It’s an understatement to say that March in Iowa was much warmer than normal (Figure 1). Although only a few record high daily temperatures were set, the average monthly temperature set a new record by a substantial margin. The consistent warm weather encouraged a few to plant corn as early as mid-March.Soil temperatures state-wide reached 50 F by March 15. Although not a first historically, it was a full month before soils normally warm to 50 F at the 4 inch depth.