In tonight’s Evening Edition, catch up on the latest planting season progress across the country, the ethanol mandate, and cost-share programs available for irrigation with nitrogen management.
Planting Progress
The USDA released its eighth Crop Progress report Monday afternoon. The report pegged corn planted at 72% compared with 79% for the previous five-year average and 50% of soybeans planted compared with 55% for the previous five-year average.
Spring wheat planted was reported at 49% compared with 83% for the prior five-year average.
“Some spring wheat farmers may now choose to file Prevent Plant rather than plant this late, especially if the mid-week rain hits that area again,” says Al Kluis, Kluis Commodity Advisors.
The XtremeAg team checks in this week with planting progress in Iowa, Arkansas, and North Carolina.
Kevin Matthews and Kelly Garrett look to wrap up planting this week as Matt Miles deals with his first wind-event of the season in southeast Arkansas.
“Coming into spring, I was concerned about the lack of moisture in the soil after a winter with very little snowfall. Well, as soon as spring came, we received some timely rains and now the soil conditions for planting are probably the best we have seen in 20 years,” says Kelly Garrett of Arion, Iowa.
Ethanol Mandate
The trade group Growth Energy sued the EPA last month because it was far behind schedule in setting the ethanol mandate for 2023, the first year the agency has a free hand in drafting the regulation.
A consent decree, if approved, would resolve the complaint and oblige the EPA to propose the renewable fuel mandate by September 16 and finalize it by April 23, 2023.
Irrigation and Nitrogen Management
The first sign-up for cost-share for irrigation system upgrades and associated practices is now available to producers in 19 Minnesota counties.
This cost-share is available through a Regional Conservation Partnership Program awarded by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.
The program provides financial and technical support to irrigators looking to adopt and integrate proven precision irrigation technology and nitrogen management practices to help optimize irrigation system operation. This will help address groundwater quality and quantity issues under irrigated cropland.
