Crop Watcher 2013 week 2 - still waiting

Todd Easton Coles County May 12 2013: Once again just as we were starting to think about getting to the fields wet weather comes in to sit us out for another week. After trying to dry out the 2" we received last week and weekend fields had just started to gray off Thursday morning (May 11) but just a few hours later the rain gauges had another .75 put in them. The few hundred acres of corn planted in Coles County is entering the V1 stage after a month of waiting for enough warmth to encourage growth. The warmer temperatures also encouraged the wheat to rapidly grow another 6" over the week. So for now the only good news is another week gone by puts us another week closer to planting. In the mean time I hope you all had a good Mothers Day and thanked Mom far all she does.

Crop Watcher 2013 week 1 - no start yet

Todd Easton Coles County May 3 2013: As the calendar page turns it brings another exciting Crop Watcher season to us amid another one of those rainy late start springs that pop up on us semi regularly. First off I'm glad to be back and share our local view of what is an already interesting crop year. So far me and the rest of the Terrydale Farms crew are keeping afloat here in the heart of Coles County right on the new highway that wasn't even here this time last year. That is not the only difference a year has made as the weather pattern and planting situation bear very little resemblance to 2012. The older farmers have been quick to say one extreme follows another, and the current extreme has us too cold and too wet for about all of the last month. Along with regular cold spells April brought us just over seven inches of rainfall keeping fieldwork to a minimum. A very small window in the first week enabled a handful of fields to be planted and they are just beginning to emerge at this point. On Wednesday May 1st conditions finally made it to the point that light sprayers could think about maybe getting into the field and several did. A few tillage tools and one planter that I know of soon followed but it was short lived when pop up showers starting mid afternoon Thursday brought us another quick 1.25 inches of work stopping moisture and the forecast is calling for more. About the only good news for now is the good looking wheat crop scattered about in a few locations around the county including some on my farm for the first time in several years. So right now its keep the fingers crossed that the other crops will soon be in the ground where they should be and the growing season can begin. Like a good friend to the south on the white dirt told me last summer "keep the faith".

Hellooooooooo

Shocking to see that the last post was in 2011. Guess I took 2012 off, it was a good on t to not blog about honestly but lucky 13 will be much better ........... Whenever it decides to actually start. Anyhow enjoy as Crop Watcher 2013 kicks off next!