Iowa crops are days ahead of schedule, with admirable conditions
A field in Polk County is cultivated prior to planting corn. Aaron Lehman said his organic farming operation runs on a different calendar than conventional row crop farmers. (Photo contributed by Aaron Lehman)
Farmers in Iowa had a productive week as warmer and drier conditions allowed plenty of time for in-the-field activities, including finishing up planting and beginning to spray emerged corn and soybeans.
Nearly 80% of soybeans have emerged across the state, which is 10 days ahead of last year's crop and four days ahead of average pace. Corn acres across the state are 87% emerged, putting the crop nearly a week ahead of last year and one day ahead of the five-year average.
Organic farmers like Aaron Lehman, who farms in northern Polk County, had a slightly slower start to the planting season than conventional neighbors.
On Friday, Lehman said he hoped to finish planting his soybeans and to replant the sections of corn that 'didn't emerge very evenly' due to an above-average dump of rain that hit central Iowa during the previous reporting period.
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He said with organic farming, and a need to use seeds without synthetic coatings, he has to wait for warmer soil temperatures before he can plant and roll down his cover crops.
'So I'm on a little bit of a different calendar than some of my neighbors, but in general, field progress is pretty strong,' Lehman, who is also president of Iowa Farmers Union, said.
Across the state, corn and soybean conditions rated 84% and 81%, respectively, good to excellent.
Lehman said farmers in his area were concerned the rain would lead to some overripe hay, but the Monday report shows 83% of hay rated good or excellent.
Temperatures across the state were slightly below normal, with an average of 62 degrees Fahrenheit during the May 26 through June 1 reporting period.
According to State Climatologist Justin Glisan, smoke from the Canadian wildfires reduced solar radiation in the state, and caused a copper colored sun on several days.
The lingering wildfire haze is expected to clear from the state by midweek. State forecasts call for several inches of precipitation across the state.
The state average for precipitation during the reporting period was two-tenths of an inch, but soil moisture conditions dropped only slightly from the previous report, with 70% of topsoil conditions and 65% of subsoil conditions rated adequate.
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