Early plantings survive overnight freezing temps
Author
Published
5/1/2023
Summerlike temperatures in the 80s blanketed much of Iowa in early April, leading to some initial corn and soybean planting, but cooler and wetter than expected conditions in the weeks that followed had some farmers second-guessing that jump-start.
Local field agronomists, however, are saying there’s little need to worry, as a few nights of subfreezing temperatures have done little to damage the seeds or emerging plants thus far across Iowa.
Warming temperatures again the past few weeks means “all systems go” for most farmers across the state.
“We did have some early planting done in my nine-county territory, but not a large amount,” said Leah Ten Napel, Iowa State University field agronomist based in Le Mars in northwest Iowa. “The field...
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