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Rain againIowa Days of sunshine followed by heavy rain storms, once again, kept fieldwork to a minimum during Iowa's last full week of April, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Iowa Field Office, April 28. 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. 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. 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. 5/5/08 Date: 4/29/08
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