A good week to plant

Drier and warmer conditions last week allowed many farmers an opportunity to make planting progress, which led to a jump in both corn and soybeans acres planted.

According to the latest crop progress and condition report by the USDA, mostly dry weather and warmer temperatures meant Iowa farmers had 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 7. Topsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent very short, 27 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 8 percent very short, 33 percent short, 56 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Forty-one percent of Iowa's expected corn crop was planted last week, resulting in 70 percent planted, 12 days ahead of last year and one week ahead of the five-year average. Six percent of the corn crop has emerged, six days ahead of last year but a day behind average.

One-third of Iowa's expected soybean crop was planted by the end of last week, for a total of 49 percent planted, 11 days ahead of last year and just over a week ahead of the average. Ninety-six percent of the expected oat crop had been planted as well, just over two weeks ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of normal. Oat emergence, at 61 percent, moved from being behind normal a week ago to nine days ahead of last year and four days ahead of the five-year average.

The first hay condition rating of the season was 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 52 percent good and 10 percent excellent. Pasture condition rated 43 percent good to excellent. Some cattlemen were still waiting for pastures to put on more growth before turning out their cattle.