Reports are for crop conditions up to May 1, 2019
Western Maryland
Good weather for most of last week allowed for corn planting to start all across Frederick County. I suspect around 15-25% of the crop got planted in short order. There were also a few farmers who decided to plant full season soybeans. I think a lot of that decision was made by those who have two planters and are gun shy after 2018’s wet weather that pushed full season plantings into June. Barley across the county is headed out. Triticale and wheat are in the boot stage and with any luck the rain will hold off so they can be chopped before head emergence. Hay and pasture fields are seeing orchardgrass in the boot stage to early head emergence. No good dry hay making weather is in the forecast. –Matt Morris
Northern Maryland
I hope I don’t jinx it, but field conditions in the region, with the exception of a few low-lying fields, have been perfect for field work and planting over the last week to two weeks and a substantial amount of the 2019 corn crop has been planted. I’d estimate that 50% of the corn crop is already in the ground and most all will be finished within a couple of weeks. A few acres of soybeans have also been planted. Small grains are in fair to decent condition; the wet fall and winter caused a lot of uneven emergence and drowned out some fields. Disease and insect pressure in small grains is low. Barley has headed out and wheat is approaching the boot stage. Hay and pastures have greened up and are growing well. With any luck, the weather will hold out and we will have a decent first cutting. –Andy Kness
Upper & Mid Eastern Shore
Corn planting is in full swing with optimum soil conditions. Early planted corn is up and off to a good start. A few beans have been planted, with some emerged but growing slow. Small grains look good with low disease and insect pressure so far. Hay crops also look good and 1st cutting will begin with favorable drying/curing weather. –Jim Lewis
Lower Eastern Shore
The ground remains wet in most fields. Approximately half of cover crops have been terminated. The remaining cover crops are thriving with favorable spring conditions. Corn has been planted on a few fields with higher elevation; however, it is estimated that < 10% of the total corn acreage has been planted thus far, and no soybean acreage. –Sarah Hirsh
Southern Maryland
The weather is cooperating with farmers this spring. Most folks are finished or near finished with corn and are switching to full season beans. Ground conditions have been good for the last couple of weeks. Herbicide applications are working well this year, with frequent light rains occurring to incorporate herbicides. Some fields that were on the wetter side have been worked several times and might pose some problems if conditions dry out. Barley is headed. Wheat is at late boot to early heading. Farmers will be evaluating the need for a head scab fungicide in the next week. Insect and disease pressure has been light so far. We have observed some heavy aphid populations in a few fields. Hay and pasture fields are a mixed bag. Some hay looks really good this spring with first cutting already stated. Other fields, especially fall seeded orchard grass is very poor and requiring replanting. Tobacco is set to go in to the field starting next week. –Alan Leslie & Ben Beale
