Iowa — Severe weather last week limited farmers in northwest Iowa and statewide to just 2.3 days suitable for fieldwork.
According to the USDA Crop Progress Report, corn and soybean planting and the cutting of hay was limited.
Corn planting reached 88 percent statewide with 66 percent emerged. 89 percent of northwest Iowa corn has been planted with 65 percent emerged. The first corn condition rating of the season shows 73 percent are considered good to excellent.
The report says 73 percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop has been planted, which is ten days behind last year and three days behind the five-year average. 67 percent of soybeans in northwest Iowa have been planted. Soybeans emerged statewide reached 42 percent, which is five days behind last year. 38 percent of northwest Iowa soybeans have emerged.
Only two percent of northwest Iowa topsoil is short of moisture, with 60 percent adequate and 38 percent surplus. Only four percent of subsoil in northwest Iowa is short of moisture, with 72 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus.
(Courtesy fellow Community First Broadcasting station KAYL in Storm Lake)
