George C. Ford, CR Gazette –
The persistent rain and thunderstorms that swept through the state last week hampered corn and soybean planting, but farmers still managed to make additional progress, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
There were 1.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, compared with 4.3 days the previous week.
Even with limited opportunities, farmers managed to advance corn planting 14 percentage points. Corn planting stands at 64 percent complete, ahead of last year’s 52 percent and the five-year average of 58 percent.
Northwest Iowa producers lead the way for corn planting with 76 percent complete. Twenty-three percent of the corn crop has emerged, 4 days ahead of normal.
Soybean planting was 7 percent complete, equal to last year but behind the five-year average of 11 percent. Southeast and Southwest Iowa are the most advanced with 14 percent of their soybeans planted.
Topsoil moisture levels increased to 3 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 29 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is now rated 6 percent very short, 13 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said farmers are looking for a few dry days to allow fields to dry out so they can finish planting corn and move onto soybeans.
Oat planting was nearly complete. Ninety percent of the expected oat acreage has emerged, ahead of last year’s 64 percent and the five-year average of 57 percent.
Oat condition improved to 0 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 15 percent excellent.
The USDA wil issue its monthly crop production report Thursday, which should provide better estimates of the size of this year’s corn and soybean crops.
