September continues monthslong trend of low rainfall

DES MOINES — Agricultural data showed another hotter, drier than average week on the books for Southeast Iowa last week. The USDA Crop Progress & Condition Report found 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork across the state thanks to the lack of rain.

“Unseasonable warmth early in the reporting period gave way to more seasonal temperatures through the end of the week, along with some chilly overnight lows,” State Climatologist Justin Glisan said in the report. “The statewide average temperature was 69.3 degrees, 1.5 degrees above normal. Rainfall was again sparse with widespread deficits of over 0.50 inches across much of Iowa.”

Iowa Environmental Mesonet data stations in Wellman and Crawfordsville showed 0.65 and 0.56 inches, respectively, of precipitation so far this month, as of Sept. 12. The average for the month of September. The Southeast region average for the month is 3.54, according to Iowa Department of Agriculture records.

Crop Progress Report data said only 21% of the state’s topsoil and subsoil conditions were “adequate,” and almost none had a surplus.

Corn conditions dropped 3 percentage points for the week, to 46% good to excellent, with 38% of the crop reaching maturity according to the Crop Progress report. Soybeans fell 5 percentage points, down to 44% good or excellent.

The drought continues to hit pastures hard as well, where the “good to excellent” rating for last week was a meager 15%.

“Getting water to livestock was a challenge for producers,” the report said, before making note of “some producers selling livestock due (to) lack of water and having to feed hay.”