Despite rain and cold conditions, Iowa farmers made progress planting corn and soybeans last week, according to the latest Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Farmers had 2.8 suitable days for field work, which also included tillage, applying anhydrous and nitrogen, planting oats, and limited spraying. Nine percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, 11 days behind last year and nine days behind the five-year average. Farmers in the western one-third of the state had at least 3.7 days suitable for fieldwork and made more planting progress than those in the rest of the state. Four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, nine days behind the previous year and five days behind the average. Sixty-three percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, almost two weeks behind last year and one week behind the five-year average. Pasture and hay growth were still slow, and livestock conditions were challenging, with muddy feedlots and pastures.