Southeast Iowa Crop Conditions

Warm and dry weather last week allowed farmers to get back into the fields and mostly wrap up corn planting for the farms north of US Highway 20. Farmers south of Highway 20 have been more fortunate this spring and many were able to get done with planting corn and soybeans by the time the rain arrived on Saturday and Sunday.

Corn is anywhere from just planted to 3 inches tall depending on planting date. So far the emerged plant stands from early planting are excellent. Many people have commented about how quickly the corn emerged after planting this year.

Soybeans that are planted are just beginning to emerge. The forecast looks wet for most of this week, which will likely keep planters from making any significant progress.

National corn planting progress as of Sunday night was even with the 5-year average of 81% complete according to USDA. Iowa is estimated to be 86% complete, 2% behind the 5-year average and 5% behind 2017.

National soybean planting progress was 56% complete, ahead of the 5-year average of 44%. Iowa is 51% complete, 7% ahead of the 5-year average.

Corn and soybean markets have been volatile over the last week with false reports of a trade deal with China and variable weather across the corn belt. A trade deal with China was confirmed on Sunday but details have not been released yet. Soybeans stand the most to gain from a deal with China.