Less than a full day was suitable for fieldwork across most of Iowa last week, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said, “Another week of cold, wet weather prevented nearly all fieldwork and continued to challenge cow-calf producers.” He added that with the forecast, Iowa’s farmers are still likely a few weeks away from widespread fieldwork. In southeast Iowa dry soil conditions continue, topsoil moisture is rated at 17% very short, 18% short, 57% adequate, and eight percent surplus. Locally subsoil moisture is 23% very short, 28% short, 47% adequate, and two percent surplus.