As planting nears completion, farmers manage conditions

June 9, 2021 | Joseph Hopper

As soybean planting across the state is nearly complete, farmers continue to take on challenges in the fields. Across the state, conditions in the fields have varied with the commonality being the weather.

Iowa Soybean Association Field Services Program Manager Teresa Middleton says many farmers in her region of northeast Iowa experienced frost over Memorial Day weekend.

“Crops in low lying areas, along waterways, and in no-till fields were particularly affected,” Middleton says. “We had a dry start to the year, which led to some concerns and some uneven emergence, but most of the northeast has gotten some much needed rain over the last couple of weeks."

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(Photo credit: April Hemmes)

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ISA District 2 Director April Hemmes, of Hampton, has finished with planting season after recently having to replant her soybeans due to the frost. Hemmes says the soybeans were all no-till and suspects it may have played a role as others in the area didn’t have the same problem during late May’s low temperatures.

“The ground is colder, and it holds the air in closer,” Hemmes said.

The USDA reported 98% of Iowa soybeans planted and soybean emergence at 86%, nine days ahead of the five-year-average. The June 7 USDA NASS crop progress report rates soybeans as 15% excellent, 58% good, 23% fair, 3% poor and 1% very poor.

Drought conditions continue to persist in parts of the state. The most recent weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at many Iowa stations to .53 inches in Hampton. ISA farmer member David Oberbroeckling, of Davenport, said many in his area are wanting for rain.

“Most fields are looking good,” Oberbroeckling says. “But the bottom of the leaves in some fields are yellow.”

The National Weather Service’s Des Moines office on Thursday reported the possibility for scattered showers and storms in the state Friday around central and southern Iowa, with rainfall amounts expected at less than a half-inch and hot and humid weather to persist as crops grow through the third week of June.

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