(Washington, D.C.) Timely rains, while needed, limited Iowa farmers to 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 25, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Corn and soybean planting continued, but some producers are waiting for warmer and drier conditions to start spraying.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 15 percent short, 76 percent adequate,e and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions were rated as follows: 5 percent very short, 23 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus.
Corn planted reached 95 percent. Corn emerged reached 76 percent, 6 days ahead of last year’s pace and 2 days ahead of normal. Corn condition was rated as follows: 0 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 21 percent excellent. Ninety-two percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, which is just over two weeks ahead of last year and eight days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans reached 60 percent emergence, 8 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Ninety-two percent of the State’s oat crop has emerged. Oats headed reached 26 percent. The oat condition was rated as follows: 0 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 69 percent good, and 17 percent excellent.
Forty percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed. Hay condition is rated 85 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition was rated 68 percent good to excellent.
As of Sunday, 87% of the nation’s corn crop has been planted, putting it six percentage points ahead of last year’s 81% and two points above the five-year average of 85%. The top corn-producing state, Iowa, leads with 95% of its corn planted, while Illinois is at 82%. Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska are nearly finished, with planting progress ranging from 94% to 97%.
Corn emergence is also progressing well, with 67% of the crop emerged—12 percentage points ahead of last year’s 55% and seven points above the five-year average of 60%.
In its first corn condition report of the season, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) rated 68% of the crop in good-to-excellent condition. Just 5% was rated very poor to poor.
Soybean planting is also ahead of schedule, with 76% of the crop planted nationwide as of Sunday. That’s 10 points ahead of last year’s 66% and eight points above the five-year average of 68%. In Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska, planting is nearly complete, ranging from 91% to 92%.
Half of the nation’s soybeans have now emerged, which is 13 percentage points ahead of last year’s 37% and 10 points ahead of the five-year average of 40%, according to NASS.
