Iowa’s Corn Planting 78% Complete

Farmers have been able to make a little more progress with spring planting this past week.

According to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA on Monday, there were about four days suitable for fieldwork last week. Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig says in pockets around the state, some farmers were able to resume or even finish planting as fields dried out from warmer and windier conditions. Some farmers have been replanting due to drowned-out areas in fields.

Seventy-eight percent of the state’s corn crop has been planted – that’s eight days behind last year and four days behind the five-year average. Forty-seven percent of the corn crop has emerged – two days behind last year, but equal to normal. 

Sixty-one percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop has been planted – a week behind last year and two days behind the normal. Nearly one-quarter of the soybean crop has emerged – three days behind last year but equal to the average. 

Ninety-one percent of the expected oat crop has emerged – five days ahead of normal. Seventeen percent of the oat crop has headed – six days ahead of last year and almost two weeks ahead of the average. Oat condition remained 76 percent good to excellent.

And ten percent of the state’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition improved to 72 percent good to excellent.