December 16, 2022
As the 2023 planting season approaches, farmers across the country are feeling the pressure from heavier rains and fewer field days becoming the norm.
Since the 1980s, the number of big rainfall events has doubled — and in some cases, tripled — across the Corn Belt. Those are rains that come as more than 2 inches in 24 hours, says Eric Snodgrass, atmospheric scientist for Nutrien Ag.
That, of course, translates to fewer days in the field. Snodgrass says data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that since the 1980s, farmers have lost five workable field days in April and May. This is a reality that many farmers see playing out on their own fields every spring.
“The reality is that we are almost always reactionary to what the weather does,” Snodgrass says. “We can predict with some certainty out a few days, but the main things is, when planting windows are open, we have to put the pedal down and really get it done.”
Most farmers generally compensate with larger equipment to plant quickly and efficiently.
“We kind of begin first with the reality that planting windows are always tight,” Snodgrass says. “We have to get the crop in sometime in April or May because of insurance. And if we plant later in June, the risk of crop failure increases with the risk of late-summer drought issues.”
He also cautions that the trendline data showing fewer workable spring field days doesn’t mean we’ll never have a dry spring again. There are definitely ups and downs, he says, but the longer-term trend points to more rainfall events.
Changes on the farm
Given that narrowing window, Matt Boucher, Dwight, Ill., has already adjusted his farming practices to accommodate weather fluctuations.
“One thing we can all agree on is that the planting season is extremely variable,” Boucher says. “Every situation is different — soil types are different, the weather is different every year, and just when you think you have something figured out, Mother Nature throws you a curve ball.”
Boucher has diversified his corn, soybean and wheat operation over the years, adding several streams of income. He runs a seed dealership, owns a custom drilling business, has a trucking business, and sells meat and local goods directly to consumers via farmers markets and Facebook. Still, he feels the crunch to get it all done in less time every spring.
“One of the biggest factors is that we’re covering a lot more ground per farm than we ever have,” he explains. “As farmers farm more acres, it’s harder to plant in optimal conditions than it was when smaller farms were the standard.”
As a seed dealer for almost 20 years, Boucher has advised dozens of farmers with planting decisions. He says careful planning plus diligent weather observation are keys to planting success.
“We get a lot of calls when something goes wrong, and most of the time it’s a mechanical error that could have been fixed by physically checking the planter,” he says. “We’re all guilty of just wanting to get the job done, but taking 10 minutes to walk around and do some digging can make a world of difference.”
Boucher has also implemented cover crops and no-till practices for erosion control and weed suppression. He’s seen a number of soil benefits around the farm.
“Light tillage and cover crops have helped us make a better seedbed,” Boucher says. “It has helped loosen the soil up, and the ground seems to be more forgiving than when we were doing heavy tillage.”
The changes also save Boucher time and labor — invaluable gains for a small family farm.
“We’ve eliminated our spring tillage, so we just go out and plant right into the ground,” he says. “That’s meant we’ve reduced our labor need in the spring and can plant more acres in a smaller timeframe.”