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South Dakota farmers easing into corn planting

Corn and soybean planting has just begun this past week in South Dakota.  The state National Ag Statistics office says three-percent of corn and one-percent of soybeans had been planted as of Sunday.

Lewis Bainbridge, who farms in southeastern South Dakota, tells Brownfield Ag News they haven’t started yet.  Freezing temperatures are forecast Tuesday and Wednesday morning and rain is expected, “We are ready to plant and if it was up to my sons we would have a little bit done but we chose to wait since the temperature is going to be against us.” Bainbridge says the ground hasn’t been ready where he farms, “The ground temperature is still a little too cold. So, we have plenty of things to do in between (laughs), so I guess that’s why I was holding them off a little bit.” Bainbridge says their typical planting date is April 22nd and they expect to get some corn planted yet this week.

Small grain planting continued across the state with barley almost 40-percent behind last year’s planting progress and the five-year average. Spring wheat planting in South Dakota is well ahead of the average and last year’s pace. As of Sunday, it was 75% complete with more than 30% emerged.