Ag Secretary Northey downplays planting delays

The Oskaloosa Herald

DES MOINES April 30, 2008 11:39 am

— Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey Monday commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.
“Wet conditions across the state are starting to be of concern as farmers are anxious to get into the field,” Northey said. “The delays experienced to this point are not yet damaging to crop yields, but warmer, dryer weather would be very welcome.”
The weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Web site at www.IowaAgriculture.gov. The report follows here:

RAIN AGAIN
Agricultural Summary: Days of sunshine followed by heavy rain storms, once again, kept fieldwork to a minimum during Iowa’s last full week of April. Slightly drier conditions in the western one-third of Iowa resulted in more opportunities for fieldwork, including corn planting. Despite very wet conditions, spring temperatures helped the emergence of planted oats. With few exceptions, hayfields and pastures have begun to establish as well.
There were 1.3 days suitable for fieldwork, compared to 2.2 days last year at this time. Topsoil moisture rated zero percent very short, zero percent short, 33 percent adequate and 67 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture rated zero percent very short, zero percent short, 43 percent adequate and 57 percent surplus.
Field Crops Report: Oat seeding was 28 percent complete, 10 days behind last year. Oats emerged was 5 percent, behind last year’s and the five-year average of 18 percent and 48 percent, respectively. Fertilizer application is 66 percent complete, which is 13 percentage points behind last year and 18 percentage points behind the five-year average.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range condition rated 5 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 33 percent good and 5 percent excellent. Calving and lambing are ongoing with no major problems reported.