Iowa farmers had three days that were suitable for fieldwork last week. With temperatures tumbling into the 20 degrees F in parts of the state late in the week, many farmers are now waiting for warmer weather before planting any more of their corn and soybean crop.

As of April 30, according to USDA’s weekly statewide survey, 28% of Iowa’s expected corn acreage had been planted. That’s a week behind last year’s pace, but only two days behind the five-year average.

“Farmers have been able to make significant planting progress between rain showers this spring, and now 28% of the anticipated corn acres have been planted,” notes Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. “Heavy rain statewide this past weekend will keep farmers out of the fields for several days or more. There is also concern about the effect of the cold, wet weather on recently planted crop acres. Hopefully, we will get a run of warm, dry weather so fields can dry and farmers can get the crop planted.”

With wet weather and unseasonably cool conditions on May 1, northern Iowa farmer April Hemmes finds herself waiting to continue corn planting. Hemmes isn’t worried, however. She notes how modern farm equipment provides farmers with more flexibility. “Sometimes weather conditions make it so we have to get a crop in the ground quickly,” she says. “Especially when you are up north where I farm, the planting window does seem to get shorter and shorter. But new technology makes it an easier decision to wait for better conditions to plant.”

Hemmes adds, “I only have about 230 corn acres left to plant. For me, that takes about two and a half days. So, considering how much faster we can plant nowadays, I realize I can wait until the ground warms up.”

The complete weekly crop and weather report is available at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and at USDA. The report summary follows.

Summary of crop report
Rain, snow and below-normal temperatures prevented planting across most of Iowa late in the week that ended April 30. The weekly survey by USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service shows statewide there were only three days suitable for fieldwork. Temperatures dropped into the 20s in parts of Iowa. Many farmers are waiting for warmer weather before planting corn and soybeans. For corn that’s already planted, some concerns about crop emergence are being reported.

Topsoil moisture rates zero percent very short, zero percent short, 63% adequate and 37% surplus. Subsoil moisture rates zero percent very short, 1% short, 71% adequate and 28% surplus. East-central and south-central Iowa have the highest subsoil moisture levels with 40% or more rated surplus.

Corn only 2 days behind average
Statewide, 28% of Iowa’s expected 2017 corn acreage has been planted. This is over a week behind last year, but only two days behind the five-year average. Southeast Iowa farmers have planted over half their corn acreage, while farmers in northern third of Iowa have planted less than one-fifth of their corn acres.

Only 2% of Iowa’s expected soybean acreage has been planted, two days behind average. Iowa’s oat crop is 82% planted, moving one day ahead of average for the first time this year. Oats emerged reached 45%, one day behind average. Pasture condition rated 2% very poor, 2% poor, 20% fair, 61% good and 15% excellent. Pastures are green, but growth slowed with recent cool temperatures. There are no reported livestock issues for cows and calves in pastures, but mud problems are reported with outside feedlots.

Weather summary for Iowa
Harry Hillaker, state climatologist for IDALS, says the reporting week began with warm and dry weather with high temperatures mostly in the 70s on April 23-24. Rain fell statewide April 25 while daytime highs reached only the mid-40s in northwest Iowa to 80 degrees at Davenport and Burlington. Remainder of the week was wet and unseasonably cold; daytime highs mostly in the 40s. A hard freeze occurred over the north one-third of the state the morning of April 28, with temperatures as low as 22 degrees at Spencer and Mason City.

Rain fell across the east one-half of Iowa April 26 and the eastern quarter of the state on April 27, with some snow mixed in across the northeast. April 28 brought rain to the southeast three-fourths of Iowa, with amounts approaching an inch over parts of the southwest. Rain fell over all but extreme northeast Iowa on April 29, with rain amounts nearing 2 inches in extreme southeast. Rain continued statewide April 30 with greatest amounts over the northwest.

Temperatures 6.7 degrees below normal
Rain totals for the week ending 7 a.m. April 30 varied from 0.09 inch at New Hampton to 3.14 inches at Montrose in Lee County. Statewide average rain amount was 0.95 inch, nearly identical to the weekly normal of 0.96 inch. Heaviest rains fell April 30 and will be included in next week’s summary. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 6.7 degrees below normal. Soil temperatures as of April 30 were averaging in the 40s statewide.