TAMA NEWS-HERALD – DES MOINES (SPECIAL) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service

“The warm, dry weather last week was very welcome as it allowed drying to take place and fieldwork to start,” Northey said. “However, more good weather is needed as soils remain very cool and damp following the long, wet winter.”

Agricultural Summary: Dry weather last week allowed water levels to subside in rivers and the warm, windy conditions helped the ground firm up, though it remains wet in areas. Primary activities included finishing 2009 corn harvest and preparing for the upcoming planting season. With nice spring weather, farmers have also been able to apply fertilizer, disk corn stalks, and level fields chisel plowed last fall. Even with last week’s warmer than average temperatures, the soil in some areas still needs more dry days before wide-spread planting can begin