The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service has released its weekly crop progress and condition report for  the week of April 25 – May 1, 2022.

Despite rain an cold conditions, Iowa farmers made progress planting corn and soybeans with 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 1st.  Fieldwork activities also included tillage, applying anhydrous and nitrogen, planting oats, and limited spraying.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 13 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus.  Subsoil moisture condition  rated 8 percent very short, 22 percent short, 63 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.

Despite continued cool soil temperatures, 9 percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, 11 days behind last year and 9 days behind the 5-year average.  farmers in the western one-third of Iowa had at least 3.7 days suitable for fieldwork and made more planting progress than those in the rest of the state.

Four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, 9 days behind the previous year and 5 days behind the average.

Sixty-three percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, almost two weeks behind last year and 1 week behind the 5-year average.  Eighteen percent of the oat crop has emerged, 10 days behind last year and 6 days behind the average.