A dry week across much of Iowa allowed planting to progress for the week ending May 8, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork, up nearly two full days from last week. Dry and sunny weather aided crop emergence, when compared to last week.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 2 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Topsoil moisture levels in west central Iowa rated 73 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 1 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. Levels in west central Iowa rated 79 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. The western third of Iowa reported 20 percent or more with surplus subsoil moisture.
Eighty percent of the corn crop has been planted (75 percent in WC Iowa), a day ahead of last year, and eight days ahead of the 5-year average. Farmers in north central and central Iowa have already planted over 90 percent of their corn crop. Twenty-eight percent of corn has emerged, two days ahead of last year, and five days ahead of the average.
Twenty-nine percent of the soybean acreage has been planted (16 percent in WC Iowa), five days ahead of normal. Planting of the state’s oat crop is nearing completion. Oats emerged reached 84 percent, 3 days ahead of the previous year and nine days ahead of the average. Oat condition was rated 74 percent good to excellent.
Hay condition rated 73 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 70 percent good to excellent an increase of 5 percentage points from the previous week. Livestock conditions were reported as good with very little stress.
Iowa preliminary weather summary by Harry Hillaker, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship: The past reporting week began with cooler than normal weather prevailing in most areas through mid-week. High temperatures on Sunday, May 1, were mostly in the 40s while 60s prevailed in most areas from Monday through Wednesday. Light freezes were recorded in scattered areas on the mornings of May 2, May 3, and May 5.
Warmer air arrived in northwestern Iowa on Thursday and statewide on Friday. Friday was easily the warmest day of the week with highs in the 80s over most of Iowa. Slightly cooler weather returned for the weekend.
Temperature extremes for the week ranged from Thursday morning lows of 30 degrees at Cresco and Elkader to Friday afternoon highs of 90 degrees at Guttenberg and Marion (the first 90 degree readings in the state this year).
Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged a bit warmer than usual over the west and a little below normal over the east with a statewide average of 0.6 degrees above normal.
Rain fell nearly statewide on Sunday afternoon and evening, May 1, with the greatest amounts falling over east central Iowa. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday were dry statewide. There were a few light showers and thunderstorms over extreme eastern Iowa on Tuesday night. Scattered light rain fell over much of northern Iowa late Friday night into Saturday. Light showers and thunderstorms were also scattered across the southwestern two-thirds of the state on Saturday night into Sunday morning, May 7-8.
