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Iowa farmers could face another planting delay

Field work and corn planting have finally begun across much of Iowa, but another cold and wet weather system may put the brakes on that progress.

Rain is expected to move across the state later this week with highs only in the 40’s on Thursday and Friday. But Iowa State University Extension Agronomist Paul Kassel says there’s still plenty of time to get corn planted and still see bumper yields.

“We can still use that old May 10^th date as a date to be done by,” Kassel says. “There’s even evidence that northwest and north-central Iowa can go even later than that and still achieve maximum yields.”

Kassel advises patience. 

“Planting when it’s too wet—we know that can cause problems later on,” Kassel says. “A little patience is well advised every spring, but maybe more so this spring.”

Radio Iowa contributed to this story.