Last week crop planting across the state showed strong progress.

According to the Crop Progress and Condition Report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture, there were 4.3 suitable days for field work last week. Statewide about 96-percent of corn and 86-percent of soybeans have been planted, which is one month ahead of last year and three weeks ahead of the five year average. Locally, Landus Cooperative Field Agronomist Zach Minnihan says Greene County is basically done planting crops. He talks about the ease of this year’s planting season for farmers.

“It was oddly smooth for the weather this year at least for planting. That federal crop (insurance) date we were rolling right around that, 10th or 11th of April, if not a few before just to get some bugs worked out of some equipment. But that whole 2 ½-3 week stretch corn and beans just really went in very well compared to some of the years in the past, especially last year.”

The USDA crop report showed, of the corn that has been planted, about 62-percent have emerged from the ground, while soybeans have showed 86-percent emergence of those that have been planted.