USDA releases annual crop progress review

DES MOINES — An annual summary of Iowa’s USDA Crop Progress & Condition Reports released Dec. 11 noted widespread effects of the year’s abnormally dry, hot weather.

Both environmental effects sped up corn and soybean development, as did a quick planting window, according to the document from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. That rapid development largely came at the cost of crop quality, which ended the season with far worse ratings than it began across commodities.

“Corn and soybeans developed ahead of normal partly due to early planting, but also because temperatures were warmer than average for most of Iowa in all months except for July,” the report said. “Iowa saw a cooler than normal July, but crops quickly matured with warmer than normal temperatures in the following months. Drought conditions worsened through the growing season, also speeding up crop maturity as nearly all of Iowa experienced some level of drought rating.”

Corn

Corn planting in Iowa started off ahead of last year and the 5-year average with planting activities getting underway in mid-April. While corn planting started and remained ahead of last year’s pace the whole season, there were a couple weeks where it fell a little behind the average.

Seventy percent of the State’s expected corn crop was planted by May 7, 12 days ahead of last year and one week ahead of normal. By the end of May, planting was virtually complete and emergence was not far behind at 85%. Ninety-four percent of the corn crop had emerged by June 4. Corn silking was slightly ahead of the five-year average at 49% by July 16. The percent of corn in or beyond the dough stage was also slightly ahead of average through most of the season. This was also true for the dent stage which was also ahead of normal through much of the stage.

Virtually all of the corn crop had reached maturity by Oct. 15, at 98%. Corn harvesting for grain began in early September. Dry conditions enabled corn harvest to proceed ahead of the five-year average throughout the season. By the end of October, 77% of the corn crop had been harvested, eight days ahead of the average. By mid-November, corn harvest was winding down, and as of the final weekly crop progress report 99% of the state’s corn had been harvested with the week ending Nov. 26. South central Iowa was the only agricultural district that lagged behind, with nine percent of its corn still needing to be harvested on Nov. 26.

Corn moisture level for field corn being harvested was reported at 20% at the very beginning of October, gradually falling to 16% by early November. The first condition rating of the corn crop on May 28 was 77% good to excellent, the highest rating of the season. Corn condition gradually declined through most of the season to a low of 46% good to excellent on Sept. 10. The final corn condition rating came in at 51% good to excellent on Oct. 15.

Soybeans

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Soybean planting was underway by mid-April, ahead of the 5-year average.

By May 7, 49% of the soybean crop was planted, eight days ahead of the average. Soybean planting was virtually complete by the first week of June. The week ending June 4, soybean emergence was 87%, 12 days ahead of normal. By July 2, a quarter of the soybean crop had started blooming, two days ahead of the average. Three-quarters of the soybean crop was setting pods by Aug. 6, three days ahead of normal. Leaves turning color or beyond reached 95% on Sept. 24, with 75% of soybean acres already dropping their leaves at that same time.

Harvest began in early September and by Oct. 8 more than half of Iowa’s soybean crop had been harvested, a week ahead of the average. Soybean harvest was at 97% on Nov. 5, nine days ahead of normal.

As of May 28, the first condition rating of the soybean crop was 71% good to excellent. Crop conditions declined during the month of June, but bounced back up a little in July. Soybean condition declined once again from mid-August going into September, then leveled off the rest of the season. The final soybean condition rating of the season showed 48% good to excellent on Oct. 8.

Hay

The first cutting of alfalfa hay was more than halfway complete by May 28, reaching 52%, 11 days ahead of the 5-year average. By June 25, the first cutting was virtually complete, 15 days ahead of the average. The second cutting was 97% complete by Aug. 6, eight days ahead of the average. The third cutting of alfalfa was 98% complete by Sept. 10, roughly three weeks ahead of average.

Hay condition averaged 46% good to excellent for the season, with a high of 72% in mid-May. The last crop condition rating of the season showed 36% good to excellent on Aug. 6. All cuttings of alfalfa hay were ahead of the 5-year average the whole season for the same reason the condition of hay was not great this season — much of Iowa was in a drought in 2023.

Pastures

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Iowa’s pastures remained mostly dormant until early April. With precipitation received in that month, pasture conditions reached a season high of 58% good to excellent on May 21. Pasture conditions declined from that high through the remainder of the season, with the exception of a slight increase in mid-July.

Drought conditions encompassed practically all of Iowa, which led to a rapid decline in pasture conditions. They remained low as the drought carried through the summer and into fall. The lowest pasture condition ratings came in mid-September and again in early October with a good to excellent rating of only 15%. The season ended with a rating of 20% good to excellent on October 29.

Editor’s note: this story is an abridged version of the USDA/NASS report. A full copy can be found on the USDA website, or though a link in the online version of this article.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com