With frustration levels running pretty high, some producers have quit planting corn and are looking at other options after this week.  Others are watching corn prices and have the intention of continuing on at least through next week.  This year has been tough going for all and continued wet weather and cool temps have delayed other crops, but I still think we have time to plant corn on our better ground. 

The April 29 crop progress report had TN at about 50% planted of intended acres which means our acreage is likely going to be down this year.  After last year, fear of another droughty summer has pushed us to try to plant earlier and panic when we cannot.  The difference between this year and last year is we are loaded with soil moisture going into May.  In 2011, just two years ago, we planted about 40% of our crop by end of April but the rest in May and into early June and ended up with a state average yield of 131 bushels/acre.  I cannot predict what our weather is going to be like this summer but I do know that it is already much different than last year.  We are all squeamish about planting in May, but I would still like to see corn go onto good dryland bottom fields or under irrigation until about May 10.  With irrigation we can push slightly later on planting dates and still yield well.