Iowa Corn Planting Reaches 91% Complete

Iowa farmers made significant progress in the field last week thanks to the continued warm weather.

The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA says 91-percent of the corn crop has been planted – that’s twelve days ahead of last year and four days ahead of normal. Fifty-eight percent of the corn has emerged – that’s five days ahead of last year and three days ahead of normal. 

Eighty-four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted – that’s two weeks ahead of last year and a week ahead of average. Soybeans emerging has reached 42-percent – eight days ahead of last year and six days ahead of normal.

There were scattered reports of replanting as early planted crops in some areas had struggled to emerge with the dry conditions.

Eighty-six percent of the State’s oat crop has emerged. Oats headed has reached 15 percent, with oat condition rated mostly good at 71 percent good.

Twenty-three percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, with hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent.

Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says this week’s forecast calls for cooler temperatures and several chances of rain showers, which may cause farmers to pause field work for a few days. Naig notes that we do need the moisture across the state, so the widespread rainfall will give the recently planted corn and soybeans a good boost.