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.
“Planters continue to be parked across much of the state. Widespread wet conditions last week have delayed planting progress and it’s certainly weighing on the minds of farmers,” said Secretary Naig. “We need sunshine and light breeze to get back into the field. Although chances of thunderstorms remain in the forecast, conditions are trending warmer and quieter mid to late week. Once the conditions are right, farmers will get back to planting.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Rain across Iowa early in the week held farmers to just 1.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 12, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Iowa farmers reported planting corn, soybeans, and applying pesticides late in the week.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 17 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.
Fifty-seven percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, 1 week behind last year and 5 days behind the 5-year average. Twenty-six percent of the corn crop has emerged. Iowa’s farmers have planted 39 percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop, 1 week behind last year and 4 days behind the normal. Thirteen percent of the soybean crop has emerged. Ninety-eight percent of the expected oat crop has been planted while emergence reached 81 percent, 2 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the 5-year average. There were reports of oats headed in isolated areas of the State.
Hay condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. There were a few reports of producers beginning their first cutting of hay. Pasture condition rated 67 percent good to excellent. Cattle feedlots were muddy due to rain received over the past four-week period.