Iowa remains dry, despite recent rain

LINN COUNTY - Dry weather hasn't gotten to the point where farmers are losing potential yield, or money, yet.

But many farmers say another week or two without any significant rain and warm temperatures will kick drought concerns up another notch.

The most recent USDA crop report, released Monday, saw the ratings for both corn and soybeans slip. Eastern Iowa and most parts of the state are considered “dry” right now on a drought scale. But in northwest Iowa, on a line stretching from Storm Lake to Mason City, things are a bit worse with that area already getting a “moderate drought” ranking.

John Airy, Jr, president of the Linn County Soybean Growers Association, said he got .8 of an inch of rain on his soybean field near Central City last week. But the moisture just soaked right in. His no-till soybeans are coming in both spotty and struggling compared to normal.

“Especially with the heat they're talking about later this week, we get two more weeks along without a half inch or an inch of rain people are really going to get concerned,” Airy said.

Airy said there is moisture a few inches below ground and corn plants, put in weeks ago, have roots deep enough to tap it. The corn is probably ok for now. But soybeans planted more recently need rain just to get started.

Airy said farmers are starting to talk about the spotty rainfall at every opportunity.

“It's kind of on the front of people's minds - nobody's panicking yet, but it's on the front of their minds,” he said.

Climatologists have rated this growing season, so far, as the driest since 2006.

Airy said farmers entered this year without much subsoil moisture due to a drier fall and winter than normal. So it will take regular rains just to make a decent crop and that isn't happening yet.

Much of Iowa has received some rain, but the state could use some more to help ease the dry spots.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday's crop report that corn conditions declined slightly for the second consecutive week. The report shows 75 percent of the corn is rated good to excellent. That's down from 77 percent a week ago and 81 percent two weeks ago.

The first soybean rating puts the crop at 71 percent in good to excellent condition.

The USDA says 46 percent of Iowa's topsoil and 45 percent of the subsoil is dry.

Last week's rain totals ranged from 0.35 inches at Bloomfield to 3.7 inches at Akron. The statewide average was 0.84 inches.

The Associated Press contributed to this report