Because planting and harvesting were delayed in areas across the country last year, farmers may have not gotten a chance to prepare their fields for the spring. A recent report from the University of Minnesota Extension said producers might have missed out on a chance to till or fertilize their fields.
This leads to residue being left on farm fields, which could mean it will take longer for soil to get warm. The extension said that some farmers could elect to plant more soybeans, as they are better able to handle large amounts of residue or fields that didn't get a chance to be tilled.
"If you will not be rotating to soybeans and need to warm up the soil, a light tillage pass like disking or vertical tillage should be used to incorporate the residue and introduce air into the soil," the extension said.
A recent report from the National Weather Service said that this year's spring precipitation could lead to flooding in parts of the Midwest. As a result, farmers may find themselves delayed again in getting to work with farm equipment.
