Wet weather slowed planting progress across Iowa last week, according to the latest Crop Progress and Condition Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Corn planting reached 1 percent complete for the week ending April 12, down one percentage point from the same time last year. No soybean planting was reported. Farmers had just 2.6 days suitable for fieldwork, compared to 5.9 days during the same period in 2025.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the wet pattern is expected to continue. He warned that multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in the coming days, urging residents to stay weather aware.
Despite delays in fieldwork, the rainfall has improved soil moisture conditions. Topsoil moisture was rated 70 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus statewide.
The statewide average rainfall for the week was 0.87 inch, slightly above normal, while average temperatures were 45 degrees, about 1.3 degrees below normal.
