With more rain falling upon the Raccoon Valley Radio listening area, farmers are still kept from attending their fields as they wish.

Iowa State University Field Agronomist Mike Witt says that many farmers were just getting ready to head into the fields when it began raining off and on over the last few weeks. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that while farmers may be getting antsy and impatient about not being able to work, there are a few things they should remember.

“The most important thing I would say, and the very first thing is make sure you have decent field conditions. We are wanting to push the envelope and we are wanting to get out there and get things planted. But even if we wait another day to make sure our fields are good to go, that will save us in the long run. Because then we won’t run into issues such as sidewall compaction. We also won’t run into some crusting and some other things that could occur if we pack that soil down out there and plant when it’s too wet.”

Witt mentions that the sidewall compaction, crusting and soil compaction are some issues that haven’t been prominent in the last few years, mainly due to the severe drought conditions. He adds that once farmers are able to get into the fields and get them planted, the next step would be herbicide control.