As farmers get ready to plant, theWisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has some points regarding the handling and distribution of fertilizer. Lori Bowman with DATCP says some farmers are going together to form “buying clubs” to purchase larger quantities of fertilizer direct fromwholesalers. “Farmers do not need a fertilizer license to receive bulk quantities of fertilizer. Nor is a license needed to distribute fertilizer that has been packaged or labeled by another licensed fertilizer dealer. The exception would be blending the fertilizer or repackaging under yourown company name and label. These activities would require a fertilizer license.”

However, the person distributing bulk quantities of fertilizer must follow Wisconsin bulk storage and containment requirements. Bulk storage rules pertain to more than 100 pounds of dryfertilizer or 55 gallons of liquid fertilizer. Liquid fertilizer must be held in a containment dike large enough to hold any spill. The farmer is required to report any spill and clean it up.
The other thing to remember is someone has to pay the tonnage fees. These required fees areused to support the agricultural chemical cleanup program and fertilizer research. “Tonnage fees are paid by one of the licensees within the chain of distribution,” says Bowman. “Sometimes the fees are paid by the wholesaler or the wholesaler will take a credit and expect the buyerto pay the fee.” DATCP will monitor to make sure the fees are paid.

It was a mostly dry week for fieldwork inSouth Carolina. According to the state office of the National Ag Statistics Service, the mostly dry conditions late in the week helped get corn planting nearly complete but producers in about a fifth of the state say their topsoil needs more precipitation and some are considering switching tocotton, peanuts or soybeans. As of Sunday, 88% of corn has been planted with 59% emerged. 6% of cotton has been planted and soybeans are 2% planted. 66% of cantaloupe is planted, compared to the five year average of 79%, cucumber planting is 67% complete, compared to 82% on average, 71% of snapbeans have been planted, compared to the five year average of 77%, tomatoes are 93% planted, compared to 94% on average and 81% of watermelons are planted, compared to the five year average of 83%.

Also, tobacco transplanting made significant gains and weather for soybeanplanting looks “good”. However, hay and vegetable conditions did see a slight decline. The state NASS office called livestock conditions “mostly good” and said that pasture is in “rather good” shape

Farmers in Illinois may be ready to plant, but there wasn't much progress made last week. According to state office of the National Ag Statistics Service, above averagerainfall kept farmers out of the field and while warm weekend temperatures helped dry things out, those warmer temperatures were quickly followed by more rain. Overall, 1.9 days were suitable for fieldwork and precipitation averaged 1.22 inches, .32 inches above normal.

Cornis 4% planted as of Sunday, a little slower than last year and well behind the five year average of 43%, with most of the progress in the Southwest and West Southwest districts. Oats are 72% planted, compared to 52% a year ago and 81% for the five year average. The topsoil continues to look very wetin most areas with 42% adequate and 58% surplus.

69% of winter wheat is rated good to excellent, alfalfa is in 52% good to excellent shape, red clover is at 73% good to excellent and 72% of pasture is in good to excellent condition.