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Iowa, Nebraska farmers say corn planting on track

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa and Nebraska farmers say they’re still on track to get their corn planted despite cold, wet weather that slowed their start to the planting season. Numbers released Monday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show 23 percent of Iowa’s corn crop has been planted. That’s up significantly from last week’s 15 percent planted.

The percentage likely will rise quickly this week, as farmers have several warm, dry days before rain returns to the forecast. Chad Hart, an Iowa State University agriculture economist, says it’s crucial for farmers to get their crop planted in the coming weeks. He says corn should be in the ground by late April to early May.

Nebraska is closer to completion, with 44 percent of its corn crop planted.