Iowa farmers make slight planting progress
Iowa farmers make little planting progress last week; Soybeans just 60 percent planted
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa farmers endured another wet week largely keeping them out of the fields.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday's crop update that 92 percent of Iowa's corn is now planted. Usually planting is all but completed by now. Eighty-six percent is rated in fair, good, or excellent shape while 14 percent is poor or very poor.
Just 60 percent of the soybean crop is planted much lower than the normal 95 percent and 39 percent has emerged while average is 83 percent.
Planting and emergence for soybeans are the latest since 1993.
State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says temperatures were below normal every day last week at all locations in the state. The statewide average rainfall was 1.1 inches slightly under average of 1.2 inches.
