Some farmers were able to get the planters rolling last week. The U.S.D.A.’s weekly crop report shows farmers used some warmer weather to get into the fields and 7 percent of the corn crop is now planted.
The report says the planting is 4 days ahead of normal compared to last year — but right at what the state has seen in the 5-year average.
Nearly one-third of the State’s expected oat crop was planted during the week, third highest percentage seeded for the 3rd week of April in 20 years. Seventy-four percent of the oat crop has been planted, over 2 weeks ahead of last year, and one week ahead of the average. Some areas are seeing faster planting of corn than others.
The U.S.D.A. crop report says north-central and west-central Iowa have the highest soil moisture reserves, with ninety-to-one-hundred-percent adequate to surplus moisture.