Farmers in Northwest Iowa are making steady progress on spring planting despite persistent wet weather slowing fieldwork. According to the latest USDA Crop Progress & Condition report, the area saw just 3.2 suitable days for fieldwork last week, as periodic rains kept fields muddy and delayed operations.
Corn planting in Northwest Iowa has reached 50% completion, well ahead of the statewide average of 34%. Soybean planting is also moving along, with 29% of the expected crop already in the ground.
Sioux Center itself saw less than half an inch of rainfall last week, significantly lower than other parts of the state, where some areas recorded over five inches of rain. Despite the relatively drier conditions, farmers are still facing challenges with cool temperatures, which have slowed crop emergence.
Soil moisture conditions in Northwest Iowa remain mostly adequate, with 72% of topsoil moisture rated as adequate and 3% rated as surplus. Subsoil moisture levels are also stable, with 63% adequate and 2% surplus, ensuring crops have enough moisture to support early growth.
Livestock producers are beginning to turn cow-calf pairs out to pasture as grass continues to green up. No major livestock issues have been reported, though wet conditions and muddy feedlots have made feedlot management more difficult.
Muscatine reported the week’s high temperature of 81 degrees on the 24th,16 degrees above average. Spencer Municipal Airport reported the week’s low temperature of 30 degrees on the 26th, nine degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the low 50s north to upper 50s south as of Sunday.
Looking ahead, farmers in Northwest Iowa remain optimistic as planting progresses ahead of schedule. With warmer temperatures expected in the coming weeks, crop emergence should improve, and fieldwork will likely pick up pace.
The data and accompanying graph are supplied by the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service; the full story and complete information can be found here.
