Planting Slows in Iowa With Wetter Weather

(Radio Iowa) Wetter weather slowed the planters in the fields a bit last week.

The USDA crop report showed an increase of 16 percent in the amount of corn planted during the week — about half the amount planted last week. The corn planting total is now at 86 percent — eight days ahead of last year and one week ahead of the five-year average. Bean planting moved at about the same pace — gaining 20 percent compared to last week — putting the total at 69 percent. That’s about one week ahead of last year and the five-year average for beans. Thirty-five percent of planted corn has emerged from the ground, nearly five times as much as last week. And the report now says 19 percent of the beans have emerged.