Week of April 20, 2026 Local, professional reports straight from the field,
from all regions serviced by Ag Partners.
Meet this week’s featured Agronomists & AYS Specialists:
Le Sueur, MN
Wanamingo, MN
Stewartville, MN
Durand, WI
MINNESOTA – WEST
Belle Plaine – Le Center – Le Sueur – Morristown – Traverse
Early Planting: Risk vs Reward
Planters are starting to roll across the fields, and with that comes plenty of discussion about the weather changing. Cooler temperatures always raise concern when planting corn, and experience has shown that April planting can carry added risk when the weather turns against us.
Field conditions matter just as much as the calendar. It’s important to avoid working ground that’s too wet—mudding it in or creating sidewall compaction can hurt emergence right from the start. Timing is everything and stopping 24–48 hours ahead of a cold rain can make a big difference.
When the forecast is calling for warmer rain, it helps, but colder temperatures afterward are something to watch. Seed sitting in cold, saturated soil for several days increases the risk of uneven emergence or early season stress.
We only get one opportunity to set this crop up right. Patience isn’t always easy, especially with how unpredictable southern Minnesota weather can be—but it is often what pays off in the end. – Erin
MINNESOTA – EAST
Goodhue – Kenyon – Lake City – Pine Island – Wanamingo
Spring 2026 Has Dealt Us A 16…. Hit? Or Stand?
This week into next we’re seeing a wide swing in temperatures, with highs pushing 80°F and lows into the 30s next week. Soil conditions across the area are currently in great shape. What I would call “fit to plant,” but with the current forecast we could deal with some emergence issues.
“Hitting” (planting)
- Spreads out workload
- Takes advantage of ideal soil conditions today
- Planted early
- Emergence risk
- Cold stress on seed
“Standing” (waiting)
- Mitigates the risk of cold stress
- Likely fewer days seeds are in ground before emergence
- Compressed planting window
- Potentially late planted
All in all, we are off to a strong start from a field condition standpoint, but the next stretch of weather will test early planted acres. Like a tough blackjack hand, there’s some risk either way. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Ag Partners Agronomist if you have questions. We are happy to help provide some guidance. – Zach
MINNESOTA – SOUTH
Elgin – Lewiston – Stewartville
A recent cold snap that brought rain, hail, and even tornadoes across the area has delayed planting progress for some. Now that much of that severe weather is behind us (fingers crossed) it’s time to look ahead to more favorable field conditions.
As we move through the week, many areas should begin to see opportunities for spring fertilizer applications and corn pre‑emerge herbicide treatments. With adequate moisture and a few sunny days, weeds have already started to emerge, making this the ideal time to nip them in the bud. Sticking to the weed control plans discussed over the winter will help get a head start to ensure effective, season‑long control. Early‑season weed management is critical to reduce competition for nutrients, moisture, sunlight, and setting your crop up for strong early growth and long‑term success.
With all the hustle and bustle that spring brings, remember that communication is key. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your Ag Partners agronomist with any questions or agronomy needs. Wishing everyone a safe and successful planting season! – Madalynn
Pictured below: early season weed pressure we are starting to see in the field.
WESTERN WISCONSIN
Durand – Ellsworth – New Richmond – Osseo
From multiple tornadoes last Friday evening, to freezing temps and back to 80F, weather in western Wisconsin has been a little “western.” Seed has been moving steadily out and, as of Monday this week fertilizer was starting to move quite quickly. Spray burndown is slowly starting to take off, and without more rain it should pick up nicely.
The weather has begun to make many of us impatient to get planting done, with the soil temp slowly creeping up to near 50F. Alfalfa has been a hot topic in multiple updates already, but it would be wise to do another walk through on your fields. We experienced some heavy frost Sunday night into Monday morning which may have injured or killed some already weak stands. – Ethan
