Wet fields delay remaining planting

Wet conditions continued to slow the final planting of corn and soybeans as well as other field activities throughout much of Iowa during the week that ended Sunday.

Wet fields in southwest and south-central Iowa continued to prevent farmers from finishing planting, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service.

'The wet weather continues to limit the ability of farmers to get in the field, be it finish planting, spray weeds, side-dress fertilizer or make hay,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said in a news release. 'Generally, crops remain in good condition, but do need some dry weather and warm temperatures to help them continue to mature.”

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 3 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus.

South-central Iowa had the highest topsoil moisture level with 100 percent rated adequate to surplus.

Eighty-three percent of the state's corn crop was rated good to excellent.

Soybean planting reached 95 percent complete, 19 days behind 2014, and four days behind the five-year average. Farmers in southwest and south-central Iowa have been able to plant less than 80 percent of their expected soybean acreage due to continued saturated soil conditions. Soybean emergence reached 90 percent, slightly behind normal. Soybean condition was rated 80 percent good to excellent.

The first cutting of alfalfa hay reached 77 percent complete. Hay conditions were rated 76 percent good to excellent.

At the Fort Atkinson Hay Market on Wednesday, almost all new crop hay still was sweating after baling or had been baled before it was fit. Most will have to be fed very quickly instead of being stored.