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| Between the Rows 5-26-10 (Iowa) |
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Iowa
The latest round of heavy rains and cool temperatures thwarted the record pace of Iowa farmers once again, delaying fieldwork and slowing the rest of the emerging corn.
“Another wet, cool week slowed fieldwork across much of the state, but fortunately farmers remain ahead of average due to the great weather earlier this spring,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, a fourth-generation grower in Spirit Lake.
State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said this was Iowa’s wettest week in nearly two years.
“Temperatures were below normal throughout the week,” he said. “Daytime-high temperatures were only in the 40s in some areas on Tuesday and Wednesday but reached the low 60s to mid-70s over the weekend.”
The May 17 Iowa Crops and Weather Report, released by the USDA, said corn planting is 96 percent complete, one week ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean planting is 53 percent complete, compared with 38 percent last year and 40 percent for the five-year average.
But while most corn acres are now planted, concerns of frost damage and flooding have Iowa producers closely watching plant development.
“Several days of dry, warm weather are needed to get the soybean crop planted and finish other spring fieldwork,” the report said. “Below-average frost penetration this winter gave weeds an early start as producers struggle to control them.”
As a result of the recent cool, wet weather, Virgil Schmitt, Iowa State University field agronomist, said there may be increased seedling diseases in both crops this spring.
“When checking plant stands, it’s important to do some digging and check the health of the below-ground portions of the plant,” he advised in his May 20 crop update.
By Doug Schmitz
Iowa Correspondent |
| 5/26/2010 |
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