Technology helps farmers speed through planting

By Mark Weinraub

CHICAGO (Reuters) - New technologies such as global positioning systems are providing a glimmer of hope for U.S. farmers seeking to get their corn planted by the end of the month after this year's severe delays due to soggy field conditions, farmers said.

Large corn planters and computer systems on tractors allow for faster seeding and let farmers spend more hours in the field.

"It used to be when it got dark, you could not see where the rows were supposed to go," said Daryl Haack, a farmer in northwest Iowa. "With the monitors we have today, they are guys that will plant 24 hours a day if the ground is fit."

The changes in technology allowed farmers to plant much faster than they did even five to 10 years ago, said Haack, who seeded 435 acres of corn in about five days this year.

Rainy weather throughout the spring has caused many farmers to fall far behind their ideal planting schedule for corn, which typically must be seeded by the middle of May. Farmers who plant corn too late in the season risk severe yield loss if scorching summer temperatures arrive when the crop is still in a vulnerable stage.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said earlier in the week that 27 percent of corn acres had been planted as of May 4, well below the five-year average for early May of 59 percent. A year ago, corn planting was 47 percent complete.

SIZE KEY TO SPEEDING UP PLANTING PACE

Increased equipment size has been a key to speeding up the pace of planting. Many farmers now use planters that can seed up to 24 rows of corn at a time.