Each week, we compile a crop report from each of our Regional Sales Managers’ territories. Here is the first in our series for this season. Come back weekly on Wednesdays for an update on growing season progress from Latham Country. We’d also love to hear how things look in your neck of the woods. Leave us a note in the comment box below!

Northwest Iowa

Corn planting is 99.5% done; seedlings are currently at V3 with no diseases. A late-season application of Nitrogen may be needed after heavy moisture this spring. Soybeans are 95% done and are just emerging. First-crop alfalfa is a strong 18 inches tall, so cutting will begin soon.

Southeast South Dakota

Corn planting is 80% complete with seedlings at the V2 stage. Due to extremely wet conditions, soybeans are 1% complete and averaging 36% complete across South Dakota. Last week our area received another inch of rain, plus tornados and high winds struck the area. Fortunately, good weather is predicted for the coming weeks.

Southeast North Dakota

Corn planting is 60 to 70 percent complete, with seedlings at the V2 stage. Soybeans are still in bags and that’s where they will be staying. It’s just too cold and too wet. Even areas that are traditionally too dry are too wet to plant this spring. If conditions don’t improve soon, we won’t need to spray because bugs will be mowing off weeds in the fields.

Southwest Minnesota

Regions in Minnesota vary significantly this season. South of Highway 14, corn is 95 to 100 percent planted and soybeans are around 75 percent planted. Of the beans that are planted, you can row most of them while corn is ranging around V1-V3. North of Highway 14 to Highway 19 the conditions are extremely wet, with less than 10 percent of soybeans in the ground and corn close to 70 percent planted. North of Highway 19 to Highway 12 the soil conditions are also extremely wet, with close to 40 percent of corn acres planted and soybeans ranging from 0-15 percent planted. Some farmers have received early corn twice from their dealers and are now close to making the decision to switch remaining acres to soybeans.

West Central and Western Iowa

Corn is 100% planted; soybeans are 98% planted. Corn in North Central Iowa is in the V1 first leaf to V2 second leaf Stage, and soybeans are in the VE emergence to V1 first node. Corn is 100% planted; soybeans are 99.9% planted. In West Central Iowa, corn is in the V1 first leaf to V2 second leaf stage. Soybeans are in the VE emergence to VC cotyledon.

Southwest Iowa/Northeast Nebraska

Corn planting is 98 to 99 percent complete with seedlings having 2 or 3 leaves. Soybean planting is 85 to 90% done with seedlings at the V stage. Weather has been stormy with 1 .5 inches of rain this week, but it’s been warm and humid. Alfalfa is 10% bloomed but first crop has not yet been cut as farmers are waiting for weather to improve.

Eastern Nebraska

During the last week, we’ve experienced below normal temperatures and significant rain. Rainfall totals from last weekend’s storms ranged from 1 to 6 inches across the state. There were some isolated pockets of severe weather in the southern and central parts of Nebraska. Planting progress had picked up over the last couple of weeks. Corn planting advanced to 94 percent complete, as compared to 95 percent last year. Corn emerged was 55 percent, near 56 last year but two days behind 61 average. Soybean planting was 68 percent complete, ahead of 60 last year and 64 average. Soybeans emerged was 20 percent ahead of last year’s 14 and 18 average.

We’re beginning to see ponding and flooding in places. An article in the Omaha World Herald, reports that the Army Corps of Engineers is expected to raise the Missouri River four feet within the next couple of weeks to ease stress on the dams to the north. One additional note is that I’ve noticed an above-average number of black cutworm moths up to this point in the far eastern part of the state where I’ve placed pheromone traps in cooperation with UNL Extension. Black cutworms don’t overwinter in Nebraska, so cutting dates are sometimes difficult to predict or pattern. This should be another key point to be aware of when scouting this year.

North Central Iowa

The corn in north central Iowa is all planted, except for replants in those areas where excess water has occurred. I would strongly recommend that the farmers stay with their original maturity until the second week of June. With most corn in the 2-3 leaf stage, now is the time to start paying particular attention to your hybrids to see the difference in growth each hybrid offers. A good test is the corn on corn acres that went a week without sun and cool temperatures. Selecting strong emerging hybrids like LH4999 VT3Pro will really give you the edge in the tough environment like high residue. Black cutworm sightings have occurred, but the numbers fall well below economic threshold.

The soybean crop is still going in the ground, especially in extreme north central Iowa. A trip to Estherville today revealed considerable ponding due to recent heavy rains. Most of these fields were planted, but I suspect some of those acres will need to be replanted. As with the corn, please stay with your original maturity on replants until the second week of June. I have noticed many acres of idle land being put back into production. Please consider using SoyShield Plus on those beans going into a previous grass environment. The fungicide/ insecticide combination will help protect the seed not only from soil born diseases like pythium, but also insect feeding from wire worms and white grubs.

Central Iowa

It’s been a rainy week in this area for the most part. Corn continues to progress with most acres in the V3-V4 stage. Stands continue to look good. Warmer temperatures in the near forecast should help promote growth and make up for a late start. LH 5426 VT3Pro is off to an especially good start and looks to be a winner this year. Only a few acres of soybeans still need to be planted. Timely rains and good ground conditions have allowed stands and emergence to look very good. A narrow band of hail in the northern part of this region had a few farmers scrambling to replant some acres. Scouting for Bean Leaf Beetle on soybeans should continue during the next weeks.

East Central Iowa

Current conditions are wet, but farmers are still progressing with very few beans left to plant. Of those that have been planted, you can row almost all of them and at VE to VC. All of corn is in the ground and averaging V3 stage. Pre-emerge spraying is complete and some post application has started but has been halted due to the wet conditions.

Northeast Iowa

In Northeast Iowa, corn is 99% planted and ranges from VE to V3. Soybeans are 90% planted and are just emerging. I haven’t seen any current disease pressure for either crop. Soils here are moist to wet, so most farmers who haven’t yet finished planting are going to try and get something in the ground. First crop hay has been cut.

Southwest Wisconsin

The weather this past week has been very cold. In fact, on Thursday and Friday morning, temperatures were in the low 30s and caused some concerns with many growers. I would recommend taking a few hours to check your lower lying fields for any frost damage to corn or soybeans. With the rains we’ve had this spring, remember to wait for soil conditions to be right for planting. Many growers have only a few acres of beans or corn left. I understand how badly everyone wants to be done planting, but please be patient and shoot for the top-end yield. It may be a matter of only a few hours for the soils to get in the right condition. This week we’ve seen farmers in the southern part of Wisconsin finish up planting. Corn in SW WI is at V2 for the most part, but a few of the earlier planted fields are reaching V3. In northern Wisconsin, we’re having a little bit of trouble getting into the fields due to the rain and soil types. Last week I walked many fields with my growers and found a few fields with Armyworm. I haven’t seen anything at threshold yet, but I did see enough that everyone should keep an eye on them for the next few weeks.LH 4844 3000GT is living up to its emergence claims and looks stellar. This product has been placed in many cold, wet soils here this spring and still has amazing emergence even in these conditions. Most soybeans are just emerging in the south, so many fields are VE or VC at this point. In northern Wisconsin, soybeans have yet to be planted. Many dairy farmers have cut first crop hay and have noticed a lighter first crop resulting from cold spring temperatures. A few growers are waiting for the weather to straighten out, so they can cut their alfalfa for dry hay.