Danny Kuenzel farms with family in Franklin and Gasconade counties. He grows corn and soybeans, with some acres in the Missouri River bottom and some on the hill ground. He serves on the board for the Missouri Corn Growers Association and the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council.

2026 is already off to a big start. Some much-needed rain fell this week here, anywhere from 2 to 4 inches from Tuesday night until Saturday morning (April 18). Corn planters are rolling when weather permits with early-planted corn up and in most cases a perfect stand. Early-planted beans are about R-1, maybe a bit taller, but appear to be a good stand at least so far. Lots of things happening when weather permits, and it should be a decent week of weather.

Another week of great growing conditions here in east-central Missouri. Rain showers stopped planters from rolling along too crazy. Those that have wheat applied the last application of fungicide recently, and it really started to look good. Early corn is about V2 or a bit taller, early planted beans are about R2 or maybe a bit taller but overall looking good. Lots of corn and beans to be planted yet, but with good weather progress it won’t take long!