Farmers waiting for fields to dry before spring planting

The USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service released its Iowa Crops and Weather report Monday.

?Fertilizer application and installation of field tile were the primary fieldwork done last week as farmers continue to wait for soils to dry and temperatures to rise,? said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. ?Unfortunately, strong storms caused extensive damage in northwest Iowa and again highlighted Mother Nature?s power.?

Weather conditions were a little more exciting than most would like in western and northwest Iowa Saturday night, with numerous tornadoes causing damage. Hail also was reported in those areas of the state.

The week?s most common field activities were application of anhydrous and tiling.

There were 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the past week. Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.

Scattered corn fields have been planted, although many operators don?t expect to get serious about corn planting until the end of this week as additional time is needed to dry out and warm soils.

Oat acreage planted was 38 percent complete, behind last year?s 51 percent, but ahead of the five-year average of 23 percent. Two percent of the oat acreage has emerged, just one percentage point behind last year, but one percentage point ahead of normal.

Pasture and range condition rated 3 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 43 percent fair, 36 percent good and 5 percent excellent. In general, there has been very little stress on livestock, with good conditions for newborns, in fact, higher than normal births of twin calves were reported in more than one locale. Unfortunately, the tornadoes in northwest Iowa resulted in some livestock losses.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service releases a crop and weather report from April through October. It can be found on the websites www.iowaagriculture.gov and www.nass.usda.gov/ia.