The 2014 planting season is under way, according to the calendar, but that is about it.

In reality very little spring planting has been completed. A few producers took advantage of the good weather last month to plant oats, field corn, sweet corn and alfalfa.

However, for the most part, planting season has yet to start. Spring tillage, lime, fertilizer and manure spreading have been on hold until fields dry out.

Although it might seem late and concerns about crop yields persist, it very well could be a normal growing year.

It is just that we are getting a late start. If it were a month from now and still no progress, then that would be an issue.

Producers are capable of planting an entire corn crop in just a few days. The days of two-row or even four-row planters are gone. Many local producers plant six, eight or 12 rows at a time. A few producers operate even larger planters. The larger planters combined with a support system (seed/fertilizer fill-ups) can mean a lot of acres planted in a short amount of time.

It is all relative to a grower’s acreage. A 1,500 acre farmer may plant with a 12 or 16-row while a 50 acre producer will be using a 4-row planter. Each farmer will plant their corn quickly.

As always, producers are reminded to report planted acres to the Farm Service Agency.

Aerial photos can be mailed out if wanting to complete them at home. Each field is to be marked with the number of acres, crop planted and date planted. FSA currently has 2013 aerial digital imagery that is in color.

Once the report is returned to the office and entered in the computer system, a paper report is generated which requires the producer’s signature.

It normally takes only about 20 minutes to complete an acreage report for a farm.

Important reporting deadlines are:

• June 15: Spring seeded oats, barley, triticale, rye and new seeded hay

• July 15: Corn, soybeans, sweet corn, fruits and vegetables, and CRP/CREP acreage.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.