Iowa Corn Planting Reaches 97% Complete

Just three-percent of Iowa’s corn crop is left to be planted.

This week’s Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA says 97-percent of the corn in the state is in the ground, with corn emerging now reaching 92-percent – that’s four days ahead of last year, but two days behind normal. Corn condition is rated 85-percent good to excellent. 

Ninety-seven percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, with 88-percent emerging – that’s ten days ahead of last year and four days ahead of normal. Soybean condition is rated 80-percent good to excellent. 

Emergence of the oat crop is nearly complete, with 53-percent headed and 10-percent turning color. Oat condition is rated 84-percent good to excellent.

Seventy-seven percent of the state’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed and there were scattered reports of farmers starting the second cutting.  Hay condition is rated 82-percent good to excellent.  

Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says much of the state received some rain and cooler temperatures this past week. Naig says the crops could use some heat. Highs are forecasted to rise well into the 80s as we head through the rest of the week.