News

It’s no longer too early for planting in Michigan

The clock is ticking for many Michigan farmers to get planters into fields.

Tim Boring with the Michigan Agri-Business Association tells Brownfield now that it’s the first week of May, it’s no longer too early to start planting.  “After a fairly warm start to the spring, things have been a little below average for temperatures.” He says, “Soil temperatures are cool right now, ground across most of the state is pretty saturated, there’s been a fair amount of corn but in the ground—but those seeds are going to be pretty cold and wet for a while longer here.”  He says it’s still too soon to start drawing conclusions about yield impacts on the season, but planters do need to start moving.

Richard Dobbins farms 3,400 acres in south-central Michigan in Jackson County. He tells Brownfield he’s about a third of the way done planting.  “We hopefully will get in just like everyone else is as soon as we can.”  He says, “American farmers always get it all planted somehow and we intend to do the same.”

Dobbins says despite the delays, the recent rainy pattern has been a good thing to replenish soil moistures for the growing season.

AUDIO: Interview with Tim Boring

AUDIO: Interview with Richard Dobbins