Farmers fell behind on planting corn in April due to the unfavorable weather, shortening the window for applications of products such as fertilizer and herbicides.

Demand for these products was compressed into a tighter timetable after Midwest weather improved dramatically in May, leading to a rush of orders that distributors could not quickly fulfill across the entire Farm Belt, according to farmers and dealers.

In Minnesota, a major producer of corn and soybeans, the Twin Cities saw the second-warmest May on record, according to National Weather Service data, which came after the state endured the snowiest-ever April, when 26.1 inches fell.

In Wolcott, Indiana, farmer Trent Hall was planning to finish spraying a Syngenta AG herbicide called Halex GT on 350 acres of corn last month, after previously applying it across 700 acres. But his local chemical dealer told him supplies ran out, after late plantings concentrated U.S. demand and the Memorial Day holiday created unexpected logistics issues, Hall said.

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