Dave DeWitte, CR Gazette –
Iowa farmers are almost done with their 2012 corn planting after a week of nearly trouble-free weather.
The USDA’s weekly crop report said 98 percent of the corn planting was complete as of Sunday, even though a few farmers have had to replant cornfields damaged by late April showers. Eighty-one percent of the crop had emerged, one week ahead of normal.
The condition of the corn crop was rated 60 percent good, 21 percent excellent, 16 percent fair, 2 percent poor and 1 percent very poor.
Soybean planting was 85 percent complete as of Sunday after advancing 46 percentage points statewide during the week. Twenty-six percent of the soybean acreage has emerged, according to the weekly crop report.
The USDA said farmers had 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the past week. Temperatures for the week averaged 6.5 degrees above normal.
(PHOTOS: Submitted by Steve Waechter. With corn and soybean planting nearing completetion some corn and soybeans planted earlier are already up. These field were located between Hampton and Sheffield.
This corn has already reached the 5th leaf stage. If predictions hold true and the weather cooperates these plants will be part of the largest corn crop on record.
These soybeans are just getting a good start. It won’t be long and you will be able to see the rows from the road.)
