Cool, wet weather slows crop planting

Despite cold, wet weather that delayed or even halted fieldwork, Iowa farmers were able to make considerable progress planting corn and soybeans in the week that ended Sunday.

Statewide, there were just more than two days suitable for fieldwork, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were some reports of frost in low-lying areas.

Eighty-eight percent of the Iowa's corn acreage has been planted, a day behind last year, but four days ahead of the five-year average. Farmers in north central Iowa are close to completion with 97 percent or more of their corn crop in the ground.

Fifty-one percent of the corn crop has emerged, five days ahead of the average.

Forty-three percent of the soybean crop has been planted, two days ahead of normal. There were scattered reports of soybeans having emerged.

Ninety-four percent of the oat crop has emerged, six days ahead of 2015 and nine days ahead of the five-year average. Oat condition was rated 78 percent good to excellent.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus.

The western third of Iowa reported the largest percentages of surplus and adequate subsoil moisture levels, continuing a trend that began the previous week.

Hay condition was rated 73 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition was rated 71 percent good to excellent, benefiting from the added moisture during the week.

Livestock conditions were reported as mostly normal, although feedlots were muddy.

A light freeze was reported over parts of northwest Iowa on Saturday morning with a 30 degree temperature at Sheldon. Freezing weather was more widespread on Sunday morning, especially across the northeast where Cresco, Decorah and Elkader all reported 27 degree lows.