Winter wheat planting well ahead of last year (Iowa)

For the week ending Oct. 7, there were 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Field Office, Iowa. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 13 short, 69 adequate, and 16 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 3 percent very short, 14 short, 75 adequate, and 8 surplus.

Winter wheat planted was 58 percent, well ahead of 26 last year, and ahead of 49 for the five-year average. Emerged was 33 percent, ahead of 14 last year and 25 average.

Corn mature was 95 percent, ahead of 87 last year, and near 91 average. Harvested was 59 percent, ahead of 45 last year and 52 average.

Soybean condition rated 3 percent very poor, 7 poor, 31 fair, 47 good, and 12 excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 80 percent, behind 86 last year, but near 76 average. Harvested was 14 percent, behind 21 last year and 19 average.

Sorghum condition rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 23 fair, 54 good, and 16 excellent. Sorghum mature was 70 percent, ahead of 58 last year and 63 average. Harvested was 16 percent, ahead of 9 last year, but near 18 average.

Cotton condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 25 fair, 60 good, and 14 excellent. Cotton bolls opening was 73 percent, ahead of 57 last year and 58 average. Harvested was 1 percent, near 5 last year and 3 average.

Sunflowers harvested was 12 percent, ahead of 4 last year and 7 average.