Farmers playing catch up as land dries up
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Iowa farmers finally got the dryer weather they were looking for with 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the week ending June 9, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
This is the first time this season farmers had more than 5.0 days suitable for field work. This allowed farmers to plant corn and soybeans, cut hay, and spray fields with nitrogen.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 26 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 33 percent surplus.
Ninety-three percent of the expected corn crop has been planted, over two weeks behind last year and almost 3 weeks behind the 5-year average. Seventy-three percent of the crop has emerged, over two weeks behind last year and average. Corn condition rated 58 percent good to excellent. Nearly one-third of the expected soybean crop was planted this past week. Iowa soybean growers now have 70 percent of the expected crop planted, 17 days behind last year and average.
Thirty-five percent of the crop has emerged, over two weeks behind last year and average.
Nearly all of the oats crop has emerged with 18 percent of the crop headed, 1 week behind last year and 8 days behind average. Oat condition rated 63 good to excellent.
Nearly one-third of the state’s first cutting of alfalfa hay was cut this past week. However, at 35 percent complete statewide, the first cutting is behind last year by 10 days and 8 days behind average. Hay condition improved to 63 percent good to excellent.
Pasture condition rated 66 percent good to excellent, also an improvement.
There was little stress on livestock this past week, but feedlots remain muddy.
