DES MOINES – Iowa farmers made strong progress in the fields last week, even as severe storms brought hail, damaging winds and a tornado threat to parts of the state, according to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report.
The report, covering May 11-17, 2026, shows Iowa’s corn and soybean planting seasons are moving ahead of the five-year average, a positive sign for the state’s ag economy as farmers try to capitalize on timely fieldwork windows and favorable moisture.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said his thoughts were with Iowans who experienced storm damage from hail, high winds and tornadoes over the weekend. He said the rainfall was still beneficial for many farmers, giving recently planted corn and soybeans a needed boost.
“Forecasts for the remainder of the week call for a return to milder and drier conditions, which should allow farmers to resume fieldwork,” Naig said.
Farmers had 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 17, allowing them to continue planting at a strong pace.
Corn planting reached 88 percent complete, one percentage point behind last year but six percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Forty-six percent of Iowa’s corn crop had emerged, eight points behind last year but three points ahead of the five-year average.
Soybean planting also remained ahead of the typical pace. Eighty percent of expected soybeans had been planted, one point behind last year but 12 points ahead of the five-year average. Soybean emergence reached 28 percent, 10 points behind last year but three points ahead of the five-year average.
Oats were nearly fully planted, with 97 percent of the crop in the ground and 87 percent emerged.
Pastures were also in solid shape, with 73 percent rated good to excellent. That is welcome news for livestock producers watching forage conditions as spring weather swings from dry spells to damaging storms.
Moisture conditions were mostly favorable across Iowa. Topsoil moisture was rated 64 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus, while 26 percent was short and 5 percent was very short. Subsoil moisture was rated 69 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus, while 23 percent was short and 4 percent was very short.
The weather summary from State Climatologist Justin Glisan said Iowa saw a significant shift in the weather pattern late in the reporting period, with several rounds of severe thunderstorms producing large hail, high winds and a weak tornado. Rainfall was above normal in parts of southern and northeastern Iowa.
Temperatures stayed warmer than normal across the state. Iowa’s average temperature for the week was 63.8 degrees, which was 4.6 degrees above normal.
Friday brought one of the week’s most severe weather outbreaks, with damaging hail reported in northwestern Iowa. Some hail was larger than two inches, including reports from Anthon in Woodbury County and areas of Hancock County, including Kanawha and Meservey. Severe straight-line winds were also reported in southwest and northeast Iowa.
More severe weather hit Saturday, especially in southwest Iowa, where 2.75-inch hail was reported in Red Oak and a weak tornado was reported near Gravity.
Rainfall totals varied widely, from 0.10 inch at the Sioux City Air National Guard Base to 6.08 inches in Westfield in Plymouth County. The statewide average precipitation was 0.96 inch, slightly below the normal of 1.10 inches.
The week also brought sharp temperature swings. Sioux City Airport reached 95 degrees on May 15, 23 degrees above normal, while Spencer Municipal Airport dropped to 26 degrees on May 11, 20 degrees below normal.
For Iowa’s agriculture economy, the update reflects both opportunity and risk. Planting progress remains strong, and rain helped many newly planted fields. But storms caused damage in some areas, and farmers continue to face the usual spring uncertainty of weather, field conditions and crop emergence.
The latest report suggests many Iowa farmers are still well-positioned heading into late May, especially if drier and milder weather gives them time to finish planting, assess storm damage and resume fieldwork.
Source note: Story based on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report for May 11-17, 2026, from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.