According to the USDA’s most recent Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report, despite weekly rainfall levels hitting their highest mark in nearly one year, corn and soybean production marched forward, only slightly trailing five-year averages for both crops.
The report indicates Iowa farmers have planted 84% of this year’s corn crop to date, outpacing last year’s 63% at this time, but still lagging behind five-year norms (88%). While the wet weather only allowed for three suitable days of fieldwork, Iowa soybean growers increased planting to 40%, up from just 20% last week. The five-year average for soybean acreage planted to date is 50%.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, recently commented on the USDA’s Iowa Crops and Weather report, saying “Farmers continue to make planting progress as the weather allows, with 84 percent of the corn and 40 percent of the soybeans in the ground. Planting progress remains behind the five-year average for both corn and beans, so farmers remain anxious to take advantage of every opportunity to get in the field.”
Across the 18 states that produce the vast majority of the United States’ corn crop, 73% of acreage had been planted, up from 65% a week ago. National soybean acreage jumped to 33% planted, an increase from last week’s 21%.
The rest of this week’s forecast in Iowa looks promising for corn and soybean planters, with temperatures in the 70s and 80s with a chance of showers coming at the end of the week.