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 report is released weekly from April through October.

“Another wet, cool week slowed fieldwork across much of the state, but fortunately farmers remain ahead of average due to the great weather earlier this spring,” Northey said. “Dry weather and warmer temperatures forecast for the coming week will help crops already in the fields and allow farmers to continue with planting beans.”

Heavy Rain Slows Progres

Agricultural Summary: Iowa received another round of cool, wet conditions slowing corn emergence and delaying field work. While most corn acres are now planted, concerns of frost damage and flooding have producers watching plant development closely. Several days of dry, warm weather are needed to get the soybean crop planted and finish other spring field work. Below average frost penetration this winter gave weeds an early start as producers struggle to control them. Weekly rainfall and cool temperatures have kept pastures in mostly good to fair condition and stress on cattle relatively low. However, feedlot operators continue to battle muddy pens as cattle struggle to find dry ground to rest.

There were 1.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, compared with 4.1 days last week. Districts in the southern third of Iowa all had less than 0.5 days suitable for fieldwork, while districts in the northern two-thirds all had at least one day suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 32 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn acreage planted was 96 percent complete, increasing 3 percentage points from last week. Corn planting progress is one week ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn acreage emerged was 66 percent, well ahead of the 50 percent last year and the five-year average of 42 percent. Corn condition rated 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Soybean acreage planted was 53 percent complete, compared with 38 percent last year and 40 percent for the five-year average. Soybeans emerged reached 8 percent, 4 percentage points ahead of last year and 3 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Ninety-five percent of the expected oat acreage has emerged, ahead of last year’s 86 percent and the five-year average of 83 percent. Oat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 15 percent excellent. Producers have begun to harvest the first cutting of alfalfa early with 2 percent of the first crop now harvested.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. There have not been any unusual livestock conditions or concerns.

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