Farmers made some record progress putting crops in the ground last week.
Warm, dry weather allowed the wheels to roll on tractors and planters and farmers now have 46% of the beans in the ground.
That compares to 9% of the soybeans planted one week before — and it marks the most soybeans farmers had planted by May 3rd since records began in 1974. Bean planting is now one full month ahead of schedule.
Thirty-nine-percent of the expected corn planting got done last week, hitting the 78% complete mark. It is the first time since 201o that three-quarters of the corn crop was in the ground by May 3rd.
(Graphic courtesy of the Iowa Ag Department)