All eyes on USDA; Early planting roundup

Friday's massive annual acreage report and a lot of talk about early corn planting have dwarfed all other stories in ag this week. See the hot stories & forum topics from this week.

Estimates are a mixed bag heading into Friday's USDA Prospective Plantings report. Will corn acreage be closer to 94 million or 96 million? What's your best guess?

• - Talk: Acreage guesses
• - More: Report to impact new vs. old crop

So, will Friday's numbers affect your planting decisions? Some farmers say more soybeans look likely this year, but in a recent Agriculture.com poll, the voting's dead even between corn and soybean expansion this year. What do you think?

• - Talk: Switching to beans?
• - Acreage estimates pile up

Mother Nature continued to do her best to support early corn planting this week in most areas of the Corn Belt. But, soil temperatures dipped slightly Thursday, with some sliding below the critical 50-degree mark. So, is it time to plant?

• - Read more
  
• - Who's 'slingin' mud?'
  

But, what about a late frost? With all the talk of early planting, there's also a lot of hesitation because of the dangers of a late frost. But, despite outlooks earlier this week that said the frost risk was high for the next week, forecasters backed off that outlook, saying Thursday frost chances are lower than earlier thought.

• - 'Fire & ice' weather 

What if there's no late frost this spring? Obviously the corn crop's whole development timeframe will be moved up, but pollination could be aided by the conditions earlier on in the summer.

•  - What if there's no late frost?
• - Read more: Early planting & yield prospects

Fill in the blank: "If there is no late frost, this year's early start to spring will make my crop _________________." Some farmers say water needs will trump all, while weed and pest control are also concerns, farmers say. What's your biggest worry?

• - Fill in the blank: Early spring & a normal crop year 

You may be ready to plant corn, but is your planter? Brush up on a few tips to get your planter as ready as you are!

• - Slideshow: 11 planter prep tips
  

If you plant corn now, you may be setting yourself up for some increased pest pressure later on in the growing season. And, the unseasonably warm weather isn't just enjoyable for you. The weeds that made it through the winter could strike your fields with a vengeance later in the year.

• - Planting early? Watch those weeds
  

Weeds aren't the only thing that could exert more pressure on your early-planted corn. A few common insect pests could be more harmful to this year's crop than normal. See which ones might be worst in your area.

• - Read more: Early planting & pest dangers
• - Also: Managing soil diseases