More rain needed as corn silks, beans bloom

DES MOINES — Western Iowa was the recipient of some much-needed precipitation this week and farmers, statewide, had 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 9, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included cutting hay and spraying crops. Some reports were received of farmers beginning to harvest oats for grain.

“Showers and thunderstorms produced widespread rainfall through the reporting period with pockets of near-normal to above-average totals in western, northeast, and southeast Iowa,” State Climatologist Justin Glisan said in the report. “Temperatures were also unseasonably cool with negative departures of up to seven degrees northwest; the statewide average temperature was 68.8 degrees, 5.5 degrees below normal.”

Topsoil moisture condition rated 15 percent very short, 42 percent short, 42 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 19 percent very short, 45 percent short, 35 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn silking hit 22 percent this week, six days ahead of last year and two days ahead of the five-year average. Some reports were received of corn starting to dough. Corn condition remained steady at 61 percent good to excellent.

Forty-six percent of soybeans were blooming, five days ahead of last year and three days ahead of the average. Soybeans setting pods reached 7 percent, four days ahead of last year and one day ahead of normal. Soybean condition rated 52 percent good to excellent. Sixty-seven percent of oats were turning color, eight days ahead of last year and five days ahead of normal. Oat condition improved slightly with 52 percent good to excellent.

The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 58 percent complete, nine days ahead of last year and one week ahead of the average. Hay condition improved slightly to 35 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 24 percent good to excellent. Livestock producers continued to supplement with hay as pasture conditions remained below average.