Warm, dry days allow fieldwork

DES MOINES — Warm and drier weather throughout the State allowed Iowa farmers 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 9, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Planting and replanting of corn and soybeans and spraying were limited due to wet field conditions.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 0% very short, 5% short, 78% adequate and 17% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1% very short, 9% short, 77% adequate and 13% surplus.

Corn planting is nearly complete with 89% emerged, nine days behind last year and two days behind the 5-year average.

Corn condition rated at 73% good to excellent. Ninety-two percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, equal to the 5-year average.

Seventy-five percent of the soybean crop has emerged, nine days behind last year and one day behind the average.

Soybean condition rated 73% good to excellent. Emergence of the oat crop is nearly complete with 59% headed, eight days ahead of the average.

Oat condition rated to 81% good to excellent.

Seventy percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, one week behind last year.

Hay condition rated 81% good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 76% good to excellent.

Weather summary

Provided by Justin Glisan, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

The first full reporting period of June saw less thunderstorm activity with below-normal rainfall across most of Iowa; only pockets of central and northern Iowa received above-normal totals. Temperatures were up to three degrees above normal.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.01 inch at several stations to 3.45 inches in Clive (Dallas County).

The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.70 inch, while the normal is 1.18 inches.