Crop planting update: Wet weather disrupts spring planting

Wet weather hindered spring planting during the week that ended Sunday, allowing weeds to get ahead of the sprayers as farmers were unable to get into the fields.

Eighty-three percent of the corn crop has been planted, about a week ahead of last year and 5-year average. Southwest Iowa lagged behind, with just 64 percent planted, compared with the highest district, northwest Iowa, where 96 percent of the corn was in the ground.

Last week's slowdown was in sharp contract to the previous week when an average of 54 percent of the corn crop was planted. That was the most planted during that week in more than 20 years.

Corn emerged reached 29 percent last week, just over a week ahead of last year. Corn emergence was described as excellent with reports of high stand counts in some areas.

Thirty percent of the soybean crop had been planted as of Sunday, five days ahead of 2014, and three days ahead of the five-year average.

Ninety-eight percent of the oat crop has been seeded, 10 days ahead of last year, and a week ahead of normal. Oats emerged reached 83 percent, nine days ahead of last year, and five days ahead of normal.

The season's first oat condition ratings were 21 percent fair, 68 percent good, and 11 percent excellent.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated to 7 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.

Limited progress has been made on the first cutting of alfalfa hay due to the cool wet weather. The first hay condition rating of the season was 1 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 18 percent excellent.

At the Fort Atkinson Hay Market on Wednesday, the top price of $175 per ton was paid for two loads of third crop big square bales.