Iowa farmers made significant planting progress last week as drier weather gave them more time in the fields.
According to the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 10. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says farmers were able to keep planters moving thanks to drier conditions across the state.
Corn planting reached 72% complete, even with last year and 9 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Corn emergence reached 19%, which is even with the five-year average. Soybean planting reached 60%, matching last year and running 12 percentage points ahead of the five-year average.
Topsoil moisture was rated 68% adequate and 6% surplus, while subsoil moisture was rated 74% adequate and 5% surplus.
State Climatologist Justin Glisan says rainfall was sparse across most of Iowa, while temperatures averaged 54.1 degrees, 2.4 degrees below normal.
