Cold temperatures in the western corn belt have slowed planting and emergence this week, but frost damage was minimal. DEKALB Asgrow Agronomist Jeff Spieler says with the early planting there were row crops that had emerged when temperatures plunged below freezing for several mornings. He says that caused some spotty damage, but for both corn and soybeans the susceptible growing point was not hit hard.

Planting has been ahead of normal in much of the western corn belt this spring and Spieler says that’s been true in all but northern South Dakota.

Spieler says even prevented plant acres are getting planted this spring which is a pleasant surprise.

The region had record prevented plant acreage in 2019 with nearly 4 million acres in South Dakota alone.