Although good weather prevailed for most of last week, according to the weekly crop progress report issued by the U-S Department of Agriculture, farmers are still behind normal planting schedules.  In South Dakota, farmers have planted 31 percent of this year’s corn crop compared to 83 percent this time last year.  So far, only one percent of the South Dakota corn crop has emerged.  Nebraska is doing better with 62 percent of the state’s corn crop planted which compares to the 84 percent done by this time last year, and the 77 percent five-year average.  19 percent of the Nebraska corn crop has emerged.  Cold conditions in North Dakota have farmers falling way behind last year.  Just four percent of the North Dakota’s corn crop has been planted compared to the 59 percent at this same time a year ago. Minnesota growers have planted 35 percent of their corn crop.   Iowa farmers have been able to somewhat catch up with their planting.  57 percent of the corn is now planted.  In 2021, 93 percent of the state’s corn crop was planted, and the five-year average is at 80 percent.  According to the weekly crop progress report, eight percent of the Iowa corn crop has emerged.

Joel DeJong serves as the Iowa State University Extension Crops Specialist for northwest Iowa and visited several fields on Monday.  He says farmers in his area are “making great progress” with their spring planting.

As for soybeans, DeJong says farmers in northwest Iowa are nearly two-thirds completed. He says the northwest corner of Iowa hasn’t had to deal with wet conditions.

Across the region, farmers have planted 15 percent of soybeans in South Dakota, 44 percent in Nebraska, two percent in North Dakota, 11 percent in Minnesota and 34 percent in Iowa.