Soil moisture improves with rainfall

Iowa farmers are planting oats and preparing fields for corn and soybeans as recent rainfall has improved soil moisture conditions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday said 29 percent of Iowa's oat crop has been planted, 10 percent ahead of last year but 22 percent behind average. Farmers in east central and south central Iowa have over 50 percent of their oat acreage planted.

Statewide there were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork in the week that ended on Sunday. Activities for the week included applying fertilizer and anhydrous, tiling, terrace construction, and spring tillage.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 6 percent very short, 25 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 17 percent very short, 38 percent short, 43 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

There were scattered reports of corn being planted, mostly in southern Iowa. Producers have been waiting for sustained warmer temperatures before planting their crop.

Pasture condition was rated 13 percent very poor, 26 percent poor, 43 percent fair and 18 percent good. Most pastures were still slow to emerge, but rains late in the week helped return some green to the area.

Calving conditions were reported as good.

Mostly dry weather with highly variable temperatures was the rule until Saturday evening when showers and thunderstorms moved into Iowa. Windy and warm weather prevailed Saturday with highs in the mid 60s northeast to mid 80s southwest.

Harlan, Clarinda and Des Moines were the hot spots with 86 degree on Saturday afternoon.

A cold front slowly advanced across the state Saturday evening through Sunday bringing rain and much cooler weather to Iowa.

The Saturday evening storms brought reports of high winds and/or large hail from 32 counties. However, moderate to heavy rain fell across the southeast two-thirds of Iowa after 7 a.m. Sunday.