116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Soil moisture falls on lack of rain
George C. Ford
Aug. 5, 2014 1:03 am
Unseasonably cool and mostly dry weather prevailed across Iowa in the week that ended on Sunday, creating a drop in soil moisture.
Topsoil moisture levels were rated 3 percent very short, 23 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Subsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.
The statewide average precipitation was 0.12 inches while normal for the week is 0.94 inches.
Ninety-three percent of the corn acreage was at or beyond the silking stage, just over two weeks ahead of the previous year and five days ahead of the five-year average. Corn in or past the dough stage reached 36 percent - double the normal amount.
With a few farmers reporting corn starting to dent, 77 percent of the corn crop was reported in good to excellent condition.
Ninety-one percent of the soybean acreage was blooming or beyond, 14 percentage points ahead of last year and barely ahead of average. Sixty-five percent of the soybean crop was setting pods, well ahead of last year's 32 percent.
Soybean condition was unchanged from the previous week with 74 percent of the crop in good to excellent condition.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 85 percent complete, equal to the previous year but 3 percentage points behind the five-year average. The third cutting of alfalfa hay advanced to 9 percent complete, 3 days ahead of last year but almost 2 weeks behind the normal pace.
Sixty-six percent of all hay was rated in good to excellent condition.
The top price for hay at Dyersville Sales on Wednesday was $180 per ton on large square bales of third crop hay and $155 per ton on second crop of round bales. At the Fort Atkinson Hay Auction, the top price was $200 per ton for small square bales of straw.
(Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette-KCRG)