Weather conditions throughout the upper Midwest remain wet and cool as farmers are wanting to get back in the fields to plant corn and soybeans.  South Dakota State University extension agronomist, Sara Bauder says although farmers are anxious to start planting, they should wait until soil temperatures average 50 degrees or higher after a three-day period.

Bauder says for most of South Dakota and the region, temperatures remain on the cool side, and are not ideal planting conditions.

The SDSU agronomist says she hasn’t seen any corn or soybeans planted yet in South Dakota, only small grains such as oats, wheat, alfalfa, and barley.  She says ideally, corn needs a soil temperature of 50 degrees, and soybeans should be planted when soil temperatures reach 56 degrees.