After the bout of warm weather in February, many Midwestern farmers were hoping to get an early start to planting this year’s corn and soybean crops.
Unfortunately, cold temperatures, snow, and rain over the last month have kept many producers from being able to prepare their fields. Muddy conditions make it difficult to navigate fields, while rain can wash away expensive fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
Despite the annoyance of the delays, some producers are happy for the moisture. Recent rains have alleviated drought concerns in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Iowa.
However, if wet weather sticks around too long, farmers can get far behind schedule, which can trigger market fears about crop yield losses, sparking price rallies.