Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report

DES MOINES — “May 2024 will go into the history books as one of the top 10 wettest Mays on record, which helped to break our long-running drought,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig in response to the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

“Unfortunately, it will also be remembered for producing destructive severe weather and frustrating planting delays,” said Naig.

“As we head into the three warmest months of the year and the heart of the growing season, some farmers are still finishing up planting within parts of the state. Farmers are also turning cattle out to pasture and working to complete other field work, including baling hay and applying crop protection products.”

Scattered showers throughout the State allowed Iowa farmers 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 2, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Reports of standing water in fields were received from throughout the State. Planting and replanting of corn and soybeans were reported.

Topsoil moisture condition 3% short, 75% adequate and 22% urplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1% very short, 7% short, 77% adequate and 15% surplus.

Ninety-three percent of the expected corn crop has been planted, almost two weeks behind last year and five days behind the 5-year average.

Corn emerged reached 81%, 6 days behind last year. Corn condition rated 73% good to excellent.

Eighty-four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, 12 days behind last year but equal to the average.

Sixty percent of the soybean crop has emerged, one week behind last year and two days behind the 5-year average.

The first soybean condition rating of the season was 1% very poor, 4% poor, 22% fair, 59% good, and 14% excellent.

Ninety-seven percent of the oat crop has emerged with 40% headed, six days ahead of last year and almost two weeks ahead of the average. Oat condition rated 82% to excellent.

Forty percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, six days behind last year. Hay condition rated 79% good to excellent. Pasture condition improved to 75% good to excellent. Wet conditions affecting livestock are now a concern.

Weather summary

Provided by Justin Glisan, State Climatologist

For the first time in several weeks, the final reporting period of May had below average rainfall across much of Iowa; only pockets of northwest and eastern Iowa observed unseasonably wet conditions.

Temperatures varied from cooler than average east to near-normal across the state’s western half; the statewide average temperature was 64.4 degrees, 0.6 degree below normal.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.03 inch in Pella (Marion County) to 4.35 inches in Orange City. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.74 inch while the normal is 1.08 inches.

Des Moines International Airport (Polk County) reported the week’s high temperature of 83 degrees, five degrees above average, June 2.

Multiple stations reported the week’s low temperature of 42 degrees May 29, 10 degrees below normal.