Warm, dry weather pushed planting way ahead this past week. The latest U.S.D.A. crop report shows corn planting move ahead by 26 percentage points statewide with each district of the state increasing at least 19 percentage points.
Corn in the ground now sits at 90%, which is ahead of last year’s 85% and the 5-year average of 79%. West-central Iowa producers lead the way for corn planting with 96% complete.
Fifty-five percent of the corn crop has emerged, which is six days ahead of normal. Soybean planting is not far behind according to the report, which says nearly one-third of the expected soybean crop went into the ground last week.
Northwest Iowa had the largest increase with 39 percentage points. The soybean planting overall is 39% complete, just ahead of last year’s 36% and the 5-year average of 30%.