Corn, soybean planting nears completion

Iowa corn and soybean farmers are wrapping up planting of this year's crops, having made significant progress in the week that ended on Sunday,

Warm weather and favorable moisture conditions accelerated crop and pasture growth, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. With almost all of Iowa's corn acreage planted, 89 percent of the crop has emerged, 19 percentage points ahead of last year but equal to the five year average.

Corn condition was rated zero percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 65 percent good, and 17 percent excellent.

Soybean planting progress reached 94 percent complete, almost three weeks ahead of last year and over two weeks ahead of normal. Sixty-three percent of the soybean crop has emerged, which is 42 percent above last year and 4 percent above average.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 6 percent very short, 25 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.

For the first time this year, southeast Iowa had the driest topsoil with 10 percent in very short condition, while northwest Iowa continued to have the driest subsoil with 21 percent in very short condition.

With most of the oat acreage emerged, 12 percent of the oat crop was headed - ahead of last year's 3 percent but behind average by 3 percentage points. Oat condition was rated zero percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 53 percent good and 10 percent excellent.

The first cutting of alfalfa hay was 22 percent complete, 19 percent ahead of last year but 12 percent less than average. Hay condition was rated zero percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 52 percent good and 17 percent excellent.

Pasture condition improved to 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 48 percent good and 14 percent excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as above average.