Farmers are facing various challenges as they start the 2022 planting season from planting delays to drought.  Pioneer Field Agronomist Jon Olsen says rain and another winter storm this week will delay the start to the planting season as soil temperatures are below the 50-degree minimum for corn planting.

Olsen says while this week will bring some needed moisture, soils are dry in many areas.  As a result, many farmers are looking at backing off their planting populations which he says may not be a good idea depending on the hybrid.

He says the dry topsoil may also require producers to look at planting deeper to hit moisture for uniform emergence.

Olsen recommends farmers stick with their planting plans and not try to outguess the weather.