Dry conditions through the weekend enabled farmers to virtually wrap up corn planting, with 90 percent of the state’s corn in through Sunday, compared with an average of 79 percent for this date.
Fifty-five percent of Iowa’s corn crop has emerged, 6 days ahead of normal. Iowa annually leads the nation in corn production.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its weekly report that 39 percent of the state’s soybeans are now in.
Nationally, 87 percent of the corn crop is planted, ahead of the 68 percent five-year average.
For Iowa, the planting represents a strong come-from-behind effort. As of two weeks ago, less than 10 percent of the corn was planted as Iowa endured above-average rainfall of 1.5 inches, versus the normal .90 inches for April.
State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said that last week saw precipitation of .43 inches, while normal for the week is 1.01 inches.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said: “The warm, dry weather last week allowed fields to dry out and farmers took advantage. Many have now completed corn planting and are moving on to soybeans.”
As usual, heavy localized rains have forced some farmers to replant.
“I had to replant about 200 acres of corn after we got three inches of rain,” Decatur County farmer Mark Mendenhall said.
Recent rains have made 91 percent of Iowa’s topsoil and subsoil adequate or better for moisture, compared with 98 percent last year. Iowa endured exceptionally dry fall and early winter conditions this year before April rains relieved much of the concern.
Beyond the improvement in soil moisture, the early plantings have given encouragement that this year’s crop will be large. Farmers like earlier-planted corn to enable pollination to happen before the worst heat of late July and early August, and also to dodge any early frost in September.
On the Chicago Board of Trade Monday, old crop July corn was up 2 cents per bushel to $5.83 and the new crop November contract rose one-quarter cent per bushel to $5.05. The November contract has dropped almost $1 per bushel in the last six weeks on expectations of a bumper crop and a return to normal surplus stocks.