Northwest Iowa — Monday’s crop report from the United States Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service says 92% of the state’s corn acreage has been planted. Here in northwest Iowa, we’re slightly above that level at 95%. The report says this year’s corn planting is 3-days behind last year, but 2-days ahead of the 5-year average.
Soybean planting has reached 62% complete, 2-days behind last year, but 1-day ahead of average.
Iowa State University Agronomist Paul Kassel, who is based in Spencer, monitors 10 counties here in northwest Iowa.
Farmers had only two days suitable for field work during the past week, according to the USDA report. Kassel says standing water in some fields is causing problems for farmers.
Corn planted after mid-May often yields less and Kassel said cool temperatures are impeding corn plants already in the ground. The USDA report shows planting progress is slowest in south-central Iowa, where 78-percent of the corn and 42-percent of soybeans were in the ground as of Sunday. Northwest and central Iowa are at the top end of the spectrum, with 95% of corn, and 68% of soybeans planted through this past weekend.
