R.T. Slack farms with family in Henry and Johnson counties in west central Missouri. He says conditions are muddy heading into spring planting time. He grows corn and soybeans and also puts up some alfalfa hay.

Everything that was up was starting to look pretty good. I blame the coffeeshop guys for all this rain. One of them asked me last week how farming was going. I told him it’s finally getting dry enough. He said to me, “I need some water in my ponds.” Looks to me like we should have them full now. We got well over 3.5 inches. I’m ready to get back to dry.

Another soggy week in the books. It dried just enough so we could get another rain Saturday night. The corn that is up looks decent, the rest is trying to pop through. The Easter rain tested a lot of terraces. A few of them broke over around the area. We had 5 to 7 inches of rain total, then more rain this weekend. Getting everything checked over, and it should be ready to go if it ever does dry up. Cattle guys are happy — ponds are full.

As of Sunday night we made it two days without rain. It was so close Friday, but three-fourths of an inch showed up about 7 p.m. We’re all in the same boat around here — sit and wait. Hopefully we can find something to spray Monday and Tuesday (May 5-6) before Wednesday’s rain arrives. Typical Missouri weather. Mother Nature is boss.

Looks like we may get our chance to plant. It’s drying out quite a bit, just hoping it’s firm enough to hold the tractor up. Time to get the corn wrapped up and hammer some beans in. Hoping for a decent week.

Finally had a dry, productive week around here. Lots of corn and beans planted. It was nice to see planters, sprayers and tillage tools clogging up highways again. Everyone is working hard and getting stuff done. We need another week or so, but they are calling for a couple more inches. Guess we’ll wait and see. Crops are starting to shine. Some of the oldest corn is getting ahold of some nitrogen and beginning to get a good color.

We’re still drying out at the home place from the 2-plus inches we had. I was able to plant some beans about 20 miles south. Gaining on those. Last week’s beans are coming up. Starting to feel like we are getting somewhere. Just need one more good solid week. Sounds like rain is in my future again though.

Early part of the week was a little wet, but we managed to plant some beans late in the week and weekend. Glad to see it warm up. Beans are still emerging. It was pretty cold for May. Nothing except the yard is growing like it’s supposed to. Maybe these 80-degree days will turn it around. Calling for more wet weather. Weed pressure doesn’t seem to be very bad yet. Corn is getting big enough now the rows are closing.

Corn is finally growing after we got some warm days. Beans are slowly emerging. Ironically, it just keeps raining. Lot of acres need sprayed. We have a three-day window this week, then more rain. Guess we'll see what we can get done.

We finally wrapped up the first round of planting and spotted in some drowned-out beans. A few guys around are getting some hay put up in between showers. Corn is looking good, and beans are starting to shine. Wheat looks like about a week off, so we should be getting the combine ready I suppose.

Lot of wheat started coming out this weekend. The wind won’t quit so we can get back to spraying. Several weeds have made their appearance in soybeans. Going to cut wheat and plant beans for a few days and see if we can get that wrapped up. There’s a lot of hay being baled in this area.

Wheat is pretty much done. Beans are finally growing. Hopefully we get some of this rain they are calling for. There is a lot of hay getting baled.

Wheat beans are up. Corn and early beans are looking pretty good. We are starting to miss a few rains now. Pretty typical for this area. Rains all the time when you need to plant. Get it planted, it stops raining all of a sudden. We deal with this every year.

Everything is looking decent. We got a little rain a couple days ago but definitely need a good soaker. Waterhemp has been a little aggravating again, but so far we’ve had decent luck getting control of it. Lots of hay is still being baled in the area. I’ve got some beans that are way ahead of their time, filling pods. I guess we shall see.

Things are looking up. Little bit of hay around is getting wet, but so are the corn and beans. It’s hard to fuss about mud in late July.

It’s been hot enough you could fry an egg on the hood of your car. Crops seem to love it. We had a popup shower while baling hay. Looked like something from out of the movies: Middle of the afternoon sunny and bright, five minutes later torrential downpour. Four inches in less than an hour. Had to turn the lights on to find our way back to the truck. I’ll never be mad about mud going into August.

Summer is over. We finally got some cooler temps. Crops are looking pretty good, just need some more time. The early beans are filling pods.

Corn still looking good. Been fungiciding beans this week. Army worms moved in and destroyed my alfalfa in one night. Every alfalfa plant had two or three worms on it. It went fast. Ate every bit of it. Couple other guys in the area lost their alfalfa too. If farming was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Corn is turning. Beans are looking good; got fungicide on. Alfalfa is making a comeback from the armyworm attack. It’s entirely too hot. I’m ready for some fall temps.

Crops are coming along pretty good. We can almost always use a rain in August. I’d like to remind everyone to remind their neighbors to slow down and look for farm equipment. I had a guy test the theory of driving a car under a sprayer last Friday. Knocked the back wheel right off of it at highway speeds. I thought it was going to roll over for sure. Luckily no one was injured. People just need to pay attention. It would solve a lot of issues.

We sure could use a money rain — it would make a big difference in soybean yield. I’ve got some beans that are half yellow — won't be long. I’m ready to get this party started. Glad it finally cooled off.

We had a short rain a few days ago. It only lasted 10 minutes, so really didn’t do much good, but it helps. Some have poked their beaks into some corn. I’ve got some early beans that should go this week. Corn is still above 20%. Another week on it and we’ll be full bore.

There is a lot of corn coming out. We cut 90 acres of beans, and we planted wheat. Starting on corn today (Monday, Sept. 15).

Lot of beans are getting close. Several acres of corn have been taken out in the area. There was a storm that squeaked through late last week. Rain didn’t amount to much. It’s a pretty nice harvest so far.

Going to try to get back on beans this week. They are really getting close. Corn has been pretty steady, it’s all been dry or too dry. I’d much rather run it at 17-18%. Guess we’ll see what shakes loose. I’ve got some wheat up and growing — looks really good.

Some guys are done with corn. We switched over to cut beans full bore. I like to pace myself — we can pick corn on a gloomy day. It’s too dry. I’m not sure what changed, but we haven't picked wet corn in several years. Beans are the same way. They're 10% with some green out in the field.

We paused on corn and jumped on beans when they got ready. Now it seems to rain just a little bit every other day. Proves the struggle is real. Typical Missouri weather. You get what you need when you don’t want it.

Bean harvest is slow but sure. Beans are too dry, too tough and too cheap. We just keep pushing on between the rains. Soybeans attract rain when they are ready, much like a raccoon to the sweet corn patch.

Soybeans came to a screeching halt — won’t stop raining. They seem to be doing OK. Between rains and annoying breakdowns, we're gaining. May switch back to corn this week if it doesn't dry up quick.

Beans are coming along pretty well. Mother Nature needs a chill pill. We lost eight days because it drizzled four and a half days to get 1 inch. Finally back at it today. This week looks very promising. Getting some wheat planted as well.

This year started out pretty good. We were able to get our NH3 on without too much delay. We were able to get a lot planted before a three-week shutdown for rain prior to finishing. Then every time we started a hay mower it would rain. Rained just a little every few days till wheat season. Then it stopped. We barely got any rain after July. I remember getting our State Fair rain, but after that we were done. I kept thinking if it doesn’t rain soon, it’s going to be like 1980 again on the soybeans. Fortunately, the beans made something for themselves. Turning out pretty good for what they went through during pod fill. I’m sure it’s the better seeds and genetics that made the difference. Mother Nature just needs to cooperate and let us wrap this up soon.