Planters Starting to Roll Across the State

Planters are starting to roll across the state. 

In this week’s Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says the warmer temperatures and drier weather over the past week allowed for a good start to the planting season. 

Dry conditions helped Iowa farmers as the number of days suitable for fieldwork increased to 5.9 for the week ending April 13th. Fieldwork included tillage, seeding oats, and applying anhydrous, manure and dry fertilizer. There were also reports of corn and soybeans being planted.

Topsoil moisture condition was rated mostly adequate at 68-percent. Subsoil moisture condition was rated mostly adequate at 59 percent adequate.

Oats seeding reached 47 percent complete, 3 days behind last year but 3 days ahead of the 5-year average. Six percent of the expected oat acreage has emerged, 5 days behind last year but equal to the average.

Secretary Naig notes that the weather outlooks for the rest of April are showing better chances for rain and a more active weather pattern.