Farm: John grows corn and soybeans and raises 10,000 hogs on his farm south of Keota. He and his wife of 41 years, Deanna, have two daughters and one son.
John Heisdorffer, ASA director from southeast Iowa has had a busy week. After finishing anhydrous early in the week, he is now spreading manure and hoping for rain and warmer temperatures. John is thinking he’ll start planting in about ten days if ground temperatures increase.

John Heisdorffer:
In southeast Iowa, we are having a dry spring. I’ve hauled livestock nutrients for many years, and this year’s dry weather has produced some of the best conditions for nutrient application, a sustainable practice. At the same time, we do need some rain and warmer weather. Cold temperatures are a big challenge for us now because even though we probably have enough moisture in the ground to plant, the ground is way too cold for anything to germinate.
Despite the dry spell we are experiencing, I want our international soy customers to know that it’s typically August rains that make the beans. We had a good August last year, and will hope for another good summer this year.
Photo caption: (Photo attached) Ready to Work! This spring has brought ideal conditions for nutrient application at John Heisdorffer's Keota, Iowa, farm. Heisdorffer has applied anhydrous and nutrients this week as he waits for Mother Nature to cooperate so he can start planting.