Last week brought a few days of unseasonal snow to central Iowa, which hindered farmers hoping to make progress on planting their fields.

According to the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Iowa crop progress and conditions report, there were just 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork last week. When farmers did get into their fields, the common activities included planting, applying anhydrous ammonia and dry fertilizer, spreading manure, and tilling fields. The recent precipitation also led to moisture surplus rates of 18 and 19-percent in topsoil and subsoil, respectively. Around 2-percent of Iowa’s corn crop has been planted so far, nearly a week behind the five-year average.

Additionally, half of Iowa’s expected oat crop has been planted, three days ahead of last year but a day behind average. Six-percent of oats have emerged, which is five days behind average. Finally, livestock producers, particularly in southern Iowa, reported calving issues due to the snowfall and colder temperatures. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig points out, with the corn crop insurance planting date behind us, most farmers are hoping to get their first seeds in the ground now. He believes a great deal of progress is being made this week, as the conditions have been near perfect for planting.