End of planting season approaching as weather stays dry

DES MOINES — Farmers saw enough dry weather last week that planting season is closing in on the end. 

The USDA crop report shows 95% of the corn crop is now in the ground. That’s nine days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of the five-year average. 65% of that corn is poking through — about six days ahead of average.

Soybean planting moved from 69 to 84% complete in the last week. that puts farmers around one week ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of normal. 43% of the beans have emerged — which is six days ahead of average.