The reality of this spring is: ?Plan A is nothing but a distant memory.?
Midwest farmers continue to adjust to Mother Nature?s plans.
Abundant precipitation has provided few opportunities for spring fieldwork.
Sam Ose farms near Williams, in Hamilton County. Ose says this spring has been less than ideal for fieldwork.
?The weather has been such that Plan A – the ideal circumstances we?d like to do it (plant in) – is nothing but a distant memory. We have half of our seed corn fields in, and they are growing nicely. We have a couple fields to go that are not well drained. Because of that, the ducks are enjoying them at the moment. We hope that in the next few days, weeks, we?ll get enough sunshine and wind to dry them out, (so) we can get in and plant.?
Seed corn has a shorter growth period than commercial corn. Therefore, the planting window ?hasn?t closed yet.?
?Even if it?s (seed corn) planted later, it will be probably be the first thing harvested in the fall. Since that window is broad, we?re not out of time yet. We?re definitely nervous about it. What would we do if we didn?t get our seed corn in before that window shut? I don?t know. Probably soybeans, but we?re getting to the point (where) soybeans are starting to become a question mark too,? Ose said.
While nervous, Ose remains optimistic. He cites a couple factors, which keep him pushing forward.
?I?m a lot more optimistic today than I was four days ago,? Ose said. ?The markets have taken a positive turn in the last couple of days. That always makes everyone a little bit happier and more confident that they?ll be able to farm again next year.
