By Andi Anderson

Recent weather conditions in Iowa have brought cooler temperatures and much-needed rain and snow showers, resulting in 1.6 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending March 31, 2024, as reported by the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. While minimal fieldwork occurred during this period, some farmers managed to apply anhydrous, manure, and dry fertilizer.

Soil Moisture Conditions:

• Topsoil moisture: 22% very short, 37% short, 37% adequate, 4% surplus.
• Subsoil moisture: 35% very short, 41% short, 22% adequate, 2% surplus.

Crop Progress:

• Oats seeding: 21% complete, which is 11 days ahead of both last year and the 5-year average. Seeding mostly occurred before the week ending March 31, with some already starting to emerge.

Livestock and Pasture Condition:

• No reports of cattle turned out onto pasture yet, as pastures are just beginning to green up with limited new growth. Calving is in full swing.

Crop Condition as of March 31, 2024:

• Pasture and range: 12% very poor, 26% poor, 38% fair, 21% good, 3% excellent.

Crop Progress as of March 31, 2024:

• Oats planted: Varying percentages across different districts, with a state average of 21%.
• Days Suitable for Fieldwork and Soil Moisture Condition as of March 31, 2024:
• Days suitable for fieldwork varied across districts, with a state average of 1.6 days. Soil moisture conditions also varied across districts, with significant percentages in the short and very short categories.

Iowa Preliminary Weather Summary:

• An active storm track brought unseasonably wet conditions to Iowa's northwestern two-thirds, leading to widespread improvement in drought conditions.
• Temperatures varied across the state, with a statewide average temperature of 40.2 degrees, 2.3 degrees below normal.
• Precipitation totals were well above average for most locations, with some areas receiving over 3 inches of rain.
• Soil temperatures ranged from the low 40s in the north to the upper 40s in the south as of Sunday.

Recent weather conditions have benefited soil moisture levels and crop progress in Iowa, although fieldwork opportunities have been limited.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-tlillico