Widespread storms interrupt planting

Widespread storms delivering heavy rainfall interrupted planting activities and held Iowa farmers to 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending May 6, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Field Office, Iowa.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 7 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 5 percent very short, 11 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Saturated soil conditions have caused delays in fieldwork and planting activities in the northern two-thirds of the State, while recent rains have failed to eliminate the dry soil conditions in the southern one-third of the State.

Iowa growers have planted 40 percent of the expected corn crop, 3 days behind the 5-year average. Two percent of the crop has emerged, 5 days behind both last year and the average. Soybean growers have 11 percent of the expected crop in the ground, 2 days ahead of last year but equal to the average. Seventy-seven percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 9 days behind last year and 1 week behind average. Thirty-two percent of the crop has emerged, 11 days behind last year.