Planters rolled across Iowa fields last week, as the ground finally dried out enough for corn planting to really get underway. Farmers planted over a third of the state’s expected 2020 corn acres during the week ending April 26, according to USDA’s weekly survey. The survey shows a total of 39% of Iowa’s corn acres were planted as of April 26, compared to only 2% planted as of April 19. What a difference a week makes when the planters can cover the ground.

The five-year average for Iowa is 20% planted by April 26. A year ago, only 16% was planted by that date. “A year ago, it was extremely wet, one of the wettest spring’s we ever had,” says Bob Probst, a Clay County farmer. “Everyone was running hard last week. This is the mellowest soil we’ve had in years.” Corn planting in his area of the state, northwest Iowa, was 56% planted last week.

Although most of Iowa received spotty rains, there were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork on average statewide.

Planting progress for corn in other Iowa areas as of April 26 was north central at 54%, northeast at 28%, west central at 44%, central at 45%, east central at 14%, southwest at 24%, south central at 32% and southeast at 32%.

Soybeans ahead of game

Soybean planting got underway with 9% of Iowa’s expected 2020 crop planted. That’s 10 days ahead of last year and one week ahead of average. Only 20% of Iowa’s expected oat crop remained to be planted as of April 26, and just 22% of the oat crop is emerged. West-central Iowa is setting the pace with 16% of its soybeans planted.

Pasture conditions last week in Iowa rated 1% very poor, 7% poor, 28% fair, 54% good and 10% excellent. Cattle have been moved onto pastures already in some areas. Warmer and drier conditions improved livestock conditions.

Topsoil moisture in the state last week rated 1% very short, 5% short, 85% adequate and 9% surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 0% very short, 2% short, 87% adequate and 11% surplus.

Nationally, the corn planting pace is slightly ahead of the five-year pace. USDA’s latest report as of April 26 says U.S. farmers had 27% of the corn crop in the ground. Among individual states, Minnesota had 40% planted and Illinois had 37%. The five-year average for Illinois is 31%. The complete weekly Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report is available on the USDA’s site at nass.usda.gov/ia.

Weather report

The Iowa report is prepared with the help of the Iowa Department of Agriculture. In addition to crop progress and conditions, it has a weather summary for Iowa each week, prepared by Justin Glisan, state climatologist at the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship.

Weekly precipitation totals for the week ending April 26 ranged from no accumulation at stations in north-central Iowa to 2.2 inches in Story City (Story County), Glisan says. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.31 inch, while the normal is 0.93 inch.

The week’s high temperature of 81 degrees was reported at numerous stations on April 22, on average 19 degrees above normal. Estherville Municipal Airport (Emmet County) reported the week’s low temperature of 23 degrees on April 21, which was 14 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the low to