Iowa farmers concerned about weeds

Wet fields are preventing some Iowa farmers from getting into their fields to spray, raising concerns about weeds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Sunny and warm temperatures early in the week spurred growth and fieldwork progress in Iowa, however fieldwork slowed because of wet conditions during the latter part of the week that ended Sunday.

'The storms that rolled across the state last week limited the ability of farmers to get in fields to finish planting, spray weeds or make hay,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. 'Standing water has created some drowned-out spots that will need to be replanted if they dry out soon.”

Ninety-eight percent of the corn crop has emerged, six days behind last year, but four days ahead of the five-year average. Eighty-four percent of the corn crop was rated good to excellent.

Soybean planting reached 93 percent complete, two weeks behind 2014, but equal to the five-year average. Saturated soil conditions continued to delay planting, with only 72 percent of the crop in the ground in southwest Iowa and 75 percent of the crop planted in south central Iowa.

Soybean emergence reached 83 percent, two days behind normal. Soybean condition rated 80 percent good to excellent this week.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 4 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus.

The first cutting of alfalfa hay reached 66 percent complete last week. Hay conditions were rated 78 percent good to excellent.

At the Dyersville Sales hay auction on Wednesday, the top price of $135 per ton was paid for third crop of large square bales. New crop hay in big square bales sold from $40 to $72.50 per ton and new crop round bales sold from $47.50 to $75 per ton.