Iowa farmers made significant planting progress last week thanks to mostly dry weather conditions across the state.
According to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 10th.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said farmers were able to make strong planting progress, despite a few frosty mornings reported in parts of northern Iowa. Naig added that warmer temperatures and more seasonable rainfall are expected through the middle of May, which should allow planters to continue rolling across the state.
The report shows corn planting in Iowa has reached 72 percent complete, matching last year’s pace and running 9 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Corn emergence is now at 19 percent statewide.
Soybean planting has reached 60 percent complete, also matching last year while sitting 12 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. About 7 percent of the soybean crop has emerged.
Meanwhile, oat planting reached 94 percent complete, just slightly behind last year’s pace.
Moisture conditions across Iowa remain mostly favorable. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 68 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus, while subsoil moisture came in at 74 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.
The weekly crop progress report is released each week from April through November by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.