Iowa makes good progress

on corn planting

Iowa farmers are making good progress on getting the corn crop in the ground.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says farmers took advantage of dry weather early last week and now have planted 50 percent of the crop.

That's up from just nine percent the previous week.

The five-year average is 32 percent.

The USDA says in its weekly report that five percent of the corn has emerged, which is 10 days ahead of normal.

Farmers have planted three percent of the soybean crop.

The week ended with rain and cooler weather from Friday afternoon to Sunday (May 4-6), which put planting on hold.

The statewide average rainfall for last week was .83 inch.

The rain helped soil moisture, with topsoil at 92 percent adequate or surplus.