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Spring planting ahead of schedule

Several Missouri farmers say the warm, dry field conditions have allowed spring planting to move ahead of schedule.

“This is the fastest we’ve ever gotten over the ground, I think.”

In west-central Missouri, Cody Brock says he was able to start planting a week earlier than usual and the soybeans are starting to emerge.

“Everything’s off to a good start, we were able to plant into moisture. Everything is sprouting and a little rain this time of the year won’t hurt a thing.”

Brock says he should finish planting this week. In northeast Missouri, Brian Munzlinger says no soybeans have been planted, but 80% of his corn is in the ground.

“With the warm weather we’ve got, the corn might come up today or tomorrow.”

Central Missouri farmer Nathan Alpers says in one week corn planting is halfway complete and one-third of the soybeans are planted. But Alpers says he’s concerned about another year of drought.

“We can raise a crop, but we’ll have to have timely rains moving forward.”

There is rain in the forecast this week and all three farmers say they’re looking forward to the moisture.