More activity continues to happen as planting season is here in Iowa.

According to the latest Crop and Condition Report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture, last week there was about ten percent of corn that was planted statewide, whereas Iowa State University Field Agronomist Mike Witt says corn planted in Greene County is now up to about 25-percent, with some soybeans planted as well. Witt points out that while topsoil moisture levels are adequate, air temperatures have seen a recent cool down, which has lessened the amount of growing degree days, or the heat that is required for corn to come out of the ground.

“Across the area, we are looking at about 170-190 heat units, or growing degree days, that we’ve had since April 1st. So with that, corn usually requires 100-120 growing degree days to start emerging. So we’ve got corn sitting in the ground that’s been sitting there for a couple of weeks it hasn’t really moved a lot and we could be dealing with some cold injury and some cold damage for some of those crops.”  

Witt notes soil temperatures are starting to head back up into the ideal window for planting of around 50 degrees, which should help those farmers who haven’t started planting yet. He is also encouraged by the warmer air temperatures heading into next week for even more crops to be planted in better conditions.