AGRICULTURE: Warmer temperatures helping Iowa corn, soybeans progress

DES MOINES – The Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report for the week of June 24-30 was released Monday by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

'The much needed warmer temperatures have helped the crops progress,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. 'Some parts of the state had below-average rainfall over the last seven days, but sub-soil moisture is still adequate for the crops to grow.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA's site at nass.usda.gov/ia. The report is released weekly from April through November.

According to the report, Iowa experienced scattered storms across the state that delivered high winds and hail, limiting opportunities for fieldwork during the week ending June 30, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Fieldwork activities included planting, harvesting hay and spraying.

Topsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus.

Subsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 30 percent surplus.

Corn condition improved to 64 percent good to excellent.

Soybean planting has nearly finished with 97 percent of the expected soybean crop planted. Ninety percent of the crop has emerged, over two weeks behind the five-year average, and 1 percent has started to bloom. Soybean condition rated 64 percent good to excellent, also an improvement from last week.

Seventy-nine percent of the oat crop has headed, eight days behind last year and average. Nine percent of the crop has started coloring, nearly a week behind average. Oat condition rated 64 percent good to excellent.

Eighty-three percent of the first cutting of alfalfa hay has been cut, two weeks behind average. Reports that a second cutting of alfalfa hay has also began across the state. Hay condition declined to 63 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated 70 percent good to excellent.

Livestock experienced some stress with the recent heat. Feedlots remain muddy, but have started to improve.

Weather Summary

Unseasonably dry conditions were reported across a majority of the state with locations across northern Iowa observing above average rainfall; west-central Iowa experienced rainfall deficits over an inch below normal. Unseasonable warmness also returned to the state over the reporting period with the average temperature 2.50 degrees above the normal of 73.0 degrees.

Saturday, June 29, was the warmest day of the year statewide with average highs in the low 90s across northeastern Iowa and mid to upper 90s across the rest of the state; the average high was 95 degrees, eight degrees above average.

Weekly rainfall totals ranged from 0.01 inches in Des Moines to 4.27 inches in Creston. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.95 inches, while the normal is 1.16 inches.

The week's high temperature of 98 degrees was observed in Little Sioux and Mapleton June 29, 13 degrees above normal. Cresco reported the week's low temperature of 53 degrees June 26, five degrees below average.

Weather information provided by Justin Glisan, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.