Iowa Ag Connection - Reprieve from Rain Dries Out Iowa Farm Fields

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Reprieve from Rain Dries Out Iowa Farm Fields
Iowa Ag Connection - 04/25/2017

Rain slowed planting progress early in the week ending Sunday, but drier and warmer weather over the weekend allowed producers to plant corn and oats according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Other fieldwork activities included fertilizer and anhydrous applications, tillage, and burning down cover crops.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus.

Eight percent of the corn acreage has been planted, 9 days behind last year and 3 days behind the 5-year average. Sixty-nine percent of the State's oat crop has been planted, over one week behind last year but just one day behind average. Oats emerged reached 26 percent. South central Iowa is the only area with less than half the oat crop planted.

Pasture condition improved to 74 percent good to excellent with pastures described as green and growing. Livestock conditions remain good and feedlots are improving.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.

"Fields started to dry as the week progress and more widespread corn planting started to get underway. We now have 8 percent of corn and 69 percent of oats planted in the state, both of which are slightly behind the five-year average. A run of dry weather would be very welcome at this point as farmers are anxious to get in the fields, but it looks like rain could return later this week," Northey said.

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