May 10, 2010
KCRG, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

CEDAR RAPIDS - Frost early Sunday throughout much of Iowa may force some corners to replant their corn, according to the National Agricultural Statistical service.

The temperatures on Sunday were the lowest they have been this late in the spring since May 21, 2002, according to the service’s weekly Iowa Crops & Weather Report. Temperatures fell to freezing in all parts of the state except the southwest and southeast corners, and reached lows of 27 degrees at Audubon, Belle Plaine, Grinnell, Sac City and Sheldon.

Temperatures for the last week averaged 4.5 degrees below normal statewide, breaking a streak of eight consecutive weeks that were warmer than normal.

Farmers continued to plant corn and soybeans despite scattered rain showers, high winds, and the cold temperatures. Corn planting was 93% complete on Sunday, up 9 percentage points from a week earlier, and 11 days ahead of the five-year average.

The report said 48% of the corn acreage had emerged, compared to a five-year average of 17%.

Iowa’s soybean acreage was 44% planted as of Sunday, compared with a five-year average of 17%.

Farmers in east central Iowa had 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork, in line with the statewide average. Some Iowa could farmers get in only 2.5 days of field work or less.

Rainfall totals ranged from a low of 0.11 inches at Pocahontas to 2.86 inches at Farmington, with a statewide average of 0.58 inches.

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/93325729.html