Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recently commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.
“Planting has been slowed by the rains but farmers have been able to get in 88 percent of the corn and 43 percent of the soybean acres. Although only a few days were fit to be in the field and the state saw cooler temperatures last week, we’ve been able to maintain progress above average,” Northey said.
Wet and cold conditions across much of Iowa slowed field work or even brought it to a standstill for the week ending Sunday, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were just 2.2 days suitable for fieldwork. There were some reports of frost in low-lying areas.
Similar to last week, the western third of Iowa reported the largest percentages of surplus and adequate subsoil moisture levels.
Eighty-eight percent of the corn crop has been planted, a day behind last year, but four days ahead of the five-year average. Farmers in north central and central Iowa are close to completion with 97 percent or more of the corn crop planted. Fifty-one percent of corn has emerged, five days ahead of the average. Forty-three percent of the soybean acreage has been planted, two days ahead of normal. There were scattered reports of soybeans emerged.
Pasture condition rated 71 percent good to excellent; benefitting from the added moisture during the week.
Livestock conditions were reported as mostly normal although feedlots were muddy.