The United States Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has released its weekly crop progress and condition report for the week of May 2-8, 2022.

The week began with rain and colder than normal temperatures, but Iowa farmers found the end of the week fair enough to resume planting row crops wit h1.8 days suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus.  Subsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 19 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus.

Farmers made little progress last week, with just 14 percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop planted, at least two weeks behind both last year and the 5-year average.

Seven percent of the soybeans have been planted, 12 days behind last year and 11 days behind average.

Seventy-two percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 17 days behind last year and 11 days behind the 5-year average.  Thirty-two percent of the oat crop has emerged, 12 days behind last year and 8 days behind normal.