According to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), only a few scattered acres are yet to be planted this spring. Producers had an average of 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 5, which included replanting efforts, cutting hay, and applying chemicals where wind permitted. An estimated 98 percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop is planted, 11 days behind last year and three days ahead of the five-year average. Just shy of 90 percent of the crop has emerged, six days behind last year and one day behind the five-year average, with conditions rated 86 percent good to excellent. Ninety-four percent of soybeans are in the ground, five days behind last year but six days ahead of the average. Sixty-nine percent of the crop has emerged, with the first condition rating of the year showing 82 percent of soybeans in good to excellent condition. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, says, “Strong to severe thunderstorms on Memorial Day left scattered reports of hail and straight-line wind damage to some emerging crops in western Iowa. Looking ahead, rain chances remain in the forecast along with cooler than normal temperatures.” The full report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
