DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thanks to favorable weather, Iowa farmers have planted most of the corn crop and are nearing completion of soybean planting, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday.
The USDA said in the week ending Sunday, farmers had planted 96% of the expected corn crop, putting them nearly a month ahead of last year and almost three weeks ahead of the five-year average.
Farmers had planted 86% of the soybean crop, also nearly a month ahead of last year and three weeks earlier than the average.
They were helped by good weather that made for 4.3 days suitable for field work.