Nearly a third of Iowa’s corn has been planted – Iowa Capital Dispatch

Corn planting in Iowa is roughly on schedule this yr and is 11 days forward of final yr, when planting was considerably delayed by rain in a lot of the state.

An estimated 29% of the state’s corn crop had been planted as of Sunday, in response to the U.S. Division of Agriculture. That’s sooner or later behind the five-year common.

About 16% of the state’s soybean crop was planted, which was sooner or later forward of the common.

“Whereas planting progress continues at an honest tempo, the colder than regular temperatures and dry climate haven’t executed any favors for crop emergence,” the USDA mentioned in its weekly progress report. “State stage moisture provides are nonetheless tightening up with the dearth of precipitation.”

Soil temperatures ranged from about 44 levels within the northeast to 54 levels within the southwest on Sunday, in response to Iowa State College information. Corn typically germinates greatest when soil temperatures surpass 50 levels.

About 71% of the state’s topsoil has sufficient or surplus moisture, the USDA estimates. That’s down from 78% per week in the past.

Total drought circumstances have held comparatively regular prior to now two months, in response to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The driest locations are nonetheless predominantly in northwest Iowa, the place there stays a pocket of outstanding drought — the worst classification — in Monona and Woodbury counties south of Sioux Metropolis.

Practically two-thirds of the state is abnormally dry, and a few third is affected by a point of drought.