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Iowa corn planting off to a slow start

Corn planting in Iowa is off to a slow start because of wet field conditions across much of the state.

The weekly crop progress report says two percent of corn was planted as of Sunday, three days behind the five-year average for mid-April.

Forty-two percent of the oat crop has been planted, four days behind average, with ten percent emerged.

“Farmers have gotten some planting done when the weather allow, with two percent of the corn and 42 percent of oats now planted, but progress on both remain behind the five-year average,” says Iowa ag secretary Bill Northey. “It looks like wet weather could return this week which would further delay significant planting progress.”

Topsoil moisture rated 25 percent surplus and 74 percent adequate, while subsoil levels rated 20 percent surplus and 76 percent adequate. Southeast Iowa continues to have the lowest subsoil moisture levels with 30 percent rated short to very short.