Third of Iowa’s Corn Crop Planted

Nearly a third of Iowa’s corn crop has been planted.

This week’s Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA says twenty-nine percent of the state’s crop is in the ground – that’s eleven days ahead of last year and just a day behind the five-year average. 

Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig says the cooler and drier conditions have allowed many farmers an opportunity to get back into the fields. And the weather is forecasted to warm up this week, which should help pick up the planting pace. 

However, the colder weather hasn’t done any favors for crops emerging from the ground just yet. 

Sixteen-percent of soybeans have been planted – that’s eleven days ahead of last year and one day ahead of the average. Eighty-five percent of the expected oat crop has been planted – that’s two weeks ahead of last year and six days ahead of normal. Twenty-nine percent of the oat crop has emerged – one week ahead of last year and one day ahead of the average.