DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“April will go down as one of the wettest on record, and that moisture has helped ease drought conditions for the majority of the state,” said Secretary Naig. “Looking ahead, the forecast trends a bit cooler and drier through the first few weeks of May, which should give farmers a longer window to keep the planters running.”

Crop Report

There were 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 3, 2026, which is 1.0 day more than last year. Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Corn planting in Iowa reached 42 percent complete, which is 5 percent behind last year when 47 percent of the crop had been planted. Soybean planting reached 27 percent, which is 9 percent behind 2025 when 36 percent of the crop had been planted. Oats planting reached 88 percent, 2 percent behind last year when 90 percent had been planted.

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at https://www.nass.usda.gov/.