Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.
“May 2024 will go into the history books as one of the top 10 wettest Mays on record, which helped to break our long-running drought. Unfortunately, it will also be remembered for producing destructive severe weather and frustrating planting delays,” said Secretary Naig. “As we head into the three warmest months of the year and the heart of the growing season, some farmers are still finishing up planting within parts of the state. Farmers are also turning cattle out to pasture and working to complete other field work, including baling hay and applying crop protection products.”
Scattered showers throughout the State allowed Iowa farmers 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 2, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Reports of standing water in fields were received from throughout the State. Planting and replanting of corn and soybeans were reported.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus.
Ninety-three percent of the expected corn crop has been planted, almost 2 weeks behind last year and 5 days behind the 5-year average. Corn emerged reached 81 percent, 6 days behind last year. Corn condition rated 73 percent good to excellent. Eighty-four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, 12 days behind last year but equal to the average. Sixty percent of the soybean crop has emerged, 1 week behind last year and 2 days behind the 5-year average. The first soybean condition rating of the season was 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Ninety-seven percent of the oat crop has emerged with 40 percent headed, 6 days ahead of last year and almost 2 weeks ahead of the average. Oat condition rated 82 percent good to excellent.
Forty percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, 6 days behind last year. Hay condition rated 79 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition improved to 75 percent good to excellent. Wet conditions affecting livestock are now a concern.
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
