Iowa heat, humidity aid crop growth

Last week's heat and humidity aided the development of Iowa corn and soybean crops, but rainfall made harvesting hay and oats difficult in some areas.

Overall, Iowa farmers had 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork in the week that ended Sunday, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 6 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 6 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.

The south central area of the state recorded the largest increase in topsoil moisture levels, with 60 percent surplus, up from 51 percent the previous week.

Ninety-three percent of the corn crop has reached the silking stage or beyond, with 30 percent reaching the dough stage or beyond. Corn condition was rated 83 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans blooming or beyond has reached 87 percent, two days behind last year. Fifty-seven percent of soybeans were setting pods.

Soybean condition was rated 79 percent good to excellent, up 3 percentage points from the previous week.

Seventy-eight percent of Iowa's oat crop for grain or seed has been harvested, five days ahead of 2014, but slightly behind the five-year average.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 79 percent, three days behind last year, and a week behind the average due to continued wet conditions. The third cutting of alfalfa hay is 13 percent complete, eight days behind the five-year average.

Hay condition was rated at 69 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition rated 76 percent good to excellent.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, in a news release, said some areas of the state continue to be challenged by the weather, while others face weed, insect or disease issues.