In the latest Crop Progress and Condition Report from the Department of Agriculture, Iowa farmers were left with 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 14. This was nearly double the previous two weeks. Fieldwork included tillage, spraying, applying fertilizer, and seeding oats, while some planted corn and soybeans. 

Topsoil moisture condition rated 15 percent very short, 37 percent short, 46 percent adequate, and two percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 24 percent very short, 39 percent short, 36 percent adequate, and one percent surplus. 

Four percent of the expected corn acreage has been planted. Oats seeding reached 66 percent complete, nine days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the five-year average. Twenty percent of the expected oat acreage has emerged, almost two weeks ahead of last year and the average. There were still no reports of cattle being turned out into pastures.