April 11 – 17, 2022
DES MOINES, Iowa (April 18, 2022) – 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.
“Iowa saw a mix of winter and spring weather last week. While severe storms swept through parts of the state leaving behind isolated damage, rain and Easter snowfall provided additional subsoil moisture,” said Secretary Naig. “Soil temperatures are still hovering in the upper 30s and low 40s, but outlooks point to warmer temperatures for the week ahead.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
Snow, high winds, and continued cold conditions limited Iowa farmers to 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 17, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers have been applying anhydrous and fertilizer, spreading manure, tilling fields, and planting oats where possible while preparing to plant row crops.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 22 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 11 percent very short, 33 percent short, 54 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.
Twenty-nine percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 8 days behind last year and 3 days behind the 5-year average. Oats are beginning to emerge across the State.
Pastures were still mostly dormant although there were reports of some starting to turn green. Livestock conditions were generally good, with many new calves arriving. |
