Iowa Crop Progress Summary
The USDA Crop Progress Report showed corn planting 100% complete in Iowa, with 97% emerged. The USDA gave Iowa's corn crop an 80% good/excellent rating. Soybean planting is 94% done, ahead of last week's 88% and the five-year-average of 85%. According to the report, 78% of soybeans have emerged in Iowa and have a good/excellent rating of 70%. Over the last week, farmers and applicators across the state began focusing on post herbicide applications, side-dressing nitrogen, and alfalfa harvest. Read on for more information about your region's crop progress and field conditions from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomists.
Northwest
Joel DeJong (Region 1): "We've continued to get soybean acres in the ground during the past week in northwest Iowa, and now about 80% have emerged. It looks like we will get the rest of the acres planted/replanted this week. Corn is starting to get into its rapid growth stage, and some fields will look uneven, due to a range of reasons, for a little while in this area before it really takes off. Weed management is becoming a bigger priority. Alfalfa harvest is beginning in earnest, too."
Paul Kassel (Region 2): "Most of the corn crop that was planted in the April 15-17 time frame is looking good, and is in the V5 to V6 stage. Some of that early planted corn was replanted from May 17 to around May 20. Those replant acres are also looking good and are in the V2 stage. Soybean planting is nearing completion in my northwest region. A lot of soybean fields have emerged. Soybean stands look good so far with few reported problems. A lot of farmers and commercial applicators will be focusing on postemergence herbicide applications to corn fields."
Northeast
Terry Basol (Region 4): "We have gotten about 1.5 inches of rain from last Sunday (May 29) until now, receiving about an inch this past Friday (June 3). The corn is at about V3 to V4 and starting transition from relying on the seminal root system to the nodal root system, giving it that “ugly duckling” appearance. Field operations for postemerge herbicide applications are underway, along with the start of side-dress nitrogen applications for the corn. Soybeans are anywhere from VE to V1 growth stages for most of this area. For the most part, everything looks good, we just need some warm weather and sun to keep them going. Some hay has been cut, and I expect we'll see a lot of alfalfa being baled/harvested this week with the relatively dry forecast."
Brian Lang (Region 5): "From May 1 to June 2, Northeast Iowa had around 350 to 400 GDD. Long-term normal is is approximately 350 GDD. It takes about 90 to 120 GDD from planting to emergence, and a new leaf (fully developed, collar visible) appears approximately every 84 GDD. May 1 planted corn should be between V2 and V3 stage. Mid-April planted corn (~500 GDD) should be between V4 and V5 stage. Normal GDD in northeast Iowa for early June averages 16 per day (a new leaf formed in ~ 5 days). You can visit the Iowa Environmental Mesonet if you want to determine GDD for any given period of time."
Southwest and West Central
Michael Witt (Region 11): "In west central Iowa, sprayers are running hard with postemergence applications on corn for weeds. There is minimal postemergence application for soybeans at this point, but there is some. Corn is around the V2 to V6 stages on average for the area. It is looking healthy in the places with less water. There are more nitrogen issues in western counties that have received higher amounts of rain. Soybeans are ranging in maturity from unplanted to V2. Plants will grow significantly this week, and most planted beans have emerged or will by the end of the week with the warm weather forecasted. Side-dressing of nitrogen (N) is also starting with farmers who elected for more N application to aid crops. I have received good feedback on the Palmer amaranth weed meeting that was held in Harrison County by myself and Aaron Saeugling. There were around 30 attendees and good discussion. There are also good opportunities to identify wheat diseases that are occurring in the state with local growers."
Clarke McGrath: "Most of the corn is around V3 to V6, with some of the replant corn popping up with the heat. I think (hope) I saw my last replanted corn being put in yesterday; some wet spots that had dried out on the edges of some bottom fields. A lot of corn spraying is going in, and of course, as always, it is windy. Hopefully operators can get out early in the morning and towards evening on the windiest days to help minimize drift issues." Read more about recent southwest Iowa field activity here.
Central
Mark Johnson (Region 7): "Rain has been spotty in my nine counties in central Iowa. Ankeny and Perry got a little over 1 inch last week, while Ames, Boone, and Jefferson had just under 1 inch. Carroll and Newton had about 0.3 inch and Marshalltown, 0.4 inch. Last Monday evening (May 30), the small area west of Minburn, Iowa received hail, again. Most of the corn has greened up and is looking good, with much in the V4 to V6 range and taking off. Soybean planting went on longer, so we have a wider spread of stages, with much V1 or beyond. Most, if not all, is at least VC. No calls on disease or insects. The first cutting of alfalfa has been at least cut, with most of that put up."
Southeast, South Central, and East Central
Rebecca Vittetoe (Region 8): "In southeast and south central Iowa, earlier planted corn is now in that V4 to V6 growth stage with most of the later planted corn in the V2 to V3 growth stage. Corn is in that “ugly duckling” stage as the roots are switching over from the seminal roots to the nodal roots. There is a wider range in soybean growth stages from VC to V4. Overall, both the corn and soybeans are looking pretty good with very few reports of any disease (mainly corn seedling diseases) or insect (mainly cutworms and bean leaf beetles) problems. The weeds are also looking good, so keep a close eye on weed size, and make timely herbicide applications."
Meaghan Anderson (Region 9): "Crops are really taking off in east central Iowa. Most of the corn is between V3 and V6. Soybeans are mostly VC to V2. We’ve had spotty rains, leaving some areas wanting or needing more rainfall. Side-dress nitrogen applications and POST herbicide applications are getting done."
Virgil Schmitt (Region 10): "We've had about .5 to 4.5 inches of rain in the last two weeks in southeast and east central Iowa. Hay harvest is wrapping up. Corn is between V5 and V7, and soybeans are VC to V2. Issues this past week in my region include shallow planting, sidewall compaction, herbicide injury, drift, and seedling disease. European corn borer moths are flying, as well. Post corn spraying is going on, along with nitrogen top and side-dressing in this area."
Find your local ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomist here!