Crop report: Farmers prepare for harvest

DES MOINES — Most of the State experienced dry conditions and cool temperatures which allowed Iowa farmers 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 11, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Field activities included harvesting oats for grain, cutting and baling hay, and preparing for the fall harvest.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 3% very short, 20% short, 72% adequate and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 3% very short, 16% short, 77% adequate and 4% surplus.

Corn silking reached 96% this week. Sixty-nine percent of the corn crop has reached dough stage or beyond, one day behind last year but two days ahead of the five-year average.

Seventeen percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage, four days behind last year but three days ahead of the average.

Corn condition was rated 77% good to excellent.

Ninety-four percent of soybeans were blooming, equal to the five-year average. Soybeans setting pods reached 74%, five days behind last year and two days behind the average.

Soybean condition rated 77% good to excellent. Ninety-three percent of oats have been harvested, one day ahead of last year and four days ahead of average.

The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 97% complete. The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 45%, one week behind last year but two days ahead of the five-year average.

Hay condition rated 75% good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 63% good to excellent.

Weather Summary provided by Justin Glisan, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship:

A stable weather pattern dominated Iowa for most of the reporting period with unseasonably cool temperatures to start the Iowa State Fair. Weekly temperature departures were in the negative three- to six-degree range with a statewide average temperature of 67.0 degrees, 4.9 degrees below normal.

Rainfall was limited to northern and southwestern Iowa with dry conditions in between.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation for most Iowa stations to 1.95 inches in Lansing (Allamakee County).

The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.11 inch while the normal is 0.96 inch.

Lamoni (Decatur County) reported the week’s high temperature of 99 degrees Aug. 4, 12 degrees above normal. Mapleton (Monona County) reported the week’s low temperature of 43 degrees Aug. 10, 18 degrees below normal.