While planting progressing had occurring in the western and northern part of the state, planters were finally able to roll across much of the entire state starting late last week and over the weekend. In addition to planting, other field activities including spraying and fertilizer applications are also taking place. Some of the first-planted corn and soybeans have now emerged. Insect activity is also beginning to pick up, with reports of alfalfa weevils increasing, especially in southeast Iowa. Read on for more specific updates from ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists on what’s happening and what they are seeing in the counties they serve across the state.
Leah Ten Napel (Region 1):
Cherokee, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux, Woodbury counties
“Planting progress continues in northwest Iowa. Last week this region received between 0 and 1.5 inches of precipitation. Forecasted precipitation for the current week is very minimal. With continued dry weather, I estimate many farmers in our area will be getting close to done with planting in the next week. Early planted corn and soybeans are emerging. Stands look strong. Strong winds are delaying some herbicide applications, while weed growth is really ramping up”
Gentry Sorenson (Region 2):
Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Winnebago counties
“Planting has rapidly progressed with good weather. Throughout the week planting continued and with corn nearing completion in many areas, the focus has shifted to soybeans. In some areas where fields were not fit due to past rainfall, around 30% of the soybeans are planted. In areas that missed past rainfall, I estimate close to half of the soybeans are planted. I did see corn just starting to emerge in a few areas. The subsoil moisture survey results were compiled for northwest Iowa—check them out. Dry weather is in the forecast for the next few days, and planting will progress rapidly across the area. Pastures are starting to green up with grass growing rapidly the past few days.”
Angie Rieck-Hinz (Region 3):
Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Webster, Worth, Wright counties
“There is more planting progress in my western and northern counties than my southern counties. People started returning to field activities on Friday, May 1 and significant progress has been made in the last four days. There is VE corn visible throughout north central Iowa. Unfortunately, emerged soybeans, planted in late March-early April, succumbed to the frosty temperatures we had on the morning of May 2. A few people have expressed concern about nighttime temperatures and leading to cooler soil temperatures, and while this is predicted to happen this week, it appears a dip in soil temperatures will be brief. If soil moisture conditions are suitable and won’t lead to emergence or rooting issues, at this point in time I would not be too concerned with soil temperatures. Planting progress is hard to predict, but there are folks who are done and some who just started as they waited for soils to dry. I have trapped a steady stream of black cutworm moths and true armyworm moths, especially on those days when the wind was from the south. See Moth Trapping Network: Report #3 for details and projected black cutworm cutting dates. And while alfalfa weevil larvae have been found in southeastern Iowa for some time, I finally caught some in my sweep net on May 5, so be on the lookout for alfalfa weevil larvae feeding in fields.”
Terry Basol (Region 4):
Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Chickasaw, Floyd, Grundy, Howard, Mitchell counties
“Spring planting season got under way in isolated areas of my territory the week of April 20 depending on rainfall and soil types. This past week, field operations have significantly increased, and farmers have been able to get both corn and soybeans planted, with the primary focus on corn. Temperatures have been variable to say the least, with this past Saturday morning low getting down to 30 degrees F at the Northeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm. Conducive field conditions have allowed growers to apply dry fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia, UAN, and begin herbicide applications. As corn and soybeans begin to emerge, be sure to start scouting those fields to conduct stand counts to assess populations. Be on the lookout for seedling diseases as you’re scouting, particularly if it turned cool and wet after planting. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) as of May 4, 42 and 27 percent of the acres have been planted to corn and soybeans respectively for the state of Iowa. I would put north central and northeast Iowa slightly behind this due to the cooler and wetter soil conditions that we’ve had in the ’26 planting season. Oats in the area have all been seeded and look really good. Alfalfa stands also look good in the area. As far as precipitation, according to the Iowa Mesonet, the Northeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm at Nashua has received 4.93” of rain since April 1st. Here’s hoping the weather cooperates for everyone the next couple of weeks to get all of the crops in the ground!
Meaghan Anderson (Region 7):
Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marshall, Polk, Story, Tama, Warren counties
“Central Iowa is bustling with planting and other field activity after a slower start to the spring this year. I found about 35% of fields planted through southern Boone, northern Dallas, and northern Polk Co. in my travels on 5/4. Many fields were prepared for planting, and I expect the planting progress to increase dramatically by next week. Corn and soybeans planted the week of 4/20 (or earlier) are emerging and so far, stands are emerging well. Keep an eye out for soil crusting after the hot, windy weather yesterday. Make sure to take stand assessments in your corn and soybean as they emerge.”
Rebecca Vittetoe (Region 8):
Iowa, Jefferson, Keokuk, Poweshiek, Washington, Johnson counties
"Field activity picked up late last week and over the weekend in the counties I cover, with planters really rolling Saturday and Sunday. Scattered showers late Monday (May 4) and overnight knocked some farmers out of the field again, but overall planting progress continues. A lot of planting should get done this week. In addition to planting, there has also been a lot of spraying happening. With that, I’ve received more questions about cereal rye cover crop termination and how soon to plant corn after terminating. Based on research, the general rule of thumb is to wait about 10 days from termination to planting to help minimize potential issues, especially seedling diseases. Early planted corn and soybeans are starting to emerge. As crops emerge, take time to do stand assessments. Now is also the time to scout for black cutworm in emerged corn based on data from our Iowa Moth Trapping Network. Other insects to watch for include alfalfa weevil larvae in alfalfa fields and bean leaf beetles in early planted soybean fields. Over the past week, I’ve been finding more alfalfa weevil larvae, along with aphids and some natural enemies such as ladybugs and lacewings in alfalfa fields. I also saw my first bean leaf beetles while scouting alfalfa. They will be attracted to early-planted soybean fields.”
Virgil Schmitt (Region 9):
Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Henry, Jackson, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott counties
“Last week, the counties I cover have generally received between 0.5 and 1.0 inch of rain, with local amounts somewhat higher. Most of that fell early in the week. Field work began mid-week with many planters and sprayers running on Thursday and continuing over the weekend. I would guess that corn is about 25% planted. Forages continue look good. Calls last week centered around weed management and decisions about planting verses waiting, considering the cool weather forecast for late this week. Check out past, current, and projected soil temperatures. At this time, it looks like soil temperature will remain 50 degrees F or more, except for some counties in northeast Iowa.
Aaron Saeugling (Region 10):
Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, East Pottawattamie, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, West Pottawattamie counties
“Planting got back underway after rain delays in parts of SW and Western Iowa. Cold temps in the past week did damage early soybeans and set some corn back use caution when spraying herbicides under stressful conditions. With significant progress made in a short time I would estimate that over 60 percent of the crop is planted in most locations, with other locations wrapping up, and a few portions of southern Iowa have a little more to go yet. Public enemy this year is the amount of tansy mustard in crop fields and especially older alfalfa stands, control in alfalfa is all but impossible. Where winter annuals are becoming more of a problem farmers may need to consider fall herbicide applications when weather conditions allow.”
Logan McCrea (Region 11):
Appanoose, Davis, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello, Wayne counties
“Mother nature has finally decided to give portions of SC Iowa an opportunity to run in the field, and activity really picked up over the weekend with planting, tillage, herbicide applications, and some final fertilizer applications occurring. Soil conditions are still variable in areas, so caution must be taken when deciding what fields are fit and which ones need a little more time. The further south you go, the wetter it has been and still is, so a few more drying days and patience will be valuable. A few earlier planted corn and soybean fields have begun to emerge as well. Alfalfa first cutting is quickly approaching, with PEAQ values in the low 200's currently with the fields that I have scouted. I'm able to find alfalfa weevil larvae within fields, but at low numbers. Pasture conditions are good. A few rumblings of harvesting rye this week have been thrown around as well.”
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on May 5, 2026. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.
- Field Agronomist in EC/SE Iowa