According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report, only scattered acres remain to be planted in Iowa. Farmers had 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 9, which included replanting lost corn and soybean acres and spraying. Corn planting is nearly finished at 89 percent complete, nine days behind last year but only two days behind the five-year average. Corn conditions remain solid at 73 percent good to excellent. Ninety-two percent of the soybean crop is planted, even with the five-year average. Soybean emergence reached seventy-five percent, nine days behind last year and a day behind normal. Soybean conditions were solid at 73 percent good to excellent. Topsoil moisture conditions remain excellent compared to recent years at five percent short to very short, 78 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is similar at 10 percent short to very short, 77 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “Summer heat is arriving just in time to give crops a good boost. Weather outlooks into the second half of June, when farmers are completing important field applications and baling hay, indicate warmer temperatures and better chances of showers and thunderstorms.” The full Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
