Crop Watcher week five - Chaotic Week

Todd Easton Coles County May 28 2010: I think I can speak for all the farmers in Coles County in saying that things are almost getting chaotic. After last weekends rains turned out to be minimal planters, sprayers, and toolbars started back out one by one when conditions became fit and were out in full force until the most spotty rains I can ever recall stopped some, moved others, and had no effect on the rest of us throughout the mid to later part of the week. The good news is that progress is being made with bean planting coming close to wrapping up and spraying and anhydrous application being around half done or better. That heat we were wanting finally came around this week also and you can about watch the crops grow. Corn plants are in the V5-V6 range and looking pretty good for the most part with the exception of a few spots showing nitrogen and or compaction problems. Early soybean plantings are enjoying the warmth also becoming easy to see from the road while the rest of the beans are just emerging or just getting planted. It is very apparent that this year’s soybean crop will be multi generational which will mean changing combines back and forth several times next fall.