Dave DeWitte, CR Gazette –
Planting of the corn crop surged ahead last week until rains set in, reaching 50 percent completion across Iowa, the USDA reported.
The USDA’s weekly crop report said corn planting advanced 41 percentage points from 9 percent complete at the beginning of the week. It is now well ahead of the five-year average of 32 percent at this time of year.
Farmers had 4.3 days suitable for field work during the week compared with 1.8 days the previous week.
Statewide rainfall was 0.83 inch or just a little less than the weekly normal of 0.95 inch.
The rainfall improved topsoil and subsoil moisture levels, which are important to crop development.
Topsoil moisture levels are now 76 percent adequate, and subsoil moisture levels are 65 percent adequate.
Five percent of the corn crop had emerged by the end of last week, 10 days ahead of normal.
Soybean planting was 3 percent complete, and oat planting was 98 percent complete.
The report said pasture conditions across Iowa are 20 percent excellent, 47 percent good, 28 percent fair, 4 percent poor and 1 percent very p
