Winter is staking its early claim in many parts of the country, and for fall strip-tillers, it’s been a race to get strips built before snow permanently blankets their fields.

All spring we've been discussing deficiencies on corn plants and trying to determine if they are to blame on the weather or something else.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service's Conservation Stewardship Program will provide about $175 million in funding for up to 12.6 million additional acres enrollment this year. Although applications are accepted all year, farmers, ranchers and forestland owners interested in CSP should submit applications by June 14 to their local NRCS office to ensure they are considered for this year's funding. The deadline was extended from May 31.

The latest NOAA drought outlook predicts that dry weather is expected to persist and even expand in parts of the central U.S., while some improvement is expected further east in the Corn Belt.