Iowa farmers make planting progress

Iowa farmers made the most of just over two and a half days suitable for field work in the week that ended on Sunday.

Ninety-two percent of the corn crop has been planted, six days ahead last year, and five days ahead of the five-year average, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. Southwest Iowa is still lagging behind with just 75 percent planted, compared with northwest Iowa, where 98 percent of the corn was in the ground.

Corn reached 63 percent emerged, just over a week ahead of last year and five days ahead of normal.

Soybean planting reached 51 percent complete, three days ahead of last year, and two days

ahead of the five-year average. Only 17 percent of the projected soybean crop has been planted in southwest Iowa, with south central Iowa the next lowest at 40 percent complete.

With nearly 100 percent of Iowa's oat crop planted, oats emerged reached 92 percent, eight days ahead of last year, and five days ahead of normal. Oat condition ratings improved slightly with 81 percent rated good to excellent.

Limited progress has been made on the first cutting of alfalfa hay due to the cool, wet weather. Hay condition was rated 80 percent good to excellent and pasture condition also improved to 70 percent good to excellent.

Topsoil moisture increased slightly to 4 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels also increased to 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus.

North central at 100 percent and southwest Iowa at 99 percent reported the highest topsoil levels rated adequate to surplus. Southwest Iowa reported the highest subsoil moisture level at 99 percent rated adequate to surplus.