An extremely productive planting week across the Corn Belt has been stymied by rains. However, producers aren’t ungrateful for the chance to rest. Nice weather in the first week of May led to near-perfect planting conditions.

Rain across the Midwest means the vast majority of fields are too wet for work. From 4-inch rains to spotty showers, thunderstorms have caused some flooding. Like any year, too much moisture in planting season leading to a dry summer increases concerns about soil crusting. Farmers who plant in colder soil temperatures where seed coats may already be weakened might have a tough battle with emergence. Even so, fields with emergence now are looking overall healthy.

Read more on weather and possible replanting efforts here.