Editors' Notebook

OMAHA (DTN) -- As is often the case in spring generally, and during planting specifically, the stories line up in a "have" and "have not" formation: Those who "have" gotten planting done (or nearly done) and those who "have not" (and some who have not even started).

Who's to blame? The weatherman. Or maybe my colleague, Senior Ag Meteorologist Bryce Anderson, would prefer the finger be pointed at Mother Nature. For the "haves" there were no wet or dry soil issues that didn't pass quickly enough to allow seeding. The "have nots" are mudding it in or dusting it in ... when "in" is even a possibility.

All things considered, conditions have worked out pretty well in Wisconsin near Watertown and Columbus. Justin Premo works at Waupun Equipment and also farms. He sent us this update:

"It's been a zoo around here lately. Been swamped with getting planters, guidance systems up and running and 'refreshing memories' on how to operate. I am finally getting to my own farm work and some custom work too. With any luck, I should be done planting by the weekend.

"Planting around the area is winding down for the most part. A lot of crops were put in the last two weeks and am hearing rumblings of cutting hay and barley/rye to chop. All of which is quite a bit ahead of schedule, which is not surprising considering most of the wet holes that are normally full of water are dry and planted.

"If the corn and beans that are up can get missed by the frost tonight (Tuesday) they should be in good shape. Besides the six inches of rain we had in early April, it's been a touch dry, but we have been getting timely rains across the area."

Sounds pretty good. Gerald Gauck of Ripley county, Indiana, has a nearly equally good story. "Finished planting corn May 10," he told DTN in an email. "Good moisture; ideal growing conditions so far!!!!"

Demock Mann in eastern North Carolina also has no big complaints. "Conditions here in eastern North Carolina have been pretty ideal," he wrote DTN. "Most finished cotton and some are starting soybeans, corn and vegetable crops are looking good. It was almost beginning to get a little dry but Tropical Storm Ana took care of that; we'll be back in the field tomorrow (Tuesday)."

In northeastern Illinois things have taken a turn for the wetter, but John Moore said 75% of the corn is in already and some soybeans. "Wouldn't say we're drowning here ... but we've had enough for a while," he wrote. "Kinda like deja vu. Pretty much on track with last year's weather. ... Alfalfa is growing out of control. Wheat fields look good. Forecast is for more rain before things really have a chance to dry out. Time for a vacation."

In northwest Missouri near the town of Stanberry, Bob Birdsell says they missed the heavy rains, but are still waiting for drying soil. "We've had 1.2 of rain is all, but with heavy clouds and no sunshine, so no drying," he wrote. "They say it may be in the 30s tonight (Monday). We hope to be able to finish anhydrous Wednesday in between AI-ing heifers. They are calling for more rain to start Wednesday night through Sunday. Good luck to everyone."

In west-central North Dakota conditions turned from dry to wet very quickly, according to David Kjelstrup of Underwood. "We were really dry, but still seeding. Friday we got 2.00 plus of rain it's cold as heck so we are too wet to finish seeding. The low tonight (Monday) supposed to be 26 degrees. It's good not much is up."

Alexander County in southern Illinois where Kenton Thomas farms received an "inch and a half of rain here in southern Illinois; no bad storms. Not many beans planted; we were waiting on rain. It will be full speed ahead when it dries out," he reported.

In Iowa near Avoca, Karen and Bill Johnson planted beans Saturday and Sunday despite sporadic showers. Karen wrote, "We did get some short bursts of showers this weekend, but never enough to stop the planter very long. All around us got anywhere from a half inch to 2 inches of rain.

"It is cold here today (Monday) at 50 degrees at 4 p.m. ... It is also super windy at above 20 mph -- which makes it seem colder yet outside. It's to get down to 37 tonight or tomorrow night. That'll give those little corn shoots that are just coming up the shivers.

"We have over 30 calves now (out of 50) and we need to put big round bales in to our cows about every third morning. As soon as Bill is done planting beans we will sort cows with calves and take them to pasture. First they will get shots for fly and insect control.

"Next then will be hay making. We have 32 acres of straight alfalfa and we usually make part of 40 acres of grass pasture into big round bales on the first cutting while cows are turned into 30 acres of other pasture."

The sporadic rains that still allowed fieldwork also blessed Minnehaha County in South Dakota. Carl Eliason farms there and wrote, "I was lucky here in central Minnehaha County ... I have had three easy rains since last Thursday that totaled 1.75 inches. Just a few miles to the east of me there were heavy rains with severe washing. Haven't planted beans yet because I was waiting for rain. Hope to get some in on Wednesday. Forecast is showing rain off and on for the next week. Corn is up with a near perfect stand."

Things are finally moving in north-central Kansas near the town of Logan. Doug Zillinger wrote, "We had about .5 inch scattered over four days and I was able to finish drilling alfalfa yesterday (Sunday). I have met the tender truck for one neighbor who is planting corn every day this week, so he is going strong."

Dry soil is hampering soybean planting near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, according to Brandon Whitt. "Very dry here in Tennessee," he wrote. "Haven't seen a shower in over two weeks. Many of us quit planting beans because top inch is so hard. 90 degrees and stout south wind baking us at the moment."

Conditions in southern Georgia are just as onerous. Mark Israel who farms there wrote, "Hot and dry! Irrigating to get land ready to plant. Peanuts coming up and planters rolling in cotton."

And in central Ohio, "I'm still planting away," reported Perry Buxton. "Dust flying here in central Ohio."

Still, in the end, it's probably wise to keep a good thought, look on the bright side and keep your chin up. (Could I squeeze another platitude in there? Perhaps.) I like the way Kenneth Zahm, who farms near Marne, Michigan, thinks.

"We had a good run last week; got 90% of our own corn planted, 20% of soybeans planted," he wrote DTN. "Still have around 600 acres of custom corn planting to do. At a standstill now; received 4.5 inches of rain since Friday night, (1/2 inch in 20 minutes this afternoon).

"Better than a drought though."

Yes, it certainly is.

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