Statewide crop planting nearly complete

Very dry conditions and relatively warm weather meant Iowa farmers had 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 28, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers were still planting some corn and soybeans. However, farmers took advantage of the dry warm weather to cut a lot of hay. Other field activities included spraying pesticides on emerging crops.

“Warmer to near-seasonal temperatures were reported northwest to southeast with the statewide average temperature at 65.1 degrees, 2.1 degrees above normal,” State Climatologist Justin Glisan wrote in his weekly report. “Only 31 stations in Western Iowa reported rainfall with six stations registering just a trace amount. Rain totals were generally under a tenth of an inch.”

Statewide, topsoil moisture condition rated 10 percent very short, 40 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 10 percent very short, 36 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Planting is nearing completion, with 98 percent of Iowa’s corn crop planted, eight days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the 5-year average. Eighty-five percent of the corn crop has emerged, one week ahead of last year and the average. Iowa’s first corn condition rating of the year was 0 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 65 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.

Ninety-four percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop has been planted, just over a week ahead of last year and 15 days ahead of normal. Sixty-seven percent of soybeans have emerged, eight days ahead of last year and the average. Iowa’s first soybean condition rating of the year was 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.

Ninety-seven percent of the expected oat crop has emerged, six days ahead of normal. Twenty-one percent of the oat crop has headed, eight days ahead of last year and the average. Oat condition declined to 74 percent good to excellent.

Fifty-two percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, jumping from close to the 5-year average pace to nearly two weeks ahead. Hay condition fell 8 percentage points to 58 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition dropped to 50 percent good to excellent. No major livestock concerns other than precipitation needed to improve pasture conditions.