Slow progress continues to be the theme for Iowa corn and soybean farmers as cool and damp conditions hinder their efforts to get their crops in the ground. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report for the week ending May 1, only nine percent of the state’s expected corn crop has been planted, 11 days behind last year and nine days behind the five-year average. Just four percent of the soybean crop is in the ground, nine days behind the 2021 planting season and five days behind the average. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, says, “Despite another cold, wet week that slowed fieldwork, planting has begun in some areas of the state. Looking ahead, short-term temperature outlooks suggest a shift toward much needed warmer weather, but, unfortunately, with a wetter storm track.” Producers were limited to just 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork, including tillage, fertilizer application, oat planting, and some limited spraying. Dry conditions continued to improve, with only 16 percent of topsoil moisture levels falling into the short or very short categories and only 20 percent of subsoil ratings receiving the same rating. The full report is available online at nass.usda.gov.
