Week of April 21, 2025
Local, professional reports straight from the field, from all regions serviced by Ag Partners.
Meet this week’s featured agronomists:
Le Sueur, MN
Wanamingo, MN
Lewiston, MN
Ellsworth, WI
WEST
Belle Plaine – Le Center – Le Sueur – Morristown – Traverse
With the recent rains, this past week has been relatively quiet. Early last week, some growers were able to get out and plant both corn and soybeans. The earliest-planted corn and soybeans have germinated, and we’re beginning to see radicle growth.
When planting we are looking for soil temperatures to be at or above 50°F, and as of this week, the soil temperature is 52°F.
As we move forward, it’s important to remember that there is still plenty of time to get the crops in. Avoid planting into unfit soil conditions to ensure the best possible start for your crops. Have a safe and productive spring! – Adam
EAST
Goodhue – Kenyon – Lake City – Pine Island – Wanamingo
It’s looking like April showers are holding true again this year. Fortunately, we were able to string together a nice stretch of dry days the last few weeks. We have finished a large majority of our spring NH3 needs, while also getting a good start on dry fertilizer applications. The weather forecast isn’t looking promising in the near future, but there is still a lot of work that can be done even if we aren’t able to get into the fields. Please reach out to your agronomist if you have any seed, chemical, or miscellaneous needs that can be delivered and taken care of now, before things dry out and spring planting season is in full force! Communication will be key once fertilizer applications fire up again, ample notice is always appreciated while understanding this is the busiest time of the season as everyone will want to get planting at the same time. Please stay safe this spring!!! – Buddy
SOUTH
Elgin – Lewiston – Stewartville
What looked like an early start to spring quickly turned into a soggy, saturated end of April. Soil moisture was a concern earlier with the drier than normal winter, but here in southeast Minnesota we are currently about 1 inch above normal for the month of April. Last week we were able to get a good start on applying some fertilizer, with a few growers doing some seedbed preparations. There were a lot of small grains that did get planted as well. There also was an occasional planter in the area that tried a few acres of corn or soybeans.
With all the recent moisture and warmth, I have also seen the start of weeds. Be sure to stay ahead of them with either a robust pre-emerge chemical or burndown, before they become too large and start robbing of early-season nutrients or sunlight from the emerging crop.
The alfalfa in our area came through winter fairly well. The younger stands look amazing and are off to a great start. Most of the older stands are showing crown and root deterioration. On these older stands we can also find a few plants that did heave or were snapped off at the crown that did not survive the winter. As always reach out to your local Ag Partners Agronomist with questions.
Have a safe spring – Brett
WISCONSIN
Ellsworth
Planting progress in Western Wisconsin has been minimal so far, with a few planters getting started or back in the field today (4/23). A few farmers did take advantage of the dry, albeit cool, soil conditions last week and planted some corn. A field that was planted April 15th did have the radicle root started and with a few warm days this week, those early planted fields look like they escaped harm.
We have had a good jump on fertilizer while the planters have been in the shed and when we get through this next wet spell, everything will shake loose.
Have a safe spring! – Eric