Iowa Farmers ‘Ramping Up’ Corn and Soybean Planting Activity

Corn and soybean planting progress is officially underway in Iowa, according to the USDA Crop Progress report published April 14.

“Planters are beginning to roll across the state. The warmer temperatures and drier weather over the past week allowed for a good start to the planting season,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig in a statement Monday.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) said fieldwork last week included tillage and applying anhydrous, manure, and dry fertilizer.

Corn

In the March Prospective Plantings report, USDA said it expects Iowa farmers to plant 13.5 million acres of corn in 2025, up from 12.9 million acres in 2024.

Iowa farmers have planted 2% of their corn crop, as of April 13, the Crop Progress report said. Last year at this time, 3% of the Iowa corn crop had been planted. The five-year average is 2%.

Agronomist Eric Wilson of Wyffels Hybrids noted, “More growers started to plant corn midweek with activity picking up toward the weekend.” Wilson expects a majority of Iowa farmers will take advantage of the favorable forecast this week and begin planting.

Logan Dinkla, agronomic service representative for Syntenta, said, “Once we got past the cold weather on Tuesday, April 8, field work really started to ramp up. A lot of planters started going Friday into the weekend.”

Soybeans

The latest Prospective Plantings report pegged Iowa soybean acreage at 9.6 million, down from 10.05 million acres in 2024.

Farmers in Iowa have seeded 1% of their soybean crop, as of April 13, the report said. At this time in 2024, 2% of Iowa soybeans were in the ground. The five-year average is 1%.

Dinkla said in his area, “Soybean planting progress is ahead of corn. I have heard of a lot of people starting with soybeans to take advantage of early planting.” He expects farmers to take advantage of good planting conditions this week to “ramp up” corn planting.

Oats

The 2025 Prospective Plantings report said Iowa farmers will plant 150,000 acres of the crop this year. That’s up from 145,000 acres in 2024.

Statewide, Iowa farmers have planted 47% of their oat crop, as of April 13, the USDA report said. That’s up significantly from 20% planted the week prior.

Last year at this time, 61% of the Iowa oat crop had been planted. The five-year average is 39%.

Oat emergence rates are still in the single digits at 6%, as of April 13. That’s up from 2% the week prior and equal to the five-year average. However, at this time in 2024, 18% of the Iowa oat crop had emerged.

Pasture and Range

The Crop Progress report rated Iowa pasture and range 4% very poor, 10% poor, 42% fair, 41% good, and 3% excellent for the week ending April 13.

Soil Moisture

The April 14 Crop Progress report noted statewide topsoil moisture supplies rated 7% very short, 24% short, 68% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 9% very short, 31% short, 59% adequate, and 1% surplus.

The U.S. Drought Monitor map published April 10 shows nearly 30% of the state reported D1 moderate drought. Another almost 50% is abnormally dry. Many southern Iowa counties are free of drought stress.

Weather

“Outlooks for the rest of April are showing better chances for rain and a more active weather pattern. The threat of severe weather is elevated this time of year, so I encourage all Iowans to be weather aware and have a safety plan in place,” said Naig on Monday.

According to Iowa Environmental Mesonet data, the 4 inch depth soil temperature is forecast to range from the high 40s to mid-60s the rest of April.