#Plant26: Iowa Planting Progress Moves Ahead Despite Dry Conditions in the Corn Belt

Emily Oberbroeckling says producers in northeast Iowa have made strong planting progress while continuing to monitor moisture conditions.

GARNAVILLO, Iowa (RFD News) — Farmers continue making strong planting progress across much of the Corn Belt, though dry conditions are beginning to create concerns in some areas.

USDA’s latest Crop Progress Report shows both corn and soybeans running ahead of the five-year average nationwide.

Emily Oberbroeckling with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report for an update on conditions across northeast Iowa and the surrounding tri-state region.

During her conversation with RFD News, Oberbroeckling said planting progress in the area has remained ahead of schedule thanks to favorable weather conditions over the last several weeks.

“Here in Northeast Iowa, a lot like what you said, planting progress is ahead of schedule. We’re about 80-85 percent according to recent reports that planting has been good. The weather has within the last couple of weeks has really been nice,” she continued, “We did see some rain, which we did need after a little bit of a dry spell as well.”

The discussion also focused on current land auction activity across the Midwest, along with how livestock diversity in the region may be helping support farm income and land values.

Oberbroeckling additionally discussed unique agricultural trends developing across the environmentally diverse tri-state area.

Related Stories
A new maritime biofuels coalition aims to position ocean shipping as a significant growth market for U.S. crops and waste-derived fuels.
Larger operations maintain cost advantages, while softer equipment sales suggest producers are pacing machinery upgrades amid tighter margins.
Sponsored
Golden Harvest’s Corn Technical Product Lead, Todd McRoberts, unveils their line of Northern corn hybrids built for resilience and performance in colder climates.
Transportation access, legal disputes, and fertilizer freight costs will directly influence input pricing and grain movement in 2026.
Mexico plans to release 202,000 acre-feet of water into the Rio Grande, offering temporary relief to South Texas farmers as Congress advances the PERMIT Act.
Despite China’s sharp drop in grain purchases this year, new USDA export data this week shows that even some buying activity from the trade giant still moves the markets.

Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Cattle producers met with lawmakers to discuss the issues continuing to impact ranchers across the country.
Founder Jon Mollhagen says automation continues playing a larger role in reducing labor demands and animal stress.
Commissioner Sid Miller says productive farmland, water resources, and rural infrastructure are increasingly under pressure as data centers continue growing across Texas.
The Meat Institute says meat sales reached a record $112 billion last year as protein demand remained strong nationwide.
National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles says potato wart could have devastating consequences for U.S. growers and export markets.
Congressman Mark Messmer discusses the Farm Bill, rural investment priorities, Prop 12, and support for farmers facing economic pressure.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.