Soybean planting is currently 10 days behind normal, based on USDA statistics. However, field activity resumed on May 17 to 18, even though it was still very wet in many parts of Iowa. On May 19, Iowa State University field specialists in crops reported that soybean planting was close to 40 percent completed. Soybean planted in the last week of April has now emerged across most of Iowa. The sunny and windy conditions last weekend created stressful conditions for soybean seedlings. Fields that were planted just before the last rain now show a tendency toward soil crusting, which can delay or prevent seedling emergence.