Planting time across the Volunteer State

Thanks to a warm and dry spring, farmers across the state have been able to get an early start on the 2026 planting season. Many were in the fields putting seed in the ground in March and finishing up in April - quite unusual given the past few years of extremely wet springs.

"Over 20% of our crop being planted in March is very unheard of," said John Chester, Weakly County row crop farmer. "The calendar has made us timid, but we feel like when we do have a window to plant, we need to capitalize and that's what we've done."

Typically, in years past, some parts of the state will get to start early while others will be a bit farther behind. However, for the most part this year, early planting has been a consistent theme from west to east with farmers making the most of the current conditions.

"We have began our spring planting and are very involved in preparation for the complete spring season," said James Haskew, Marion County farmer. "We've already taken care of our wheat crop and will harvest that soon. Hay crops are already fully in process, so we're moving forward, but I'm just not sure there's a good way to say there will be profitability this year."

Josh Ogle from Lincoln County also got an early start which he's thankful for, but he agrees with Haskew and is sure to provide some realism when it comes to what this crop year could mean. Planting time is typically a hopeful time of year, but with so many farmers experiencing massive financial loss for consecutive years now, it's a little hard for folks to feel that same sense of optimism.

"All in all, we do have optimism," said Ogle. "But the realization also is that it's going to be a tough year. We're going to have to cut costs and be very wise in how we do things this year."

One of those wise decisions is managing input costs - a part of the balance sheet that has been at an all-time high for several years now. Unfortunately, the ongoing conflict in Iran is sending fuel and fertilizer costs through the roof, added even more stress to an already dire situation. While Todd Littleton of Gibson County has said for months now that it's something farmers simply cannot afford, he's also hopeful early planting might help - even if it is just a little.

"The way to combat some of the extra costs we're facing is by maybe getting some better yields," said Littleton. "Typically, the last four or five years, the earlier we've planted soybeans, the better our yields have been. So, we're hoping that maybe with the early start, we might get a few more bushels out of our production."

USDA is projecting a decrease in corn acres planted for most of the country, but for Tennessee, farmers are expected to increase from 930,000 acres to 1 million acres this year. Meanwhile, soybeans are expected to stay the same at 1.5 million acres. But no matter the projections or actual acres planted or even financial loss, farmers are pressing on - holding out hope for what's to come and planting regardless of what harvest season might bring.

"The farmer is always the greatest optimist, but the challenges facing agriculture today are far more than just optimism," said Haskew. "It's not just about making a crop - it's about whether you can make enough to sustain your operation, replace equipment and continue into the next year. I think there is a way to work through it, but it sure isn't going to be easy."

Chester adds, "We cannot pencil a profit, but our faith and our optimism and the industry we love so much is what propels us to a profit sometimes."