Farmers in a ‘Good Spot’ With Planting, Crop Emergence

By Cami Koons

More than half of corn and soybean acres are planted, which puts Iowa farmers more than a week ahead of last year’s pace, according to the crop progress and condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Thirty percent of corn and 16% of soybean acres have emerged as of Monday. 

Stu Swanson, president of Iowa Corn Growers Association, said despite weather delays last month, his fields, and those in his north central region are “sitting in a really good spot.”

“Farmers tend to be worriers,” Swanson said. “We worried that we weren’t going to get back in, and we appreciated the rain because now we’re looking dry and we’ll need a little shot of rain to get the rest of the soybeans to go.” 

Swanson said he was able to plant all of his corn between April 11 and April 15, then faced a 16-day delay due to the rain, which set soybean planting behind slightly. Swanson said he finished planting beans late last week. 

Statewide, 76% of corn acres and 64% of soybean acres have been planted. 

Swanson said cold rain in the middle of April caused some “spotty” corn emergence in some fields, which he said has led to some replanting in those areas.

Overall, the rain has meant adequate moisture in 70% of topsoil and 67% of subsoil. 

State Climatologist Justin Glisan said Iowa had “unseasonable warmth” with some regions of the state logging temperatures 10 degrees or more above normal. 

Warm temperatures and an average rainfall for the state of 0.05 inch, led to nearly seven days suitable for field work during the reporting period of May 5–11. 

According to the crop report, 6% of the state’s first cutting of alfalfa has been completed. More than 80% of hay and oats rated good or excellent.

The U.S. and China  announced Monday they agreed to a 90-day pause in trade-war tariffs, which Swanson said caused a bit of a “jump” in soybean prices. 

“That was great, but we’ll need an extended rally just to get them back to where we were earlier in the year,” Swanson said.

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