News

Iowa expected to be dry for start of planting

It’s going to be a dry start to planting for Iowa.

The USDA says the second half of March did bring precipitation and cooler temperatures to much of the state, but more than 90% of Iowa ranges from abnormally dry to extreme drought, with some counties enacting burn bans and water use restrictions.

While livestock conditions are called “decent” with calving and lambing ongoing, there were more reports of stress due to weather variability and mud in parts of the state.

Farmers are applying fertilizer and manure, with some tilling fields, and there have been more reports of oat sowing, but grain movement has been slow due to low prices.

The USDA’s weekly crop progress and condition reports resume next Monday.