With crop emergence making strides in fields across the country, Farmers National Company and its local farm managers are keeping a close watch on the 5,000 farms that we professionally manage across the U.S.

Crops likely will continue to shoot up with the NOAA predicting above average temperatures across most of the Midwest and high odds for above average monthly precipitation in the region, too. In fact, beneficial rains across the middle and eastern parts of the nation that fell during May resulted in the total amount of drought across the continuous United States decreasing from 18% at the end of April to about 12.5%. This is the lowest amount of drought coverage across the contiguous U. S. since spring 2020, according to the NOAA.

Overall, the current U.S. Drought Monitor looks rather clean with only one large abnormally dry area popping up in eastern Iowa, as well as a few small areas in Illinois and Missouri. I can’t begin to describe how much better the drought monitor map looks right now compared to June of 2023.

A majority of the Midwest corn and soybean crops have been planted with only some replanting happening due to record wet spring conditions that select areas received. Those corn, soybean and pasture crops that are currently in rapid growth mode all have a higher condition rating when compared to this time last year. Ample rainfall and warmer than normal temperatures are the primary reasons why many fields are performing rather well this spring.

Weed control is what most farm managers are focusing on now. It’s important to eliminate any weed pressure during the time sensitive window between the rapid growth of a seedling and when the crop grows large enough to provide a canopy over the soil and can overshadow weeds. As it turns out, weeds also like warm weather and ample rainfall, which means we could see increased weed pressure early this summer when compared to last year.

We are still a ways off from needing to be concerned about above ground pests throughout most of the Midwest. The mild 2023 winter that most saw, combined with warmer spring temperatures, could bring about insect damage concerns on select crops later this summer.

If you’d like to have local “boots on the ground” oversight on your farmland, please reach out to Farmers National Company. We have the most accredited farm managers in the industry and have been in the landowner services business since 1929. To learn more about the farm management services we offer, visit our website today.