Weather hindered corn planting last week

Cool weather and persistent wet conditions hindered Iowa farmers preparing their fields or planting corn last week.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported less than a day suitable for fieldwork as a very slow moving storm system brought a prolonged period of rain to Iowa.

The statewide average precipitation was 1.64 inches, while normal for the week is 0.98 inches. It marked the third consecutive week with above normal precipitation.

Average temperatures were below normal for the week. The rain changed to snow over portions of north central Iowa on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, bringing about two inches of accumulation to parts of Mitchell, Howard, Floyd and Chickasaw counties.

Planting progress managed to advance, but not by much.

Twenty-three percent of the expected corn acreage was planted - nine days ahead of last year, but 10 days behind normal. Corn has started to emerge.

Oat seeding was 73 percent complete, 9 percent ahead of last year but 16 percent behind average. Thirty-eight percent of the oat acreage had emerged, ahead of last year's 21 percent, but 23 percent behind the five-year average.

There were scattered reports of soybeans being planted.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 10 percent very short, 32 percent short, 54 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.

Northwest Iowa remained the driest with more than one-third of topsoil reported as very short or short of moisture.

Pasture condition was rated 7 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 31 percent good and 4 percent excellent. Livestock have been moved onto pastures in parts of southern Iowa where more growth has been observed.

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