According to the latest USDA/NASS Iowa Crop Progress & Condition Report, Iowa farmers had an average of 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork last week. The northern tier of Crop Reporting Districts in the state all had 3 or less days suitable for fieldwork, while the rest of the state averaged greater than 4 days suitable.

Planting progress in the northern portion of the state is still moving slowly with only 26% of the corn crop planted in the North Central CRD, while the central and southern portions of the state all have nearly 80% or more planted. Soybean planting progress is moving is also moving much slower in the northern part of the state. 65% of the soybean crop is planted in the Southeast CRD, 40% in the Central CRD, but only 9% and 3% in the Northwest and North Central CRDs, respectively.

The higher cumulative precipitation in the northern part of the state has been one culprit of the slow planting progress in that area. However, the southern half of the Iowa has not received as much precipitation, and about 40% of the state is either abnormally dry or in a moderate drought state according to the United States Drought Monitor.

Michelle Mensing is a Research Analyst with Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS). DIS is an Iowa-Based economic research firm which provides regular farm economics research and analysis to the Iowa Farm Bureau staff and members.