| DES MOINES, Iowa (May 15, 2023) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today 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.
“We had unseasonably warm and wet conditions last week across most of the state as several rounds of severe weather brought measurable rain, hail, high winds and reports of 11 weak tornadoes,” said Secretary Naig. “Farmers should have a window of opportunity in the coming week to make more planting progress, as forecasts indicate drier conditions and more seasonal temperatures.” The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov. Crop Report Warm, but wet, weather meant Iowa farmers had just 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 14, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. The warmth helped crop emergence this week; however, the wet conditions marginally slowed planting progress. Farmers were still planting corn, soybeans, and oats during the dry periods of the week. Other reports of interest were concerns for isolated flooding and for a swath of large hail across the central portion of the State. Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 14 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent very short, 23 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Eighty-six percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, 8 days ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of the 5-year average. Thirty-five percent of the corn crop has emerged, 6 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of the average. One-fifth of Iowa’s expected soybean crop was planted during the week ending May 14, 2023, for a total of 69 percent planted, just over a week ahead of both last year and the average. Nineteen percent of soybeans have emerged, 9 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Nearly all the oat crop has been planted with 83 percent emerged, 9 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the average. The first oat condition rating of the season was 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 64 percent good and 13 percent excellent. Hay condition improved to 72 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition jumped to 53 percent good to excellent. Reports of livestock turned out to pasture and grazing were received.
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