This information was summarized from a May 19 teleconference with ISU extension field specialists in crops.

• Scattered rainfall occurred late last week and over the weekend with amounts reported from a trace to more than 4 inches. Some locations in eastern Iowa had up to baseball-sized hail on May 18.
• Scattered frost was reported in many areas. Most of the injury to corn, established alfalfa, and oats was light and should not cause lasting damage. Some newly emerged alfalfa seedlings were killed by frost.
• Wireworm and seedcorn maggot problems were reported in a few scattered fields. Reports of other insects including black cutworm (less than 1/2- inch cutworms in Cedar and Keokuk counties), dingy cutworm, flea beetle, and alfalfa weevil were few and no economic crop damage was reported.
• Established alfalfa fields are growing well (a reported height of 12-20 inches) and some fields are in the bud stage. Oats and wheat were growing well and no problems were reported.
• Here are estimates throughout the state of the percentage of corn that is emerged and its growth stage. (Note: VE means the plant has emerged. V1, V2 and V3 refer to the vegetative stage; numerals refer to the number of visible leaf collars on the corn plant.)
  • Northwest: 20-30 percent (VE)
  • North central: 10-40 percent (VE to V1)
  • Northeast: 40 percent (VE to V1)
  • West central: 40 percent (V1 to V2)
  • Central: 50 percent (VE to V2)
  • East central: 85 percent (VE to V3)
  • Southwest: 30-40 percent (VE to V1)
  • South central: 20-90 percent (VE to V2)
  • Southeast: 75 percent (VE to V2)
• Here are estimates throughout the state of the percentage of soybean planting that is completed. There were some reports of emerged soybean fields.
  • Northwest: 75-80 percent
  • North central: 60-85 percent
  • Northeast: 80 percent
  • West central: 70-80 percent
  • Central: 85-90 percent
  • East central: 80 percent
  • Southwest: 50-70 percent
  • South central: 20-80 percent
  • Southeast: 85 percent