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Weather continues to delay Indiana planting progress

Like many farmers in Indiana, planting attempts for west-central Indiana farmer Kevin Cox have been thwarted by weather.  “I’m getting anxious because, you know, we’re sitting here in the sun shining, and it’s 80 degrees,” he says. “I’m thinking, boy, I ought to be planting, but at the same time, I want to do it, and I want to do it right. And I want to get it right the first time.”

According to the latest Crop Report from the USDA, just 1 percent of the state’s corn crop has been planted, and none of the soybeans have been planted. Both are running behind year-ago levels.

Cox tells Brownfield that with razor-thin margins, his biggest concern is not getting the most from his corn and soybean crops. “If I plant today and we get a great stand and a great yield, we made a great decision,” he says. “If I plant today and we get a poor stand and a poor yield, then Kevin really messed up.”

On Monday, he says he had one employee working ground and had the planter out, getting it ready to go. “My agronomy guy gets here and he’s like, well, you could plant if you want to, but I maybe would consider holding off for a day or two and see what this front looks like going through,” he says. “So, I’m holding up the planner now and putting it back in the shed. And I’m going to hold off for a day or two.”

He says he hasn’t seen a lot of farmers planting in his area, which is unusual for this time of year.

According to the USDA 25% of the winter wheat crop has jointed and 75% of the crop is rated good to excellent.  Topsoil moisture is 97% and subsoil moisture is 90% adequate to surplus. 

AUDIO: Kevin Cox, Indiana farmer