The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its weekly Crop Progress & Condition report today, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS).
The two organizations found one-point-three days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 15. Farmers in the southern two-thirds of the state managed to get minimal fieldwork done. Activities ranged from applying fertilizer to seeded oats. A few isolated reports of tillage were also recorded.
Twelve-percent of the expected Iowa oat crop has been planted thus far. Oat planting came in nine days behind last year and 10 days behind the five-year average. East central and southwest Iowa lead the state in oat planting, having planted one-quarter of the state?s oat crop. Northwest and north central Iowa have yet to start planting oats.
The Iowa USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Office reports topsoil moisture levels rated one-percent very short, seven-percent short, 70% adequate and 22% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated three-percent very short, 12% short, 74% adequate and 11% surplus. Heavy snow and rain left northern Iowa with surplus soil moisture.
Iowa livestock producers also encountered challenges due to recent snowfall and below normal temperatures. Winter weather has stalled spring pasture growth and created difficulties during calving season.
