Iowa — The USDA crop report says Iowa farmers were only able to get into the fields four of seven days last week due to wet conditions.
State climatologist Justin Glisan (Glisten) says the outlook for early June shows the run of wetter than normal days cold drop off.
The crop report shows about seven percent of the corn is left to be planted — which is almost two weeks behind last year and five days behind the five-year average. Eighty-four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, which is 12 days behind last year. Glisan says it’s not certain if the drier conditions will continue through the whole month of June.
May saw rainfall that was around two-and-a-half inches above the statewide normal, keeping the wet spring trend going.
Glisan says we are in the midst of a switch in weather patterns that may make for a warmer-than-normal summer.
The crop report says 81 percent of the corn that’s planted has emerged — which is six days behind last year. Corn condition rated 73 percent good to excellent. Sixty percent of the soybean crop has emerged, one week behind last year. The first soybean condition rating of the season showed 59 percent rated good, and 14 percent excellent.
Here in northwest Iowa 94 percent of corn is planted, with 82 percent emerged. Meanwhile, 82 percent of soybeans are planted, with 57 percent emerged. Only two percent of topsoil moisture is rated short or very short here, and four percent of subsoil moisture.
