Iowa corn planting delayed by weather

With only two days suitable for field work, the planting of corn and soybeans slowed sharply in the week that ended Sunday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service said 17 percent of the corn crop was planted during the past week, bringing the total so far to 57 percent.

Planting progress remained a day ahead of last year and eight days ahead of the five-year average. Farmers in north central and central Iowa already have planted more than 75 percent of their corn acreage.

'The rain last week certainly slowed planting progress,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said in a news release. 'It will take a few days for many parts of the state to dry back out. With warmer temperatures and dryer weather forecast, many farmers will be hoping to be back planting by the end of the week.”

Last week's cool and wet weather also slowed crop emergence. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 3.8 degrees below normal, according to Harry Hillaker, state climatologist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship.

Many reports to the National Agricultural Statistics Service indicated tile lines have been running steady.

Seven percent of Iowa's soybean acreage has been planted, five days ahead of normal. Ninety-six percent of the state's oat crop has been planted, two days ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of normal.

The first hay condition rating of the season was 1 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Pasture condition was rated 65 percent good to excellent, while some reports indicated low-lying pastures were saturated due to flooding.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus.