Iowa Ag Connection - Warmer, Drier Conditions Increases Iowa Farm Activities

Iowa Ag News Headlines

Warmer, Drier Conditions Increases Iowa Farm Activities
Iowa Ag Connection - 04/23/2019

It was mostly a dry week with spotty rains throughout the State during the week ending Sunday, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork, which was two more days than the previous week. Warmer temperatures and drier conditions increased fieldwork activities which included anhydrous and fertilizer applications, tillage, seeding oats, and planting corn.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 35 percent surplus.

Forty-eight percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 6 days ahead of last year but 5 days behind the 5-year average. Less than a quarter of the expected oats have been planted in northwest and north central Iowa, while all the other districts had at least twenty-five percentage point increases in their expected oats planted.

Pasture Condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 44 percent good and 9 percent excellent. Pastures continue to green gradually, and there were few comments of cattle being turned out to pastures as grazing may hurt the already slow growth. Warmer temperatures have improved livestock conditions and helped dry out feedlots.

Other Iowa Headlines