Posted 21 May, 2025
Little or no precipitation and warm temperatures allowed Iowa farmers 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 18, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Corn and soybean planting made rapid progress. There were scattered reports of replanting as early planted crops in some areas had struggled to emerge with the dry conditions.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 8 percent very short, 37 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent very short, 34 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.
Corn planted reached 91 percent complete, 12 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Fifty-eight percent of corn had emerged, 5 days ahead of last year’s pace and 3 days ahead of normal. Eighty-four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted just over 2 weeks ahead of last year and 1 week ahead the 5-year average. Soybeans emerged reached 42 percent, 8 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Eighty-six percent of the State’s oat crop has emerged. Oats headed reached 15 percent. Oat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 71 percent good and 15 percent excellent.
Twenty-three percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent.