Oat crops ahead of schedule after cold week

DES MOINES — Cool and relatively dry weather offered farmers 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 30, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

While planting progress continues at a decent pace, the colder than normal temperatures and dry weather have not done any favors for crop emergence. State level moisture supplies are still tightening up with the lack of precipitation.

“A quieter weather pattern tamped down on widespread precipitation events in Iowa through the reporting period, though a late-week disturbance produced scattered showers and thunderstorms,” said State Climatologist Justin Glisan in his weekly weather summary. “All of Iowa’s stations measured below-average totals with departures of an inch or more over much of the state. Cooler conditions also prevailed with temperatures ranging from four to 10 degrees below normal.”

Topsoil moisture condition rated 5 percent very short, 24 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 8 percent very short, 31 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Corn, soybean, and oat planting continued this week.

Twenty-nine percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, 11 days ahead of last year but one day behind the 5-year average. Sixteen percent of soybeans have been planted, 11 days ahead of last year and one day ahead of the average. Eighty-five percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, two weeks ahead of last year and six days ahead of normal. Twenty-nine percent of the oat crop has emerged, one week ahead of last year and one day ahead of the average.

Some reports of cattle being let out to pasture were received again this week, although pasture regrowth is slow with the current weather pattern. Overall, livestock conditions continue to be good.