Planting progress crawled forward at a slow pace as wetter-than-normal conditions were common across Iowa, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest Crop Progress and Condition Report. For the week ending April 19, Iowa farmers had just 2.7 days on average for fieldwork, almost three days less than last year, and it shows in the data. Corn planting in Iowa reached only two percent complete, which is 14 percentage points behind 2025’s planting season. Soybean planting was one percent complete, about nine percentage points behind last year. Oat seeding is just over half done, but it is still lagging about 14 points behind the prior year. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “Last week’s active weather pattern presented plenty of severe weather challenges across the state. Farmers certainly welcomed the moisture, but we could have gone without the wind, hail, and tornadoes. This week looks to be a bit quieter, and that will help farmers as they look to get the planters rolling.” Last week’s precipitation is certainly reflected in soil moisture conditions, as topsoil was rated 10 percent short to very short, 72 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Statewide average for precipitation last week was 1.27 inches, 0.4 inches above normal, and statewide temperature averaged 60.3 degrees Fahrenheit, more than 11 degrees above normal. The full Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
