We started the week with some warmer temperatures on Sunday followed by some very spotty rainfall and hail later in the day and into the evening hours. The old adage that if it rains on Easter Sunday you will receive rain for Seven Sundays is holding true for the most part. It seemed as though there were spotty scattered showers throughout the area all week with rain amounts varying from .01 to 1” or more.
Air temperatures ranged from 41°F to 87°F with temperatures moderating as the week progressed. Wednesday and Thursday were on the breezy side that helped dry the soil out which allowed a few planters to get back into the field later in the week.
Soil Temperatures fluctuated from 46°F to 86°F at the 2” depth and 49°F to 75°F at the 4” depth with soil temperatures at the 8” depth ranging 51°F to 64°F.
| Depth | Soil Temperature | Average |
| 2″ | 46°F-86°F | 66°F |
| 4″ | 49°F-75°F | 62°F |
| 8″ | 51°F-64°F | 57.5°F |
Soil temperatures at the 20” depth were in the mid 50°F’s and at the 40” depth were in the upper 40°F. (Soil temperature information is both Central Valley and University of Minnesota SROC in Waseca data.)
Corn plant development ranges from germination on corn planted later in the week to almost V2 (2 leaf corn) on some corn planted in mid-April. We accumulated 83.5 Growing Degree Units (GDU’s) during the week which is 25.5 GDU’s more than the 30 year average.
| Planting Date | GDU’S | Plant Stage | Growth Stage | Plant Height |
| 15-Apr | 196 | Collar on First and Second leaf | V1-V2 | 1.5-2″ |
| 23-Apr | 148 | First collar on emerged leaf | V1 | 1-1.5″ |
| 30-Apr | 114 | Emergence | VE | .0-1″ |
| 08-May | 16.5 | Germination |
For the time frame of May 1-9 we have collected 105.5 GDU’s which is 34.5 GDU’s more than the 30 year average.
| 2015 GDU/Week | 30 Year GDU Average/Week | Difference/Week | |
| May 3-9 | 83.50 | 58 | 25.50 |
| May 1-9 | 105.5 | 71.00 | 34.50 |
In breaking the data down further we have amassed 3.64 GDU more per day in 2015 than the 30 year average for the week.
| Dates | 2015 GDU/Day | 30 Year GDU Average/Day | Difference/Day |
| May 3-9 | 11.93 | 8.29 | 3.64 |
| May 1-9 | 15.07 | 10.14 | 4.93 |
The corn pictured below and on the left is just starting to emerge from the soil surface and is from an April 30th planting date. The picture below and on the right is corn that is at the V1 stage or collar on the first leaf and was planted April 15th.
Soybean plant development is from germination to emergence. The soybeans pictured on the left are just starting the germination process and were planted on or around May 3. The soybeans below and on the right at the VE or emergence stage and were planted April 28-29.
| Planting Date | Plant Stage | Growth Stage | Plant Height |
| 28-Apr | Germination to Emergence | VE | .5″ |
| 03-May | Germination |
Planting Progress- Corn planting progress was at the 90-95% range by Saturday May 9 with Soybean planting progress between 70-80% complete. Soybean planting percentage is greater to the West with some growers finished and as you moved to the east some growers just starting to get beans in the ground.
