Weather has the planting season off to a slow start. The U.S.D.A. crop report says the rains have kept farmers out of the fields, but improved the soil moisture in most areas. Soil temperatures remain a concern for farmers planting in northern Iowa.
The report says 15-percent of the projected state corn crop has been planted — which is 13-percent ahead of last year — but 18-percent behind the five year average. Some corn has started to emerge. Soybean planting has yet to fully take off as there were just scattered reports of beans being planted last week.