days, lots of wind and cooler temperatures. It made it hard to get anything planted or sprayed. Sunday evening we received 0.3 of an inch of rain. Currently sitting with half of my crops in the ground. Got some cover crop rye to kill,…
We’re having fabulous weather up here. We have had planters in the area going all over the place. We’ve been lucky with weather, some rain but not too much, missing big, damaging storms and soaking in the warm days. A little more warmth and fortune on precipitation could help get it all plan…
Matthew Bormann grows corn and soybeans near Algona, Iowa, in Kossuth County.
Matthew and Nancy Bormann grow corn and soybeans near Algona, Iowa, in Kossuth County, with their three children, Reece, 15, Quinn, 12, and Greta, 9. Matthew is a fifth-generation Iowa farmer, farming since 1999. He is president of Bormann Ag LTD and has had several leadership roles on the K…
I spent most of last week planting cover crops. There are about 80 acres left to do. We got about 2 inches of snow Saturday, which resulted in a little snowmobile ride by my son. On Sunday, it’d melted off mostly. Next year, I’m considering using popup fertilizer on planters, and maybe folia…